Displaying items by tag: Charles Laughton

THEY KNEW WHAT THEY WANTED

US, 1940, 89 minutes, Black-and-white.

Charles Laughton, Carol Lombard, William Gargan, Frank Fahey, Harry Carey.

Directed by Garson Kanin.

They Knew What They Wanted was a Pulitzer-prize-winning drama, 1925, written by Sidney Howard (Oscar for Gone with the Wind). It was filmed in 1928, The Secret Hour, with Pola Negri and Jean Hersholt. It was made again, this time with the title A Lady to Love, 1930, with Edward G. Robinson and Vilma Banky, directed by distinguished Swedish actor and directors, the conditional strong.

The further remake, with the original title, was released in 1940, directed by writer and director, Garson Kanin, a star vehicle for Charles Laughton and Carole Lombard. By 1940, Laughton had already won an Oscar playing Henry VIII had appeared as Bligh, Javert, the Hunchback of Notre Dame. This is an exuberant Laughton, an Italian migrant growing grapes in Napa Valley, full of verve, movement, emotion. Sadly, within a few years, Carol Lombarde had died in a plane accident.

This is a film about the Italian community in California, Italian traditions, the presence of the parish priest and the religious traditions, an unlikely marriage between the farmer and a waitress San Francisco, corresponding, the wrong photo sent, that of the farmer’s associate (played by William Gargan), misunderstandings…

From 1940 and the motion picture code, the film is fairly straightforward and frank in terms of Gargan as a womanising character, the encounter with the waitress, the final revelation about her pregnancy, recriminations, confrontations, and the very Christian perspective at the end, not an immediate happy ending, but the farmer and his forgiveness and hopes indicating happiness in the future.

1. Prize-winning play, film adaptations, production values, the cast?
2. The Napa Valley, the Vineyards, farmers, the Italian community, homes, work, the local community and festivities, doctor, priest, a self-contained world? The musical score?
3. Toniys story, Charles Laughton’s performance, exuberant, migrant, accepted in the US, the vineyards, money saved, Joe as his manager, getting dressed up, suit and tie, shoes, the trip to San Francisco, the meal, the comedy with the shoe, Amy as the waitress, stern and matter-of-fact, Tony’s attraction, hopes?
4. His return, confiding in Joe, Joe and the writing of the letters, reluctant, style, and his receiving them, response, her friend typing the letters, formal? the request for a photo?
5. The discussions for a better future, her decision, travelling, the issue of the wrong photo after the comedy of taking of the photo, Joe the station, not able to tell the truth, taking her to the house, meeting with Tony, and bewilderment, his showing her about the house?
6. The celebrations in the evening, her participation, the puzzle with Joe, the truth, Tony and his dancing, the pyramid of men over him, taunted, going on the roof, falling, injuries, the doctor?
7. Tony, the time as the recovery, Amy staying, Joe, his womanising background, deciding to leave, promises to Tony, the encounters with Amy, the kissing – and the later news of the pregnancy?
8. Tony’s recovery, the priest, his friendship with Tony, advice, going to Sacramento for the Bishop to officiate the marriage, the tension the night before going?
9. Joe, packing and leaving, and the deciding to leave after Amy fainting, the doctor knowing the truth?
10. The final meeting, the priest, Amy and her shame, wanting to leave, Tony by contrast, happy, the vision of the son, no matter the father, raising, the son inheriting…?
11. Amy leaving, grateful to Tony, his waiting – and the hopes for her eventual return?