It Happened One Night [DVD]

What to say about a movie like this? Claudette Colbert is adorable. Clark Gable is at his alpha-male finest. Frank Capra used his tried and true formula with humor to make one of the best romantic comedies of the 1930's.A rebellious rich girl, Ellie Andrews (Colbert), runs away from her rich father because of his opposition to her marriage to King Westley, not a monarch but an upper class snob that her father loathes. Who should she run into on a bus while fleeing than none other than a brash just-fired reporter named Peter Warne, played by Gable. Let the war games begin as Colbert and Gable engage in the sophisticated and very funny running banter that makes the movie so appealing.Her flight via the bus, and other forms of travel, is the vehicle for moving the couple and the plot along as their relationship develops. He is using her for a story, ostensibly. She is using him as her protector, ostensibly. What follows are a number of classic comic scenes which, of course, ineluctably lead to true love.Colbert's successful skirt-lifting hitchhike has become the stuff of Hollywood legend, shown repeatedly for every conceivable purpose. What is usually missing from that clip is the whole hilarious build up, brilliantly done by Gable as he demonstrates the tried and true ways of thumbing a ride. He does a wonderful job of setting his large male thumb, and ego, up for the big take-down that Colbert's lovely leg produces.The blanket scenes in various cabins as they make their way across country together were considered extremely risqué in their day. The request for the toy horn is a fittingly excellent double entendre for the dénouement. After all adversities that King Westley and her father pose are overcome by true love the newly-eloped Warnes fittingly turn off the lights in their honeymoon cabin, blow their "Jericho" toy horn, and let the blanket, and the curtain, fall.This is a Frank Capra movie so you can expect the assumptions of privileged wealth (Colbert) to be challenged and scorned by a defender of the little guy like reporter Gable. He refers to Colbert as "brat" in both angry and affectionate ways depending upon the situation. Capra was nothing if not a true-believer in the American ideal that riches didn't make you better than the less-fortunate person seated next to you, in life or on a bus.The movie contains scenes of harmony in the shared hard times of the Great Depression, like everyone singing together on the bus, Gable's aid to a poor boy, and his "you're as good as me" wave to hobos riding on a train. They are the predictable types of scenes which a viewer can find in every Capra movie; corny but no less heartwarming. This is the stuff of good film-making. Throughout his career Capra truly evinced an idealism in his movies that is hard to picture in our time. It is amazing that he was able to preserve that idealism right through to his last movie in 1961, fittingly titled "A Pocketful of Miracles."

Loving the memories.

WOW! Real actor, a real story and a GREAT movie!!!

Yes it is said a lot and it is overused, but hear me out. A classic screwball comedy with two leading stars named Claudette Colbert and Clarke Gable. Directed by Frank Capra and written by Robert Riskin. This movie centers around a story with so many memorable moments. A lot which are well remembered. Yes some are outdated but can reassure you this was shot during a different time. Released when sound was still new to the film industry. Based on the 1933 short story Night bus written by Samuel Hopkins Adams, A story centering around an heiress who eloped with someone only after her money. She runs away from a father who desperately wants the marriage annulled. While on the run, she meets a newspaper reporter who has been fired from his job. The heiress in disguise so she wouldn’t be seen. It doesn’t take long for the reporter to find out who she is and gives her a choice to help him on an exclusive story to get his job back. Or if she refuses, he would go to her father and tell him of her whereabouts. It’s a difficult choice for her to make indeed. The one made has them on this wacky and silly memorable adventure. It’s indeed a great watch as it is fun and cute. Highly recommend it.

THE STORY: Spoiled rotten heiress runs away from home to avoid marriage to a man she doesn't really love. A down on his luck newspaper reporter smells a story, tracks the girl down and sticks with her. In the process, the two find hatred turning to begruding respect and finally deep love. Will the snooty little rich girl follow her heart and stay with this rough & tumble guy... or will she go where the money is in order to make her family happy?THOUGHTS: Not much to say about this wonderful old romantic screwball comedy that hasn't been said many times before. It's just about perfect. Clark Gable & Claudette Colbert are absolutely splendid in their roles, as are the solid cast of supporting players. It's just a joy to watch this delightful film play out. It just never gets old. Surprisingly enough, the excellent "Making of" featurette on the DVD paints a murky, troubling story about the clash of personalities and conflicts behind the scenes. The movie almost seemed destined to never get made. Thank goodness everything that went on in front of the lens was pure gold! 5 Academy Awards proves its excellence and a good old fashioned romance never really goes out of style. Even though so much has changed from the time period in which this gem was filmed, romance and men & women have actually changed very little. Treat yourself and buy this movie! Watch it alone or, even better, with the one you love. IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT belongs in every true movie fan's collection.THE DVD: Good transfer. Solid blacks & mid-tones and minimal print damage here. Sound mix is level and solid. Extras include the above-mentioned behind-the-scenes featurette. Well worth watching if you enjoy the film and movies in general. There are at least three DVD versions. I don't have the Criterion Blu-ray... yet. A 5 STAR film, regardless of format.

As advertised

I enjoyed watching this DVD

DVD arrived in a timely manner. I viewed it and am satisfied with my purchase.

For those of you who only know Clark Gable as Rhett Butler in "Gone With The Wind," you're in for a real treat. There's a reason this movie won several Oscars, including one for Best Picture, a feat that few comedies since have been able to match.The plot revolves around the efforts of a runaway heiress, played with coquettish charm & allure by Claudette Colbert, to reunite with a suitor her millionaire father disapproves of. She escapes her father & sets off on a cross-country trek, a journey her privileged upbringing makes her uniquely unprepared for.Enter Clark Gable, a recently fired reporter who recognizes Colbert. He offers her his help, seeing the story of their journey as his ticket back to New York & the big time.As you might have guessed, opposites attract & the snooty, spoiled rich brat falls for the essentially blue-collar reporter. On the way to that realization however, is some of the snappiest dialogue & hilarious situations this side of The Lady Eve & Some Like It Hot.This movie is gem that set the standard, rarely met, for many of the comedies that came after. So, do yourself a favour & add this movie to your collection - just be careful not to choke on the popcorn when you're laughing.

Même si le film est âgé (1934), il est toujours aussi agréable à regarder! La reproduction du film est très bonne, le doublage français aussi. Mais j'aime le regarder plutôt en anglais car on y perd au doublage les accents et les façons de parler des gens du Sud des États-Unis et d'ailleurs, vraiment particuliers. Clark Gable a son air légèrement ou parfois très moqueur, qu'on lui connaît bien. Pour moi, c'est un de ses meilleurs films, où il est drôle dans sa manière de se vanter. Claudette Colbert est aussi une bonne comédienne, dans le style du temps. Très bon film de répertoire pour ceux et celles qui s'intéressent à l'histoire du cinéma et aux styles de ses diverses époques. Très bon film à regarder pour rire et se reposer l'esprit, un soir!

Very pleased to have this movie added to my library. Love it; still credible and enjoyable. No wonder it is a classic. Enduring. Thanks, great delivery time and excellent condition.

Came early, so was happy about that.Have seen the movie before. It is very good.

Enjoyable movie well acted.