The Farmer's Wife

The Farmer's Wife

1941 · 81 min · ★ 7.0 · Drama

Eden Philpotts' "provincial" comic novel and play The Farmer's Wife was first filmed in the silent era by Alfred Hitchcock. The 1940 talkie version was directed by Leslie Arliss, son of stage star George Arliss. The story remained the same: A middle-aged widower attempts to select a wife from his rural district's eligible females (Basil Sydney). Three unsuccessful dalliances later, the farmer settles for his housekeeper, whom the audience has been rooting for all along. The Farmer's Wife is a prime example of the sort of fare that struck a proper chord with British filmgoers, but whose appeal would be lost to any other nationality.

Directed by Leslie Arliss · Written by Norman Lee

Your Rating

Cast

Make it a double feature

2h 56m together

The Farmer's Wife

Pastor Hall

Both from Leslie Arliss.

More from Leslie ArlissSee all →

The Innocents of ChicagoThe Innocents of Chicago · 1932
The Innocents of Chicago
9.01932
MovieComedy
Naïve young Englishman, Silas P. Binns inherits a substantial business in Chicago. Unaware of the city's reputation for rampant organized crime during the Prohibition era, Silas arrives in America with idealistic expectations. Upon his arrival, he finds himself inadvertently caught in the middle of a fierce and dangerous turf war between rival gangster factions. The humor of the film stems from Silas's "innocent" and oblivious nature as he navigates the violent underworld of Chicago, often mistaking life-threatening situations for ordinary business or social interactions.
The Woman's AngleThe Woman's Angle · 1952
The Woman's Angle
8.01952
MovieRomanceDrama
The organising force of a family of musical prodigies, Robert Mansell is a frustrated composer in seach of one thing personal happiness. This search, however, has landed him in the divorce courts and the judge's summary does not paint him in a favourable light.
Pastor HallPastor Hall · 1940
Pastor Hall
8.01940
MovieDrama
The village of Altdorf has to come to terms with Chancellor Hitler and the arrival of a platoon of Stormtroopers. The Stormtroopers go about teaching and enforcing "The New Order", but Pastor Hall, a kind and gentle man, won't be cowed. Some villagers join the Nazi party avidly, and some just go along with things, hoping for a quiet life, but Pastor Hall takes his convictions to the pulpit.
The Second Mr. BushThe Second Mr. Bush · 1940
The Second Mr. Bush
7.51940
MovieComedy
A writer poses as a shy butterfly hunter who has a fortune and is hounded by reporters.
Rhodes of AfricaRhodes of Africa · 1936
Rhodes of Africa
7.51936
MovieDramaHistory
Rhodes of Africa is a 1936 British biographical film charting the life of Cecil Rhodes. It was directed by Berthold Viertel and starred Walter Huston, Oskar Homolka, Basil Sydney and Bernard Lee.
Windbag the SailorWindbag the Sailor · 1936
Windbag the Sailor
7.51936
MovieComedy
Will Hay plays a bragging sea captain whose maritime experience actually extends to navigating a coal barge down inland waterways. His tall tales catch him out when he is co-erced into commanding an unseaworthy ship by an unscrupulous shipping agent who means to have it wrecked. This was the first film to couple Will Hay with both Moore Marriott and Graham Moffatt.
Good Morning, Boys!Good Morning, Boys! · 1937
Good Morning, Boys!
7.21937
MovieComedyCrime
Dr. Benjamin Twist (Hay) and his pupils become involved with art thieves on a trip to Paris. Hay’s seamy schoolmaster act is supported by a fine cast including Charles Hawtrey and Lilli Palmer.
Where There's a WillWhere There's a Will · 1936
Where There's a Will
7.11936
MovieComedy
Will Hay plays the pennyless, bungling solicitor Benjamin Stubbins, who arrives at his office to find his insolent office boy (Graham Moffatt) with his feet up on the desk, reading a wild west magazine, which Hay confiscates so that he can read it later. Stubbins later takes a job from a group of Americans who claim they want him to track down some ancestors of theirs in Scotland. In reality however they want to use his office so they can rob a safe in the room immediately below his office. Stubbins takes the job (which is designed to keep him out of the office). In the end Stubbins realises his mistake and at a Christmas Eve fancy dress party he informs a group of carol singing policeman about the Americans nefarious activities
A Man About the HouseA Man About the House · 1947
A Man About the House
7.11947
MovieDrama
Handsome Italian laborer Kieron Moore works as caretaker of the Neopolitan villa inherited by plain-Jane Englishwomen Margaret Johnston and Dulcie Gray. Johnston is swept off her feet by the raffishly charming Moore, and before long they are wed.
The Adventures of William TellThe Adventures of William Tell · 1958
The Adventures of William Tell
6.81958
SeriesAction & Adventure
The Adventures of William Tell is a British swashbuckler adventure series, first broadcast on the ITV network in 1958, and produced by ITC Entertainment.
The Night Has EyesThe Night Has Eyes · 1942
The Night Has Eyes
6.71942
MovieThrillerMystery
Two teachers, man-hungry Doris and restrained Marian, visit the Yorkshire moors a year after friend Evelyn disappeared there. On a stormy night, they take refuge in the isolated cottage of Stephen, one-time pianist shell-shocked in the Spanish Civil War. Doris flees as soon as the flood subsides; but Marian's suspicions about Evelyn's fate, in conflict with her growing love for Stephen, prompt her to stay on among the misty bogs.
South American GeorgeSouth American George · 1941
South American George
6.71941
MovieComedy
To help out his exact double, George Formby (in a dual role) takes the place of a noted South American tenor. This way he can help the opera star fulfill contract obligations and also win the heart of the man's lovely press agent, Linden Travers.
The Foreman Went to FranceThe Foreman Went to France · 1942
The Foreman Went to France
6.61942
MovieWarDrama
Based on the true story of Melbourne Johns, an aircraft factory foreman sent to France to prevent the Nazis getting hold of some vital equipment.
Love StoryLove Story · 1944
Love Story
6.51944
MovieDramaRomance
After discovering that she has only a short time left to live, concert pianist Lissa travels to Cornwall for the final fling of her life. While there, she falls in love with young mineral prospector Kit, a man whose dark secret prevents him from fighting in the War. Unbeknownst to Lissa, however, Kit's affections are also much in demand from a rival of hers.
The BuccaneersThe Buccaneers · 1956
The Buccaneers
6.41956
SeriesDramaAction & Adventure
The adventures of privateer Captain Dan Tempest and his crew of former pirates as they make their way across the seven seas in The Sultana.
The Wicked LadyThe Wicked Lady · 1945
The Wicked Lady
6.31945
MovieDramaAdventure
A married woman finds new thrills as a masked robber on the highways.

