IMDb > They Knew What They Wanted (1940)

They Knew What They Wanted (1940) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
6.2/10   83 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 26% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Garson Kanin
Writers:
Robert Ardrey (screenplay)
Sidney Howard (play)
Contact:
View company contact information for They Knew What They Wanted on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
19 October 1940 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama | Romance more
Tagline:
You have seen great motion pictures! We believe you have not seen a greater motion picture than this!
Plot:
Tony (Charles Laughton), a successful but illiterate middle-aged grape farmer, sends the photograph of his handsome young foreman... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. more
NewsDesk:
(2 articles)
Acting Legend Karl Malden Dead At 97
 (From WENN. 1 July 2009, 1:56 PM, PDT)
Veteran Actor Karl Malden Dead at 97
 (From ReelzChannel. 1 July 2009, 9:30 AM, PDT)
User Comments:
Charles not in charge more (4 total)

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)

Carole Lombard ... Amy Peters

Charles Laughton ... Tony Patucci
William Gargan ... Joe
Harry Carey ... The doctor
Frank Fay ... Father McKee
Joseph E. Bernard ... The R.F.D. (as Joe Bernard)
Janet Fox ... Mildred
Lee Tung Foo ... Ah Gee, the Cook (as Lee Tung-Foo)

Karl Malden ... Red
Victor Kilian ... The photographer
more
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Additional Details

Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
USA:96 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Black and White
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound System)
Certification:
Finland:K-16
Company:
RKO Radio Pictures more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The Broadway production of "They Knew What They Wanted" by Sidney Howard opened on November 24, 1924 at the Garrick Theater, ran for 192 performances and won the Pulitzer Prize in Drama in 1925. more
Movie Connections:
Version of The Secret Hour (1928) more

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User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
10 out of 11 people found the following comment useful.
Charles not in charge, 29 November 2002
Author: RondoHatton from St Carnaby-in-All-Trends

Charles Laughton goes sort of over the top in this little movie. The plot is reminiscent of "Postman Always Rings Twice", i.e. sweet lil' immigrant meets girl & loses girl to employee, but without James M Cain's violence. Laughton's Tony really is a most happy fella, & Lombard is as usual, steamy. Totally by chance, I happened to do a double bill of this and the 1935 Mutiny On The Bounty. I should have added Ruggles Of Red Gap, Hunchback, Hobson's Choice, and Witness For The Prosecution for a total Laughton immersion. This was filmed on location in an incredibly rural Napa Valley, and if you're familiar with Napa Valley, you may recognize what is now the Calistoga Inn/Napa Valley Brewing as Tony's local cantina/bar. I'd like to see a cleaned up version of this, as the print I saw was verrry dark. Good little movie.

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Full cast and crew Company credits News articles
IMDb Drama section IMDb USA section Add this title to MyMovies

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