The Farmer's Wife (1928)

As Good As It Gets

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

I do not like most love stories. And this no exception. This movie has an awful story line. I is very slow and boring. Do not see this movie. If is an awful movie. This movie will bore you to tires.

SYNOPSIS: A well-to-do British farmer decides to take a wifeCOMMENT: This, of course, is a silent movie. one of Hitchcock's earliest endeavors. Because of the Hitchcock name and popularity (and the fact that the copyright has expired), "The Farmer's Wife" is currently available on at least six DVD labels. At the time I wrote my original review, St Clair had the best copy. but it may not be still available from that source. "The Farmer's Wife" features nice sharp photography by Jack Cox, plus several really ingratiating performances (particularly by the really charming Lillian Hall-Davis).The St. Clair DVD is augmented by an adroit music score which makes light work of of the movie's comparatively long running time of 129 minutes. And to my surprise, Hitch proves himself - even at this early stage of his career - to be a master of bucolic, domestic comedy, despite actor Gordon Harker's continuous efforts to impose his own brand of stage-struck slapstick. Fortunately, Hitch keeps Harker firmly in his place. All told, "The Farmer's Wife" is a really enjoyable experience!

What a surprise!Hitchcock as a romantic director. Had I not known I would have suspected this silent film came from the hand of early Carl Dreyer or Ernst Lubitsch.It is a lovely story of a widowed farmer, whose daughter is being married, and who decides to look for a second wife, all the while not seeing the devoted housekeeper who loves him as his obvious choice. How this proceeds through four other objects of his intentions gives the comedy to the romantic aura.I viewed the full two hours and nine minutes of the film and it is so delightfully directed and acted that I would have thought it less than half that length. It is really an undiscovered gem and a feather in Hitchcock's hat. Worth seeking out for those who admire fine silent film. The print on DVD is impeccable.

In all honesty I'm not big on romantic comedies - very few of them I actually enjoy and love - most of them are quite boring to me and this film has bored me to tears. Maybe one of these days I will go back to watch this film and enjoy it - but I doubt that. There is NOTHING wrong with this movie - it's cute and all - but as I have stated I'm not into most romantic comedies.I'm sorry I do not like this film - I want to because it's Hitchcock but I don't. I like my Alfred Hitchcock thrilling, mysterious and horrifying and this film is definitely totally opposite of my favorite side of Hitchcock.This film is worth while if you enjoy silent movies and/or romantic comedies. It's just not a film for me.3/10