Review of It Happened One Night (1958) by Jake R — 20 Aug 2008

The one that really got Capra on a roll, with the first of his 3 Best Director wins and 6 total nominations, this was also the first film to win the Oscar Grand Slam, and established the romantic comedy as a genre worth megabucks at the box office with its discovery of a willing audience: women.

Gable and Colbert give brilliant performances and make a very cute couple, the only thing dating their romance being the so-called 'Walls of Jericho'. Gable provides some of the best laughs, particulary of his 'Bugs Bunny' carrot-munching; Colbert exudes a cool sexuality that makes one wish they still made 'em like this, but she also shows some dramatic force of her own. It's classic Capra stuff, a cocktail of emotion that effortlessly draws its audience in for the ride from start to finish.

But it's not perfect. The story is clever and well-written, but it's the final reel that very nearly undoes all of the careful work before. We suddenly shift onto Ellie's father, as if the audience cares about him; the last scene Peter and Ellie have together they're complete bitches to each other and we don't even end with a shot of them. No other word can be used to describe it except 'lame'. It's a very diffusing way to end such a sophisticated and warm film and a real let down, considering, for the most part, it's a fresh and funny rom-com that manages to be worth 100 of any of the best of today's efforts, showing how lasting it is after 75 years.

But, one can excuse the wasted ending and enjoy the face off between two talented and attractive actors, for once providing an equal amount of totty for each gender. It's a sparkling classic and always enjoyable.