A spoiled heiress runs away from home and meets a recently fired
​journalist who agrees to help her in exchange for the story.

COMEDY

It Happened One Night (1934)

Directed by Frank Capra

Written by Robert Riskin

Starring Clark Gable, Claudette Colbert, Walter Connolly,
Roscoe Karns, Jameson Thomas, Alan Hale

Based on the short story by Samuel Hopkins Adams

Oscar Wins - Best Picture, Best Actor (Clark Gable), Best Actress (Claudette Colbert), Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay

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Connor Eyzaguirre

May 2, 2020

8/10

It Happened One Night is the first of three movies to ever win the Big Five at the Academy Awards, and it deserved to. It's a timeless, hilarious, and heartwarming story of two mismatched dopes from different worlds who fall in love. The films stands on the flawless chemistry between Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert, who play off one another perfectly. Romantic comedies are not usually my forte, but this film really kept me engaged. I wanted them to make it, and I wanted love to win out. Not bad for a film that came out nearly a century ago.

Claudette Colbert is Ellen Andrews, an heiress who recently married a notable aviator. She escapes her father's yacht to be with her husband, and embarks on a cross country journey alone. When her father realizes she's missing, he puts a huge reward out for her safe return, making Ellen the most recognizable face in the country. She runs into Peter Warne (Gable), a recently fired journalist who recognizes her and agrees to take her to New York so he can get a juicy story. Along the way, the two start to fall for one another, because Peter is nothing like the society bores Ellen is always around, and Ellen is nothing like Peter expected her to be. It's a sweet and funny story that will have you on the edge of your seat, simply because you need to know if it will work out.

I really enjoyed It Happened One Night. Comedy is timeless, and great storytelling transcends centuries, especially when paired with great performances like these. This film has lasted this long because it's still worth watching and it always will be. Cinephiles everywhere need to add this to their must-see list.