They Knew What They Wanted (film)

They Knew What They Wanted
Original lobby card
Directed byGarson Kanin
Screenplay byRobert Ardrey
Based onThey Knew What They Wanted
by Sidney Howard
Produced byHarry E. Edington
Erich Pommer
StarringCarole Lombard
Charles Laughton
William Gargan
CinematographyHarry Stradling
Edited byJohn Sturges
Music byAlfred Newman
Production
company
Distributed byRKO Radio Pictures
Release dates
  • October 8, 1940 (1940-10-08) (San Francisco)
  • October 25, 1940 (1940-10-25) (U.S.)
Running time
90 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$781,000
Box office$932,000

They Knew What They Wanted is a 1940 film directed by Garson Kanin, written by Robert Ardrey, and starring Carole Lombard, Charles Laughton and William Gargan. It is based on the 1924 Pulitzer Prize winning play They Knew What They Wanted by Sidney Howard. For his performance Gargan was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Karl Malden made his film debut.