We decided it was really time for something that didn’t feature sand or copious amounts of blood and death! So we went the polar extreme (time and genre-wise) and watched our oldest movie so far, 1934’s “It Happened One Night”.
This movie had so much trouble being made – with many of its stars being ‘loaned out’ by larger studios as punishment for large egos! Capra was considered a ‘renegade’ with his new fangled romantic comedy road movie and all the actors were embarrassed by the script and story with Clark Gable reportedly saying on the first day “Let’s get this over with”.
Despite this, “It Happened One Night” was the first movie to win the “Oscar Grand Slam” (Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director and Best Screenplay); a feat that wouldn’t be repeated for another 41 years with “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”!
It also forms the basis of so many modern movies like, “Forces of Nature” and “Spaceballs” most obviously (and oddly!); the spoilt brat runaway and the older, wiser (but of course secretly insecure and damaged) guide. Interestingly enough, Clark Gable’s character was also used as the basis for Fritz Freleng’s later creation of Bugs Bunny!
Capra’s dialogue and direction was snappy and really modern. The acting was naturalistic (no over the top soap opera type acting with the fainting and the swooning of the females) and it was really fun to watch. Despite the lead actors reportedly hating each other, their chemistry is flawless (if time-appropriately misogynistic and patronising) and it’s fantastic to watch what was probably the very first “mis-matched buddy road movie” (not to mention the origin of Bugs Bunny!).
This was highly entertaining and would have to hold a special place in the heart of any film historian – or film buff. Mat gave it 62/100 and I scored it 70/100. Highly recommended!
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