They Knew What They Wanted (1940) DVD
They Knew What They Wanted (1940) DVD

They Knew What They Wanted (1940) DVD

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I100220221022

They Knew What They Wanted (1940)

  • Director
    • Garson Kanin
  • Writers
    • Robert Ardrey(screenplay)
    • Sidney Howard(from the Pulitzer Prize Play by)
  • Stars
    • Carole Lombard
    • Charles Laughton
    • William Gargan

    Like its predecessors, this third cinema version of Sidney Hoiward's Pulitzer Prize-winning play They Knew What They Wanted suffers from Hollywood censorship. Still, this story of the grim consequence of a misbegotten mail-order marriage has much to offer. Carole Lombard is superb as the waitress who lies about herself while carrying on a romance by correspondence with the Italian-born owner of a Napa Valley vineyard. Equally fine (if a shade too effusively hammy) is Charles Laughton as the grape grower, who also misrepresents himself in his letters, going so far as to pass off a photograph of handsome hired hand William Gargan as a picture of himself. Vowing to be loyal to her new husband Laughton, despite her distaste for him, Lombard nonetheless enters into an affair with Gargan. For the most part, the film moves along harmoniously. It falters only in the censor-dictated alterations (why is Lombard crying at the end?) and the horrendous performance by Frank Fay as a sanctimonious priest. Keep an eye peeled during the engagement party for a young, unbilled Karl Malden and Tom Ewell. Previous versions of They Knew What They Wanted included The Secret Hour (1928) and A Lady in Love (1930).

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  • 5
    A must see, if only because this film has rarely been shown on television

    Posted by Philip Shultz on Mar 18th 2023

    This film version of the Sidney Kingsley play, and later turned into the musical "The Most Happy Fella", was shown once in 1955 on a TV station in Salt Lake City, and then in 1956, in San Francisco. And that was that, as far as televison showings were concerned. Turner Classic Movies supposedly owns the rights to this film, but legal issues keep Turner Classic Movies from showing it. This film is a wonderful drama/comedy, and the print is pretty good. Very adult viewing for the time, as well. Charles Laughton is wonderful, even if he does "ham it up" a bit, and wears a dark, curly fright wig. His work with Carole Lombard is wonderful. A pity that this film has not been show on TV, if only for the fact that this was one of Ms. Lombard's finest moments. Worth the money (and more so) to purchase this unseen classic.

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