Rating: 
Summary: still as enchanting as ever
Review: IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT is still regarded as one of the best comedies ever made, thanks to the superb performances of Claudette Colbert and Clark Gable and the faultless direction of Frank Capra. Based on the short story "Night Bus" by Samuel Hopkins Adams, the story concerns spoiled heiress Ellie Andrews (Claudette Colbert) escapes her millionaire father (Walter Connolly) to wants to stop her from marrying a worthless playboy. En route to New York, Ellie gets involved with an out-of-work newspaper reporter, Peter Warne (Clark Gable). When their night bus breaks down, the bickering couple set off on a hilarious hitchiking expedition. Peter hopes to turn the inside story of their misadventures into a job. But complications fly when the runaway heiress and brash reporter fall in love. IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT scooped all five major catergories at the 1934 Academy Awards, winning Best Picture, Best Actor (Clark Gable), Best Actress (Claudette Colbert), Best Screenplay (Robert Riskin) and Best Director (Frank Capra). The DVD includes the trailer, rare radio material, picture/promo gallery and a featurette.
Rating:
Summary: Incredible classic comedy
Review: Without any question, this is one of the classic comedies of film history. It signaled the beginning of Frank Capra's career as a marquee director. Although he had made a bevy of films before this one, from IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT on, Capra was a directing star. Unlike most of his later films, this film does not have the social or political overtones of many of those films. The performances in this film are among the finest comic roles in the history of film. Most of Clark Gable's fame rests on his many hard hitting dramas and action films, but he was amazingly as effective here in a pure comedy as in any of his other films. Cladette Colbert specialized in comedy (though she also managed some top flight dramatic roles), and managed several star turns as excellent as she was here (THE PALM BEACH STORY and MIDNIGHT), but even if she had not made the other films, we would remember her today because of this film. The film is graced with several superb turns by character actors like Roscoe Kerns (as the oily and opportunistic Oscar Shapeley), Walter Connolly, and Alan Hale. There are as many classic scenes in this film as any you can think of. Bugs Bunny's carrot chewing habit was supposedly borrowed by his creators from Clark Gable in the famous hitchhiking scene. The Walls of Jericho scene has been mimicked in several other films. We remember these scenes because they are funny, well-written, and superbly acted. Without any question, one of the great films. The fact that the movie won the four most important Oscars--Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Director--merely confirms what any viewer can see for themselves. Nonetheless, there are somethings that I find disturbing in the film. Part of the reason is the fact that the movie embodies some very disturbing attitudes towards women. These attitudes don't have to be teased out or discovered by a microscopic examination of key scenes. The attitudes are blatant and in-your-face. If anyone doubts me, just watch the movie again with an eye for how Claudette Colbert is treated, and imagine oneself in that position. For instance, at once point Peter Warren (Gable) tells the father of Ellie Andrews (Colbert) that what she needs is a husband who will belt her everyday, whether she deserves it or not (her father seems to agree with him). Today, the notion of any man "belting" his wife under any conditions is offensive. Throughout the movie, Cable pushes, shoves, picks up, and bosses Colbert around. He pretty much treats her as if she were a doll. By today's standards, he frequently invades her personal space. He tells her to shut up, and she shuts up. In one scene, Gable is carrying Colbert on his shoulder across a creek (itself a fairly demeaning position), when he smacks her on the butt for arguing with him. It is impossible to imagine any of Barbara Stanwyck's characters putting up this kind of treatment. Quite apart from all this, Cable's machismo is really, really hard to take in the early part of the 21st century. Unfortunately, this is a feature of most of his characters, and is, I believe, one of the reasons that his popularity has fared so badly in comparison with so many of his more important contemporaries like Bogart, Jimmy Stewart, or Cary Grant. There are just too many scenes in this film that you have to watch with blinders on. In other words, the films reflects social ideas that are part of a world that no longer exists. The film feels dated in other ways as well. Technologically, the sound is not quite as good as we would find in films only a year or two later, often sounding boxy. Like in many of Capra's films, many of the characters, especially characters who make only brief appearances, seem cardboardish, unbelievable, and simplistic. They reflect ways of speaking and attitudes that many viewers will find difficult to understand. These characters just strike us as wrong and unconvincing, and for that reason, remote. This is not true of many other films of the thirties and forties, though it is frequently true of the films of Capra. Compare Ward Bond's bus driver with nearly any minor character in THE AWFUL TRUTH or BRINGING UP BABY or THE LADY EVE or TO BE OR NOT TO BE or THE PALM BEACH STORY, and my point is understood. I don't know if the fault is Capra (which I suspect, since he had a number of simplistic and naively optimistic characters in a number of his films--one of the factors figuring into what is known as Capra-corn) or the fact that the film is one of the older talking pictures that we actually still watch. It doesn't keep the film from being a classic of the first rank, but it does supply a disturbing undertone.
Rating:
Summary: Light comedy at its best.