More Like This

FriendshipFriendship · 2025
Friendship
6.42025
MovieComedyDrama
Suburban dad Craig falls hard for his charismatic new neighbor Austin, and his attempts to make an adult male friend threatens to ruin both of their lives.
ProvidenceProvidence · 1977
Providence
6.71977
MovieDramaComedy
On the eve of his 78th birthday, ailing, alcoholic writer Clive Langham spends a painful and sleepless night mentally composing and recomposing scenes for a novel in which characters based on his own family are shaped by his fantasies and memories, alongside his caustic commentary on their behaviour.
Blue SkyBlue Sky · 1994
Blue Sky
6.11994
MovieDramaRomance
Hank Marshall is a tough, square-jawed, straitlaced Army engineer and nuclear science expert, assigned to help conduct weapons testing in 1950s America. Hank has become a thorn in the side of the Army, though, for a couple of very different reasons. He is an outspoken opponent of atmospheric testing, though his superiors hold contrary views and want to squelch his concerns...and his reports. The other problem is his wife, Carly. She is voluptuous and volatile, wreaking havoc in his personal life and stirring up intrigue at each new Army base.
Dry SummerDry Summer · 1963
Dry Summer
7.61963
MovieDramaCrime
A scheming tobacco farmer sets out to ruin his competition by diverting the local water to his own property.
The Night of the SunflowersThe Night of the Sunflowers · 2006
The Night of the Sunflowers
6.42006
MovieDramaThriller
Two speleologists, Esteban and Pedro, travel to a mountainous area located in northern Spain, near a small village, to study a newly discovered cave and determine if it is of scientific interest, while Gabi, Esteban's wife, awaits their return on a lonely road at the foot of the mountain.
Daughters of DarknessDaughters of Darkness · 1971
Daughters of Darkness
6.21971
MovieDramaHorror
Ostend, Belgium. In a decadent seaside hotel, Stefan and Valerie, a newlywed couple, meet the mysterious Countess Báthory and Ilona, her secretary.
The LedgeThe Ledge · 2011
The Ledge
6.22011
MovieDramaThriller
A thriller in which a battle of philosophies between a fundamentalist Christian and an atheist who shares an apartment with a gay friend escalates into a lethal battle of wills.
Coup de chanceCoup de chance · 2023
Coup de chance
6.22023
MovieRomanceDrama
Fanny and Jean have everything of an ideal couple: fulfilled professionally, they live in a magnificent apartment in the beautiful districts of Paris, and seem to be in love as on the first day. But when Fanny crosses, by chance, former classmate Alain, she's immediately capsized. They see each other again very quickly and grow closer.
ThappadThappad · 2020
Thappad
7.02020
MovieDrama
A young woman's life is shattered into pieces when her husband slaps her at a party, causing her to question what this relationship stands for.

Rate this film

Your ratings make Midnight smarter