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Catalog/Drama/They Knew What They Wanted
They Knew What They Wanted poster
C
Average
MASTER SCORE 51.8 / 100
1940·Drama / Romance·1h 36m

THEY KNEW WHAT THEY WANTED

“"I won't Do it! Joe...you and me...we can't. It'd be too awful-on account of Tony. I've got to marry Tony...just as soon as he gets well!"”

While courting a young woman by mail, a rich farmer sends a photograph of his foreman instead of his own, which leads to complications when she accepts his marriage proposal.

Above the Line
Garson Kanin·DirectorRobert Ardrey·ScreenplaySidney Howard·Theatre PlayHarry Stradling Sr.·Director of PhotographyAlfred Newman·Original Music ComposerJohn Sturges·Editor
Cast
Carole Lombard·Amy PetersCharles Laughton·Tony PatucciWilliam Gargan·JoeHarry Carey·The DoctorFrank Fay·Father McKeeJoseph E. Bernard·The R.F.D.Janet Fox·MildredLee Tung Foo·Ah Gee, the CookKarl Malden·RedVictor Kilian·The Photographer
Full Crew
(17 credits)
Directing· 2
Garson Kanin·DirectorRuby Rosenberg·Assistant Director
Writing· 2
Robert Ardrey·ScreenplaySidney Howard·Theatre Play
Camera· 1
Harry Stradling Sr.·Director of Photography
Editing· 1
John Sturges·Editor
Sound & Music· 3
Alfred Newman·Original Music ComposerJohn L. Cass·Sound RecordistAlfred Newman·Conductor
Art & Design· 4
Van Nest Polglase·Art DirectionMark-Lee Kirk·Art DirectionDarrell Silvera·Set DecorationMel Berns·Makeup Artist
Production· 2
Erich Pommer·ProducerHarry E. Edington·Executive Producer
Other Departments· 2
Vernon L. Walker·Special EffectsEdward Stevenson·Wardrobe Supervisor
By the Numbers
51.8
OF 100
Master Score
6.0
OF 10
IMDb
—
CRITICS
Rotten Tomatoes
—
Worldwide Gross
0
1 NOMS
Oscar Wins
Where to Watch

THE AVAILABILITY MAP

The canonical record of where this film lives across the streaming map.

Provider Index In Progress

Streaming, rental, and purchase availability for this title is being ingested from the TMDB watch-providers feed and will appear here once the next catalog refresh runs. Until then, the canonical source links below remain the fastest route.

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Poster DNA

THE VISUAL DECONSTRUCTION

A bespoke vision agent's reading of the design language behind They Knew What They Wanted's key art.

Dominant Palette
3 colors
#F8F5E9
#342D2D
#C83C3C
Mood
Romantic, Cheerful
Composition
Layered
Era
1940s
Visual Style
Painted

“A movie poster features a cream-colored background with black and red text at the top, announcing the film title and lead actors. Below the text, a painted illu”

romancedrama
Atmosphere
Warm
Color Mood
Warm
Setting
None Visible
Design Score
7/10
More Like This

THE NEIGHBORHOOD

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Keep Going

THREE WAYS DEEPER

Auteur
AUT
MORE BY GARSON KANIN

Every catalog entry where Garson Kanin is credited as director.

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Family
GEN
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Era
DEC
MORE FROM THE 1940S

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View on IMDbView on TMDBCatalog
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