Review of It Happened One Night (1958) by Rodney W — 16 Dec 2011

The first of only three films to have swept the big 5 at the Oscars (Actor, Actress, Screenplay, Picture and Director), It Happened One Night is a witty, warm-hearted, love story that would become the template for romantic comedies. Ellie Andrews is a sheltered rich girl who is on the run from her father. She meets Peter Warne, a drunken reporter who needs a big story to get his job back. Ellieâ(TM)s situation and fame are the perfect headline and he decides to aide in her escape. When a thief steals her luggage, she has no choice but to rely on Peterâ(TM)s cunning and brash character to get her to New York.

In order for this film to work, you have to love the characters. Claudette Colbertâ(TM)s Ellie is naive and superfluous, but not in an intolerable, petulant way. Clark Gableâ(TM)s Peter is egotistical and harsh, but he isnâ(TM)t a jerk. Both characters are prideful, yet both are surprisingly kind â" They care for each other. Itâ(TM)s through those attributes, their story blooms on screen. I couldnâ(TM)t keep the grin off my face.

Credit belongs not only to the players, but to Robert Riskin who adapted the screenplay. The dialogue is the driving force of the picture. Itâ(TM)s fresh, clever, and absent are the cheese- ball antics Iâ(TM)ve witnessed from similar fare. We arenâ(TM)t subjected to exasperating situations or drawn-out scenes. What we are given is believable characters under believable circumstances. The comedy stems from their interaction.

The one flaw the film may suffer is predictability, but thatâ(TM)s to be expected. This âboy-meets-girlâ? formula will be (and has been) around for as long as there is celluloid to print it on. But as an example of the genre, there arenâ(TM)t many films that can perfect it to the quality Frank Capra has shown here.