| Charles Farrell | ... | Lem Tustine | |
| Mary Duncan | ... | Kate | |
| David Torrence | ... | Lem's father | |
| Edith Yorke | ... | Lem's mother | |
| Anne Shirley | ... | Marie Tustine (as Dawn O'Day) | |
| Tom McGuire | ... | Matey | |
| Richard Alexander | ... | Mac | |
| Patrick Rooney | ... | Butch (as Pat Rooney) | |
| Ed Brady | ... | Reaper | |
| Roscoe Ates | ... | Reaper | |
| rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Eddie Boland | |||
| Mark Hamilton | ... | Hungry reaper | |
| Ivan Linow | ... | Taxi driver | |
| Arnold Lucy | ... | Cafe patron | |
| Helen Lynch | ... | Girl on train | |
| Jack Pennick | ... | Reaper | |
| Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams | ... | Reaper | |
| Marjorie Beebe | ... | Waitress (silent version) (uncredited) | |
| Joe Brown | ... | Cafe patron (silent version) (uncredited) | |
| Harry Gripp | ... | (silent version) (uncredited) | |
| Werner Klingler | ... | (silent version) (uncredited) | |
| Harry Leonard | ... | (silent version) (uncredited) | |
| David Rollins | ... | (silent version) (uncredited) | |
| William Sundholm | ... | (silent version) (uncredited) | |
Directed by | |||
| F.W. Murnau | |||
Writing credits(in alphabetical order) | ||
| H.H. Caldwell | titles | |
| Katherine Hilliker | titles | |
| Elliott Lester | dialogue (play "The Mud Turtle") | |
| Marion Orth | writer | |
| Berthold Viertel | writer | |
Original Music by | |||
| Arthur Kay | |||
Cinematography by | |||
| Ernest Palmer | |||
Film Editing by | |||
| H.H. Caldwell | |||
| Katherine Hilliker | |||
Production Design by | |||
| Edgar G. Ulmer | |||
Art Direction by | |||
| Harry Oliver | |||
Costume Design by | |||
| Sophie Wachner | |||
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director | |||
| Frank Powolny | .... | assistant director | |
| William Tummel | .... | assistant director | |
Sound Department | |||
| Harold Hobson | .... | sound | |
Other crew | |||
| William Fox | .... | presenter | |
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| The Man in the Moon | Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans | The Good Earth | Show Boat | Random Harvest |
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| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb Drama section | IMDb USA section |
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Minnesota country boy Charles Farrell (as Lem) goes to Chicago, to sell the family's wheat harvest. In the hectic city, he meets pretty coffee shop waitress Mary Duncan (as Kate), who longs for the simple life. The attractive pair fall blissfully in love. After marrying Ms. Duncan, Mr. Farrell takes her home to live with his country family. But, father David Torrence (as Tustine) distrusts the "City Girl", and is angry with his son for selling his wheat at an inferior price. A stern patriarch, Mr. Torrence drives a wedge between the happy couple. To make matters worse, Duncan becomes prey for some arriving reapers
This is another stunner from director F.W. Murnau ("Sunrise"), who would so tragically die in a car accident (after only one more film). "City Girl" was produced by Mr. Murnau as a "silent" ("Our Daily Bread"); but, Fox Films recalled the movie, and turned it into a "talkie". At the time, Farrell's name was rising to the upper reaches of "Box Office" star lists, but, truth be told, only Charlie Chaplin and Greta Garbo still had the power to draw audiences to a silent movie (and, even that was fading). With re-shoots, a partially talking "City Girl" was seen briefly, and forgotten.
The unearthed full length silent version was, thankfully, preserved. It is a near-perfect film. Farrell, who many felt deserves some "Best Actor" recognition fro his role in "7th Heaven", outdoes himself. Murnau, photographer Ernest Palmer, set director Harry Oliver are also award-worthy. Although she looks too startlingly glamorous in the country portions, Duncan is hot in the city. No wonder leering Richard Alexander (as Mac) couldn't keep his hands off her. The entire cast performs splendidly, right down to David Rollins giving Duncan lift at work.
Sequences to re-play (if not the whole movie): Farrell walking the crowded city streets, Duncan in her apartment (where she blows the city dust off her suffocating plant), the couple's ecstatic run through his father's wheat fields, the arrival of grinning Guinn Williams and the reapers, and their harvesting scenes. Murnau's direction of the horse-driven wagons is especially spectacular. The lighting is brilliant throughout.
********* City Girl (2/16/30) F.W. Murnau ~ Charles Farrell, Mary Duncan, David Torrence, Richard Alexander