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The Farmer’s Daughter
(1910) United States of America
B&W : Split-reel / 345 feet
Directed by (unknown)
Cast: Charles Ogle [the farmer], Mary Fuller [the farmer’s daughter]
Edison Manufacturing Company production; distributed by Edison Manufacturing Company. / Scenario by Bannister Merwin. Cinematography by [?] Edwin S. Porter? / © 7 October 1910 by Edison Manufacturing Company [J146428, J146429, J146430, J146431]. Released 7 October 1910; in a split-reel with Bumptious Plays Baseball (1910). / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Comedy: Romance.
Synopsis: [The Moving Picture World, 15 October 1910, page ?] There is nothing so calculated to excite risibility as the sight of a practical joker who is made the victim of his own plot. This sort of a climax is the big laugh in the “Farmer’s Daughter.” The young lady in question is courted by all of the young lads about the countryside. Among them is a young chap, son of one of her neighbors, who becomes jealous of her other suitors and plans to prevent them from interfering with his love making. The approach to the farmer’s home is a small stream over which is thrown a log for a foot path. The young chap takes it into his head to soap the log at a certain point so that those crossing after him will be plunged into the creek. All goes well, and our young joker is having things pretty much his own way, when his rivals, one by one, attempt to cross the log and are precipitated into the stream. It is impossible to describe the fun, but the witnessing of it is a series of laughs. Finally, when our young friend, in high spirits at having outwitted his rivals, takes his leave of the farmer’s daughter, he is so overjoyed that in crossing the log he forgets all about the soap, with dire results. His inamorata witnesses his downfall, and is seized with a fit of laughter.
Reviews: [Nickelodeon, 15 October 1910, page ?] Edison shows a practical joker who falls into his own trap. The idea is good, but might have been worked up—for instance, the victims of the wily suitor should at least have had the pleasure of witnessing his downfall. As it is, they simply drop out of sight, unwept, unhonored and unsung. The girl is pretty and plays her part very well. // [The Moving Picture World, 22 October 1910, page ?] A pleasing comedy subject with an ending as humorous as it is unexpected. Here is a pretty girl, and perhaps pretty should be considered in this instance in the superlative degree. Of course, it is inevitable that she should have suitors, a number of them, in fact. One is determined to have her, and to clear the way he devises a plan whereby he is able to dispose of them all, one after another. Yet he cannot stop its operation in time to prevent it working on him and he, too, goes the way of all the others. The ending is so bright and altogether unexpected that it adds much to the enjoyment of the film.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 15 April 2024.
References: Website-AFI; Website-IMDb.
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