Review of It Happened One Night (1958) by Sonya T — 02 Mar 2014

When spoiled millionaire heiress Ellie Andrews (Claudette Colbert) jumps off her father's yacht, reporters are on the trail for the hottest newspaper story! She finds herself hiding on a bus sitting next to down-on-his luck reporter Peter Warren, deftly played by wise cracking Clark Gable.

The story takes off in funny and memorable predicaments for this unlikely couple. Both Ellie and Peter are fiercely independent with their personal goals on the line and yet they are forced to completely depend on each other.

Peter is not about to let his lead story escape and she needs him to help her get to New York and "Westley," the weasel husband she married in haste only interested in her money. In the meantime, an array of colorful characters including Ellie's father bent on annulling her phony marriage, help make this film a wonderful screwball comedy.

This Frank Capra film is the original road trip story packed with a fast paced dialogue by Robert Riskin who won the oscar for best screenplay. Gable and Colbert also deliver great performances that garnered both of them Academy awards! The scene in which they are stranded off the road and Peter teaches "Brat" (Ellie) the art of hitchhiking is funny as he fails miserably, until cool and collected Ellie succeeds in stopping a car by lifting her skirt and exposing her leg.

Clark Gable munching a carrot with his mouth full in a fast talking performance according to Friz Freleng and Chuck Jones of Warner Brothers cartoons admitted was the inspiration for another iconic character, Bugs Bunny! "It happened one Night" is sheer joy to watch and director Frank Capra is at his best.

This 1934 gem is why so many other films that came later, copied and recreated famous scenes from "It Happened One Night." With very little money, Peter and Ellie register as a married couple to get a room only to hoist a blanket between the two beds; "the walls of Jericho.

" This is a classic scene and a turning point in the story for the two sparring characters who are falling in love. Even funnier is when detectives hired by Ellie's father close in on the couple at the motel and they improvise a domestic argument to fool them, only to burst out laughing when the coast is clear.

"It Happened One Night" is the first film to win 5 Academy awards including Best Picture. It should be part of everyone's movie collection. It was released on January 1st, 1934 and after 80 years, "It Happened One Night" is still fresh, funny and a classic screwball comedy!