Review: This thourghly entertaining film set the vogue for the many screw-ball comedies of the thirties and forties. It was the first of it's kind and possibly the best. And much of it's success was due I think to the performance of Clark Gable, playing a alcoholic reporter with an eye for a good story. How I wish he had done more light-comedy instead of allowing himself to be steered into the tough, macho, Rhett Butler type roles. This very enjoyable film gets off to a good start with it's opening scene in which we are shown Gable, as Peter Warne, standing in a phone-booth, drunk, arguing with his belligerent editor who has just sacked him, while outside wait a gang of his admiring cronies. When the exasperated editor rings off, Gable unwilling to admit defeat, continues an imaginary conversation which he brings to an apparently triumphant conclusion. This so delights his cronies that they carry him away shoulder-high chanting, "Make way for the king." thus, presumably, originating his tag as "The King of Hollywood." This too must have been the first "Road" film. He meets on a crowded bus,
Ellie Andrews, beautifully played by Claudet Colbert, a recalcitrant, snobbish and spoilt wealthy heiress who is on the run from her domineering father who has sent two detectives in pursuit and put out a reward for her "recapture". She is suspicious of everyone and initially treats Peter Warne with disdain. But through a whole series of misadventures during which he consistently demonstrates he is on her side, he eventually wins her over and she agrees to give him the story he needs. But will she give him anything more? To find out we are kept in suspense until the very last minute. There are many memorable scenes in this film and here are a few of my favourites: his sublimely ridiculous altercation with a monosyllabic bus-driver, played by Ward Bond, who's repartee seems limited to two words, "Oh yeah?": the entertaining rendition by all the bus passengers of "The Man on the Flying Trapeze." with individuals poping up to do their own thing: the ride they hitch from a boisterous and deceptively friendly car-driver, played by Alan Hale: and the scene in which when two of her dad's detectives knock on the door of their chalet in an "Auto-Park" they instantly transform themselves into a long-time married couple who are not getting on too well - she a cowed and miserable wife and he a loud-mouthed and bullying husband. Marvellous stuff.
Rating:
Summary: One of the truly greatest movies of all time
Review: o.k. both, Casablanca and Gone with the Wind are great movies, but this one tops both as a classic, Frank Capra's first acknowledged masterpiece which won all of the important Academy Awards (5) for the first time. The acting and the scenario is so natural and believable, especially the relationship that develops between the characters played by Gable and Colbert. It's a pity these two great stars didn't act opposite each other in another comedy again (imagine them in a film by Preston Sturges or Mitchell Leisen! Gable would have been excellent in Don Ameche's role in Leisen's "Midnight"). Sadly, the only other movie which starred both, was a so-so adenture-drama yarn called "Boom Town", at Metro. You must watch the crystal clear copy of the DVD version, it's a must for all of us who had to watch for years those bad copies they showed in TV.
Rating:
Summary: Practically perfect in every way
Review: I watched this last night for the first time and I'm getting all goose-bumpy just thinking about how much I liked it. I borrowed the DVD but I'm definitely going to get my own copy, because I know I'll want to watch this one again and again. Everything in this film clicks: the dialogue is sharp and witty yet believable, the actors are at the top of their game (why couldn't Gable have done more comedy? He absolutely shines!), and the scenes they generate are warm and real. I don't know what to say that hasn't been said before so I'll just repeat what everyone else has said for the last 60+ years. How can you not love the famous Walls of Jericho scene with the oh so shirtless oh so sexy Mr. Gable? How can you not love the warm and wonderful whimsy of the singing they do on the bus ("He flies through the air with the greatest of ease, the daring young man on the flying trapeze")? How can you not love the hitch-hiking scene? Or the bit about piggybackers? Or the carrots? Or the operatic fellow who gives them a lift? Or the humorously lecherous Mr. Shapely? The scene on the bus is so wonderfully Capraesque with its fun, gentle warmth; you find yourself wishing you could have been on that bus with those people on that night singing that song about the flying trapeze. In this regard it reminds me of the swimming pool/dancing scene in It's a Wonderful Life. Capra was so good at generating this kind of magic! There is a wonderful comic chemistry between Clark and Claudette. Their timing is impeccable and they seem like old hands who've been working together for ages. Naturally there's a fair amount of sexual chemistry, too. I never knew so much could be accomplished between two people on opposite sides of a wool blanket utilizing the different effects of shade and light. The few scenes that could be classified as traditional love scenes are done with such a light, tender hand; they're passionate yet sweet and simple. Mr. Capra clearly knew his business. The DVD itself features a nice bit of reminiscing from Frank Capra, Jr. He gives some inside information on how the film came to be and talks a bit about the stars and how his father utilized their talents. It also features a radio recording of the film done by the principal stars, along with some very cool images of vintage advertising from the time of the film's release.
Rating:
Summary: A highly recommended Capra classic!
