They Knew What They Wanted

by Sidney Howard

Tony, an aging Italian winegrower in the California Napa Valley, who proposes by letter to Amy, a San Francisco waitress who waited on him once. Fearing that she will find him too old and ugly, Tony sends her a photograph of Joe, his young hired hand, instead of himself. When Amy comes to the vineyard she discovers Tony has lied to her and problems ensue between Tony, Amy, and Joe.

The play premiered at the Garrick Theatre on 24 November 1924 and closed in October 1925, after 192 performances. It was later remade as a film, revived on Broadway, and adapted into a Broadway musical, The Most Happy Fella.

Genres: Plays, Drama, Fiction, Theatre

179 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1925

About the author

Sidney Coe Howard was an American playwright and screenwriter. He received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1925 and a posthumous Academy Award for Writing Adapted Screenplay in 1940 for the screenplay for Gone with the Wind. This was the first time a posthumous nominee for any Oscar won the award. He had been twice previously nominated for his adaptations of the Sinclair Lewis novels Arrowsmith , and Dodsworth .

Reviews

[Anna Muthalaly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well this is a melodrama and so, the plot trots along quite nicely. Bonus points for actually making some kind of mark on the world, unlike many of the Pulitzer winners in the 20s— this show has been revived multiple times, and was the basis of the successful musical the most happy fella.

I mean, still fairly pointless, but at least it wasn’t a drag!

This was the 9th play I read in my quest to read everything that has been awarded the Pulitzer for drama.

[Lisa of Troy]

A Book Owned by F. Scott Fitzgerald: https://static-prod.lib.princeton.edu...

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

When reading classics (or any piece of literature not published in recent years), I try to keep in mind the era in which it was written and not judge by modern standards. Every once in a while, though, I encounter a piece so dated in its mores and attitudes that I can’t divorce my modern views in analyzing the work’s literary merit.

They Knew What They Wanted is one such piece. For one, I’ve no idea why it qualifies as a comedy as it’s, at best, a melodrama. That aside, the ethnic stereotypes that border on racism, the sexism, and the idea that, as an audience member, I should be cheering for an old man to marry a woman nearly young enough to be his granddaughter who is marrying him out of economic necessity: I couldn’t enjoy the play. It’s an anachronism, but I’m also not convinced it’s a good play. There’s too much talking, for one. The pacing is wonky, and there’s little interest in any of the characters beyond broad stereotypes. Sometimes I read older plays and think ‘well, if they changed some of the words, cut a few lines, there’s a decent story here.’ That’s not the case with They Knew What They Wanted. Not recommended.

[Dave Carroll · Rating 3 out of 5]

Extremely overdramatic

100 years after something has been written, it is easy to roll your eyes and chalk up dialogue as schlocky and over the top. Then again, so is much of the content that makes its way into prime time network and streaming television isn't much better. Kudos to its brazenness for the period. I expect the later film adaptations are tamer by comparison. It is an intersection time capsule about an immigrant success story, his sympathies towards a Wobbly drifter and a diner waitress who is wooed by the opportunity to stop slinging hash to become the young wife to an older successful wine grower who was too busy becoming successful to seek a wife that was age appropriate. Then, of course, introducing a courting strategy straight out of Cyrano de Bergerac cast a die that could spell doom.

I chose to read this as part of the #pulitzerprizereadingchallenge . #theyknewwhattheywanted , a lame title, by playwright #sidneyhoward won the #1925pulitzerprizefordrama

This was a fun and brief three act time capsule that didn't reel me in enough to want to see any of the film adaptations right now. Maybe later.

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy the musical adaptation of Howard's play (The Most Happy Fella by Loesser) more, but it was fun to read the play too.

[Zoë · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars.

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't like plays format as a whole, and this story was just plain confusing...

[Brian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Found this in a book of “1920s” plays at a free library. Weird little time machine but honestly kind of a dumb story. Why did it win a Pulitzer???

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three acts but it's a simple play about love and the sacrifices made. The realization during the end of Act I is a terrific moment and you really feel for Tony, Amy and Joe.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it for the gutsy monologues from women who know what they want, and men who do, too.
Weird/wild to read something so tangled in ethnic slurring.

[Mel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was the first play Beatrix played an American in. It was the last of the three times she understudied for Tallhulah Bankhead. I have to say I didn't care for this play at all. It was more hick farmers, although they had money, and was a very similar story to the later Eugene O'Neil play when the young girl falls for the handsome younger man instead of the older farmer she was supposed to be marrying. The characters just felt so unlikable, the dialogue wasn't that inspiring and full of dialect, I just couldn't find anything to recommend it. I know they made a film out of this but having found the play so dull it's not one I am going to try and watch.

[Bobby Sullivan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't say I enjoyed this play. Too many stereotypes, too much predictability in the plot. I think if I'd spent money to see this play performed, I'd want my money back, based on the weakness of the story.