NEW It Happened One Night (DVD)

 

 

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Columbia Pictures Corporation presents "IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT" (1934) (105 min/B&W) -- Starring: Clark Gable, Claudette Colbert, Walter Connolly, Roscoe Karns, Jameson Thomas, Alan Hale, Arthur Hoyt, Blanche Friderici, Charles C. Wilson

Directed by Frank Capra

Rebellious socialite Ellie Andrews (Claudette Colbert) marries King Wesley (Jameson Thomas) but her wealthy father has it annulled. Tired of her father's (Walter Connolly) control, she runs away by diving off the family yacht in Miami and heading for New York. On the bus she meets street-smart reporter Peter Warne (Clark Gable). They end up traveling together as Warne hopes to get a great story, and Ellie needs his worldly help. Nearing New York, with their many adventures coming to an end, they find that they are reluctantly in love and afraid to admit it to each other.

After she mistakenly thinks that Warne has run out on her Ellie returns to King Wesley, but for how long?
Claudette Colbert only accepted because Capra promised he would double her salary and she would be done in four weeks. She disliked the film so much she didn't even attend the Oscars; when she won for Best Actress she was found about to leave on a trip and was rushed to the ceremony, where she made her acceptance speech in a traveling suit.

Oscar Winners for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Clark Gable), Best Actress in a Leading Role (Claudette Colbert), Best Director
(Frank Capra), Best Picture (Columbia Pictures), Best Writing, Adaptation (Robert Riskin)

* Special Footnote: -- In 1996, Steven Spielberg anonymously purchased Clark Gable's Oscar to protect it from further commercial exploitation, gave it back to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, commenting that he could think of "no better sanctuary for Gable's only Oscar than the Motion Picture Academy". ** Claudette Colbert was so convinced that she would lose the Oscar to write-in nominee Bette Davis that she didn't attended the ceremony originally. She was summoned from a train station to pick up her Academy Award.

** Another Special Footnote: -- Robert Montgomery turned down the male lead, saying the script was the worst thing he had ever read. ** Myrna Loy turned down the role of Ellie Andrews because a recent film set on a bus had failed, and she didn't think that this one would succeed.

BIOS:
1. Frank Capra [aka: Francesco Rosario Capra] (Director)
Date of Birth: 18 May 1897 - Bisacquino, Sicily, Italy
Date of Death: 3 September 1991 - La Quinta, California

2. Clark Gable
Date of birth: 1 February 1901 - Cadiz, Ohio,
Date of death: 16 November 1960 - Los Angeles, California

3. Claudette Colbert [aka: Emilie Claudette Chauchoin]
Date of Birth: 13 September 1903 - Saint-Mandé, Seine [now Val-de-Marne], France
Date of Death: 30 July 1996 - Speightstown, Barbados

4. Walter Connolly
Date of Birth: 8 April 1887 - Cincinnati, Ohio
Date of Death: 28 May 1940 - Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California

5. Roscoe Karns
Date of Birth: 7 September 1891 - San Bernardino, California
Date of Death: 6 February 1970 - Los Angeles, California

6. Jameson Thomas [aka: Thomas Jameson]
Date of Birth: 24 March 1888 - London, England, UK
Date of Death: 10 January 1939 - Sierra Madre, California

Mr. Jim's Ratings:
Quality of Picture & Sound: 5 Stars
Performance: 5 Stars
Story & Screenplay: 5 Stars
Overall: 5 Stars [Original Music, Cinematography & Film Editing]

Total Time: 105 min on DVD ~ Columbia Pictures Corporation ~ (December 9, 2008)

Peter Warne: Why didn't you take off all your clothes? You could have stopped forty cars.
Ellie Andrews: Well, ooo, I'll remember that when we need forty cars.

On-screen chemistry has the ability to turn a good film into something special. Look no further than Frank Capra's "It Happened One Night" for proof of this. Whoever came up with the idea of pairing Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert together in this production certainly earned his or her paycheck.

