Great classic movie
Added 2/8/2010
We bought this for our daughter for Christmas and so far she has watched a couple of times. Great for those Clark Gable fans.
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Classic for all ages
Added 1/21/2010
It Happened One Night (1934) is a screwball comedy filmed during the depression; it stars Claudette Colbert and Clark Gable. The film was directed by the (soon-to-be) infamous Frank Capra in black and white. Initially looked down upon by its two stars as a sure-flop, both would be surprised when the film swept the Academy Awards.
The film centers on two characters. Ellen "Ellie" Andrews (Colbert) tries to marry "King" Wesley against the wishes of her father before going on the run. On the way she meets Peter Warne (Gable), a newspaper journalist who without a story is on the verge of being jobless. Seeing it as the story of his career Warne pursues, but watching her proves difficult given how out of place she is in the depression gripped United States, since she comes from a wealthy family. Naturally hilarity ensues.
Contrary to its title, the film takes place over a series of days and nights as this would be couple make their way towards New York City in whatever way they can manage: be it by bus, hitchhiking, or stolen automobile. Perhaps a better title would have been more along the lines of `On The Run'. The original short story title of `Night Bus' (written by Samuel Hopkins Adams) could have worked as well, but in the end It Happened One Night was the title that (for whatever reason) stuck.
It Happened One Night is clearly the inspiration to many future romantic comedies. The situation of having a man and woman from two separate backgrounds is one of the most beloved norms for comedy, and this is certainly one of the best entries in a seemingly never ending collection of screwball comedies (which vary greatly in quality). Having good actors like Gable and Colbert as your leads certainly improves the situation of what could otherwise have been (as Gable and Colbert feared) a major flop. Instead of a career ending flop, It Happened One Night would be the first film to get "The Big Five" at the Academy Awards (Best Writing, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, and Best Picture).
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Springy, Giddy, Fun! Great Comedy!
Added 1/4/2010
This is the original Screwball Comedy. I learned from the commentary that the reason the dialog was so quick was because Claudette Colbert was promised that the film would be made in 4 weeks and it was a picture that should have taken 6-8 weeks. There was a rush to do the picture and sets weren't built so everything was filmed on location. What a fluke that the rush would have created the first screwball comedy! Everything is perfect in the this movie the jokes don't tire, they are funny every time. The charm of the movie is immense. The DVD disk contains a radio program from 1939 radio show with Gable and Colbert revising their roles and Cecil B. DeMille is host. Wonderful.
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Wonderful
Added 10/27/2009
What can you say about a classic? It's a classic because it is so good, and that definitely applies to this movie. Funny, romantic, sweet, with a wonderful happy ending. One of Clark Gable's best performances, in my opinion.
1 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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Delightful romantic comedy
Added 10/18/2009
The Bottom Line:
The first of three films to win the Big 5 Oscars (in addition to One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest and Silence of the Lambs), It Happened One Night is a quick and charming romantic comedy with an assured Clark Gable and a sweet Claudette Colbert in the leads; it may be a black and white movie made 75 years ago but it'll make you smile today.
3.5/4
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Great classic movie
Added 2/8/2010
We bought this for our daughter for Christmas and so far she has watched a couple of times. Great for those Clark Gable fans.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Classic for all ages
Added 1/21/2010
It Happened One Night (1934) is a screwball comedy filmed during the depression; it stars Claudette Colbert and Clark Gable. The film was directed by the (soon-to-be) infamous Frank Capra in black and white. Initially looked down upon by its two stars as a sure-flop, both would be surprised when the film swept the Academy Awards.
The film centers on two characters. Ellen "Ellie" Andrews (Colbert) tries to marry "King" Wesley against the wishes of her father before going on the run. On the way she meets Peter Warne (Gable), a newspaper journalist who without a story is on the verge of being jobless. Seeing it as the story of his career Warne pursues, but watching her proves difficult given how out of place she is in the depression gripped United States, since she comes from a wealthy family. Naturally hilarity ensues.
Contrary to its title, the film takes place over a series of days and nights as this would be couple make their way towards New York City in whatever way they can manage: be it by bus, hitchhiking, or stolen automobile. Perhaps a better title would have been more along the lines of `On The Run'. The original short story title of `Night Bus' (written by Samuel Hopkins Adams) could have worked as well, but in the end It Happened One Night was the title that (for whatever reason) stuck.
It Happened One Night is clearly the inspiration to many future romantic comedies. The situation of having a man and woman from two separate backgrounds is one of the most beloved norms for comedy, and this is certainly one of the best entries in a seemingly never ending collection of screwball comedies (which vary greatly in quality). Having good actors like Gable and Colbert as your leads certainly improves the situation of what could otherwise have been (as Gable and Colbert feared) a major flop. Instead of a career ending flop, It Happened One Night would be the first film to get "The Big Five" at the Academy Awards (Best Writing, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, and Best Picture).
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Springy, Giddy, Fun! Great Comedy!
Added 1/4/2010
This is the original Screwball Comedy. I learned from the commentary that the reason the dialog was so quick was because Claudette Colbert was promised that the film would be made in 4 weeks and it was a picture that should have taken 6-8 weeks. There was a rush to do the picture and sets weren't built so everything was filmed on location. What a fluke that the rush would have created the first screwball comedy! Everything is perfect in the this movie the jokes don't tire, they are funny every time. The charm of the movie is immense. The DVD disk contains a radio program from 1939 radio show with Gable and Colbert revising their roles and Cecil B. DeMille is host. Wonderful.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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