They Knew What They Wanted ** (1940, Charles Laughton, Carole Lombard, William Gargan, Harry Carey Sr, Frank Fay, Karl Malden, Tom Ewell) – Classic Movie Review 6753

A 1924 Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Sidney Howard, beautiful Carole Lombard and the great Charles Laughton come together and produce top director Garson Kanin’s interesting if less than awe-inspiring 1940 RKO Radio Pictures movie.

Laughton plays Tony Patucci, a rich Italian grape grower farmer, who courts the destitute young Amy Peters (Lombard) by mail and convinces her to marry him without ever seeing him by sending her a picture of his handsome ranch foreman and pretending that it is him.

What could have made an agreeable farce becomes a rather plodding melodrama with some pretty ripe acting and especially poor support performances from William Gargan (the ranch foreman Joe) and Frank Fay (the priest Father McKee). Nevertheless, Gargan was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Unfortunately, Oscar voters can often by fooled by hammy, untruthful performances that are flashy and eye-catching. The Yorkshireman Laughton is of course hammy, untruthful and over the top as the black-haired, moustached Italian Tony, though it is not un-entertaining to watch.

RKO had to fight the censors to keep the title that seems innocuous today. RKO went overboard with its advertising claims: ‘We believe you have not seen a greater motion picture than this!’ Ah well, in for a penny, in for a pound.

Also in the cast are Harry Carey Sr as the Doctor, Karl Malden, Tom Ewell, Joe Bernard, Janet Fox, Lee Tung Foo, Victor Kilian, Effie Anderson, Marie Blake, Antonio Filauri, Millicent Green, Paul Le Pere, Patricia Oakley, Joe Sully, Grace Lenard, Ricca Allen and Bobb Barber.

Howard’s play was filmed twice before as The Secret Hour with Pola Negri and A Lady in Love with Edward G Robinson.

They Knew What They Wanted is directed by Garson Kanin, runs 96 minutes, is released by RKO Radio Pictures, is written by Robert Ardrey, is shot in black and white by Harry Stradling Sr, is produced by Harry E Edington and Erich Pommer, is scored by Alfred Newman and designed by Van Nest Polglase.

This was partly filmed on location in a rural Napa Valley at what is now the Calistoga Inn/Napa Valley Brewing as Tony’s local cantina/bar, and at St Helena’s train station.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 6753

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