Common Sense Media Review
Still one of the best screwball comedies.
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It Happened One Night
What's the Story?
In the classic Frank Capra romantic comedy, IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT, fate throws an unlikely pair -- reporter Peter Warne (Clark Gable) and spoiled society woman Ellie Andrews (Claudette Colbert) -- together on a bus headed for New York. Upon learning that she's fleeing her millionaire father to be with her disapproved-of new husband, Warne smells a headline and tags after her. The two grow close on the trip, and before they reach New York they're broke and in love.
Is It Any Good?
As fresh today as it was in 1934, this sharply written comedy is great fun from setup on through its lively, suspenseful final minutes. An instant hit in 1934, It Happened One Night was the first movie to win all five major Academy Awards. The manic story line established the formula for screwball comedies like Bringing Up Baby with Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn.
Frank Capra was a wonderful director with a knack for squeezing the charm out of his actors, which is evident all over the place here. He and screenwriter Robert Riskin would team up again for Meet John Doe.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how comedies have changed and remained the same since It Happened One Night. How has slang changed? Can you figure out the meanings of unfamiliar phrases or words?
What do you think about how men and women are portrayed in this movie? What kinds of stereotypes are present? How have things changed in society and in movies since 1934 when this film was released?
Movie Details
- In theaters : February 23, 1934
- On DVD or streaming : December 28, 1999
- Cast : Clark Gable , Claudette Colbert , Walter Connolly
- Director : Frank Capra
- Studio : Columbia Tristar
- Genre : Comedy
- Run time : 105 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : July 29, 2022
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