Film ID: Scandinavian immigrant family, America, daughter runs for office

Cafe Society
1

The Dope usually gets these semi-obscure film questions in one or two shots, so here’s another:

I’m trying to identify a film I want to re-watch; I last saw it maybe 8ish years ago, probably on TCM. Somewhat reminiscent of the feel of I Remember Mama, but different setting and likely different actors.

A Scandinavian (I am leaning Norwegian) family on an American farm. The daughter is 20ish, and I believe there is a love interest in a local American man. Daughter is, of course, headstrong. At some point she decides to run for local office (I don’t recall for sure if she won, but I believe so), so that’s the twist that should make the film more identifiable.

My impression is that it is a late 1930s-1940s film.

I consider myself pretty adept at Google searches, but no combination of known values returns anything close (“top 20 Farm Movies”).

2

The Farmer’s Daughter? Loretta Young as a young woman who starts working as a servant in the house of a US Senator (Joseph Cotten) and his mother (Ethyl Barrymore) in some northern state (I don’t think it’s specified). She is full of Norwegian folk wisdom of course. Eventually she runs for US Representative (I forget what triggers that) and is doing very well until some fake scandal is created against her. There is a subplot about a local political leader with Nazi-ish leanings. 1947.

Correction: Swedish folk wisdom.

3

Bullseye! Thank you!!

4

Here’s a spoiler for the ending…She is exonerated and goes on to win the election. I believe her brothers force the man spreading lies about her to go around and admit his wrongdoing before voting day.

5

There was also a TV series in the early-mid 60s starring Inger Stevens.