Rich girl Ellie Andrews (Colbert) runs away from her father so that she can be with her one true love, King Westley (Jameson Thomas). Ellie has little knowledge of how the outside world works so she hooks up with reporter Peter Warne (Gable) who offers to help her reach New York in return for the exclusive rights to her story. The pair finds each other intolerable at the outset but as they spend more time together, their opinions of each other start to change. By the time they arrive in New York, Ellie and Peter must decide if they should act upon the newfound affection they have developed towards one another.

"It Happened One Night" is effectively funny and romantic at the same time. The out-of-the-way situations Ellie and Peter find themselves involved in is screwball comedy at its finest and the love that develops between them is Hollywood magic at its most charming. Colbert and Gable show why they were two of the biggest stars of their era and the chemistry they display on screen still is magnetic to this very day. "It Happened One Night" is also a fascinating cultural text due to its suggestive sexual overtones and its vivid depiction of a woman who is determined to take matters into her own hands when the situation calls for it. Both of these aspects are especially noteworthy when one considers the period in which the film was made. Yet, if "It Happened One Night" is to be remembered for anything, it should be remembered for the classic that it is. After all, when you speak of pure cinematic bliss, you speak of scenes like the one where Ellie flashes her thigh to stop an approaching car - truly one of the greatest moments ever caught on film.

70 years later, this movie still holds up beautifully. It's funny, smart, and, man! those sexy, charming leads! I'd ride a bus with Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert anywhere ...

This ones recommended for everyone -- old people, young people ... It hasn't aged, and it'll always be a good time.

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5.0 out of 5 stars A classic that deserves to endure
A spoiled socialite (Claudette Colbert) flees her wealthy father (Walter Connolly) and heads for New York to marry a rich playboy (Jameson Thomas) against her father's will. Read more

Published on Jun 13 2004 by David Bonesteel

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Picture Winner that Deserved it.
This film is nothing but brilliant. There is not a second that goes by when you get bored of it.

The film stars Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert and is directed by Frank... Read more

Published on May 28 2004 by _M_

4.0 out of 5 stars A Classic Gem!
I like the old classics and It Happened One Night is a very good movie with a wonderful cast! Claudette Colbert stars as an heiress who runs away from her father who is trying to... Read more

Published on Mar 18 2004 by Thebookwoman

5.0 out of 5 stars IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT: Gets Better with Each Viewing
When IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT was released in 1934, the movie was not a hit either with the fans or the critics. Read more

Published on Feb 28 2004 by Martin Asiner

5.0 out of 5 stars *Epitome of Romantic Screwball Comedies*
I first saw this movie when I was 15-years-old. Most people at this age usually have the misconception that black & white films are boring. Read more

Published on Feb 15 2004 by RJRo20

5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious Love Story
"It Happened One Night" is an excellent comedy released in 1934. It garnered five Oscars, including Best Picture. Read more

Published on Feb 3 2004 by David Anderson

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Movie Ever! (Really)
I have loved this movie forever. It is the simple story of a poor little rich girl (Colbert)who runs away from her tycoon father in hopes of making it to New York to wed her... Read more

Published on Oct 11 2003 by Just Another Opinion

5.0 out of 5 stars What a funny movie!
This movie is one laugh after another with a great story. You've probably read the story from other reviewers, so I won't remind you, but I just thought the plot was very clever... Read more

Published on Sep 6 2003 by Becca

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the truly good ones
I feel like a kid in the candy store. Having finally purchased the DVD of this wonderful film there's a sense that I did something right. Read more

Published on July 29 2003 by Richard A. Tucker

5.0 out of 5 stars HAHA...
This classic film is SO AMAZINGLY FUNNY!!! It includes some of the most famous scenes in Hollywood history, including Clark Gable trying to hitch a ride, and teaching Claudette... Read more

Published on July 8 2003 by Jane Lane's Twin

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