Review: This is one of my favorite all time movies and to see it on DVD makes it much more special in the next viewing and another viewing later on with commentary from Frank Capra, Jr. The movie deserves every Academy Award it has won and also to be recognized as one of the top 100 movies of all time by the American Film Institute. The movie's video and audio has been digitally remastered and the special features was very nice to see. Especially the "Frank Capra Jr. Remembers" segment, the trailers, vintage advertising and the original live radio broadcast is an even added bonus. As well as the commentary by Frank Capra's son. What I found quite interesting is to learn the behavior by our two main thespians behind-the-scenes especially with Claudette Colbert. Otherwise it's a great movie classic that people should see!
Rating: 
Summary: Comedy that keeps the viewers's attention throughout
Review: Overall a good movie. I wanted to see this movie because it was the first movie to win all 5 Oscars at the Academy Awards. I really did not expect too much out of it, because movies from that time era usually did not have too much depth or plot other than a simple "love story." However, I have to comment that Claudette Colbert earned a well-deserved Oscar for her fantastic performance. Clark Gable for Best Actor??????-I strongly disagree with that. His performance was rather underwhelming and lacking of the special spark that made Colbert light up the screen. Best Picture---why not??? Best Director for Frank Capra and Best Screenplay-both well-deserved awards. Overall, an enjoyable movie, but there should have been a different male lead.
Rating:
Summary: This film is the first modern romantic comedy.
Review: In "It Happened One Night," Frank Capra invented the screen romantic comedy as we know it. Every boy-and-girl story from the mid-1930s on owes a debt to this graceful, witty, pleasing story of a runaway heiress and a wisecracking reporter who uncovers her secret. All of Capra's major themes are here--his celebration of spontaneity, charity and common friendliness; his depiction of how too much money can warp the human spirit--without the heavy-handedness or sentimentality that overwhelmed some of his later work. Clark Gable's blustery, smooth-talking masculinity and Claudette Colbert's sassy yet wistful delicacy are utterly perfect for this movie, and add immeasurably to its enchanting spell. This was the first movie to make a clean sweep of the Best Picture, Director, Actor and Actress Oscars, and it was eminently deserving of that honor. Even today the movie seems modern and freshly minted, and it connects better with audiences than any other film of its era.
Rating:
Summary: Oh yeah? Yeah!
Review: To say that this light-hearted comedy doesn't "age a bit" is overstating the matter, but the overwhelming influence wrought by the success of the film makes it worth noting. Still, the age of the film is both part of its charm and part of its burden. The images of Depression-era travel and mores are fascinating, but I cringed at the multiple references to light violence as the cure to one character's spoiled nature. Also worth noting, though, is that none of this occurs on screen. Clark Gable, sporting some sort of "Snideley Whiplash" moustache, puts in a very compelling performance as the rebellious reporter. Claudette Colbert hits several different notes, sometimes seemingly at random, as the spoiled banker's daughter who is trying to find a way to live with herself. She gets away with it because she manages to give full weight to the character. Both actors are fascinating to watch. Everybody has their favorite scenes. For stark contrast, I like to think of the intensity which Gable and Colbert throw into their act when attempting to fool the detectives looking for them. Following that with the sweet gloating on Colbert's face after she's managed to hitch a ride for them. I'm no fan of Capra, but he acquits himself okay here, staging some scenes rather cleverly, and, I think. It is a testament to his abilities that so many of the sketches placed throughout the movie have become ingrained in popular culture. In casting extras, every face is magnificent, every small role has the potential to leap out and be as startling as Smooth-Talkin' Shapeley, or the mad singing driver who picks up the hitchhikers. Finally, the DVD transfer is pretty good, with sound better than you'll probably get anywhere else. The menu interface is very irritating if navigating by mouse on your computer.
Rating:
Summary: WINNER - 1934 Picture of the Year "THE TOP 5 OSCARS" !!!!
Review: "It Happen One Night" won the top 5 Oscars of 1934. Best Picture, Best Director - Frank Capra, Best Actor - Clark Gable, Best Actress - Claudette Colbert & Screen Play. This is one of the best "screwball comedies" ever. (Screwball (Black) comedy was a type of comedy introduced during the Depression years (1930's) depicting strange scenarios, characters with twists and bazaar (screwball) plots). In summary; Rich, spoiled,runaway heiress Ellie (Colbert) & a newspaper reporter, Peter (Gable) have a chance meeting on a bus & end up together on a crazy romantic journey. They are totally mismatched and in an adversarial relationship. Their trek takes them through the Depression countryside of America where Ellie gets a strong dose of reality. As events unfurl & situations occur they become involved & the rest is cinematic history. This DVD is one of the best ever. The picture & sound quality rival being at the original showing. Probally because it is digitalized better!!!. The extras, including a radio broadcast show with Gable and Colbert & one of the best movie commentaries by Frank Capra Jr. (Frank Sr's, son)are added treats to enjoy. A great value DVD. This is a great way to enjoy the Hollywood of the 30's and the stellar cast performing perfectly.
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