It Happened One Night (Download, Review)

Take a night to step away from the over-stimulated modern world and sit back to enjoy a true great classic. If you have never seen ‘It Happened One Night’ featuring Clark Gable and Claudette Cobert, you have really missed out on a great film. The film harkens back to the day when men were strong and women were coy. It is a balm for the stressed out soul and will be a delightful mini- mental vacation.

The film was released in 1934 and gives you a glimpse of how different the world was back then. Capturing the simple of tale of spoiled brat Ellie Andrews (Cobert) who was run away from her rich father in order to be with her worthless husband-in-name-only, King Wesley (Jameson Thomas). Her rich father has kidnapped her on board his yacht so he can have time to annul the whole affair and stubborn Ellie takes matters into her hands by diving overboard!

Her escape route from Miami to Wesley in New York pairs her up with broken down newspaper man Peter Warne (Gable) who befriends (if not annoys) the run away heiress. They are forced to share a bus seat at the starting leg of the journey and through a series of mad cap events, become partners in travel to get Ellie back to Wesley in New York. Along the way, affairs of the heart must be dealt with and Gable and Cobert give outstanding performances both verbal and non-verbal as their characters grow closer. Of course, nothing works out smoothly and the twists and turns in this ground-breaking film are thrilling even today.

Classic scenes such as Peter teaching Ellie the right way to dunk a doughnut and raising the “Walls of Jericho” so they can sleep properly as two single people of two social classes in one room are exquisite. It is easy to forget there once was a time when morals were strictly adhered to and ladies did all they could to retain their reputation. This film showcases that mentality yet is not without its own tempting scenes for the day- Gable surely made raised a few eyebrows when he whipped off his undershirt to show off his bare chest and Colbert, not to be outdone, does a bewitching scene in only her camisole. The film also addresses the differences in opinion based on financial status and how brutally realistic this was during the Depression.

The acting is top notch and the pairing of Gable with Cobert is reminiscent of the William Powell and Myrna Loy in ‘The Thin Man’. Watch ‘It Happened One Night’ for the clean romance, the screwball dramatic that was just beginning to take shape and for the joy of watching true Hollywood royalty. This film made for a perfect date movie and is one that leaves you understanding it is worth watching over and over again.

Fun Trivia Facts About ‘It Happened One Night’

It was filmed in four weeks and paid Cobert $50,000 for her performance.

Myrna Loy was the first choice for Ellie Andrews and Robert Montgomery was the original pick for Peter Warne.

Gable’s carrot chewing ability was an inspiration for cartoon character Bugs Bunnys rapid fire gnawing.

The film captured five Academy Awards, including Best Actor and Actress, and would hold the record until 1975 when it was toppled by ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’.

Thomas’ portrayal of dour, checked-out King Wesley was the inspiration for cartoon character Pepe LePew.

There is no modern day cursing in the film.

The film takes a political note in scene where a young boy cries on the bus because his mother, who has fainted, has come all this way to look into a rumored job interview. Viewers are taken back to the Depression when people traveled hundreds of miles at even the slightest hint of work.

Smoking, considered chic at the time, is prevalent in the film and even has Gable lighting up a pipe on a public bus. His tough-as-nails character even smokes in bed!

Released in 1934, ‘It Happened One Night’ was based on a 1933 short story by Samuel Hopkins Adams called ‘Night Bus’.

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