It Happened One Night

1.       Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening.

In It Happened One Night, we follow a story of two people coming from two different places in life and despite each having their own agendas, fall in love with one another.  This film is one of the screwball type films we have discussed in class.  It is a love story that is delivered through comedic elements or otherwise known today as a Romantic Comedy.  When we portray the concept of love in storytelling, in all of its mediums, we find that it can incorporate a lot of different emotions and tones.  It can have a dark subject matter involving horror or murder, or it can have lighter tones such as what a screwball comedy presents.  The majority of the lighter tone, screwball comedies leave the audiences with a “feel good” sense of satisfaction from the movie and It Happened One Night is a prime example.  This movie is also the first movie that we’ve seen and talked about with talking actors and working audio within the scenes.

2.       In an article published by TCM (Turner Classic Movies), Margarita Landazuri wrote a synopsis of the movie as well as giving us tidbits about the making and production of the movie.  Landazuri talks about how initially, the collaboration between Claudette Colbert, Clark Gable, and the director, Frank Capra was strenuous at best.  The first initial exchanges were rocky at best with Colbert and Gable’s overt hostility toward Capra.  In some instances, while shooting Colbert was said to be uncooperative with some of Capra’s directing regarding the hitchhiking scene. 

 

3.       It is very interesting to read that article and then think about what I witnessed on screen while watching that movie.  I would not have dreamed that the production of that movie would have been as much of a nightmare for those involved as it actually was.  It is very surprising to see that none of the hostility that was present in production can be detected on screen.  The movie is lighthearted, quirky at times, and undoubtedly humourous.

 

4.       It Happened One Night is said to be the first movie in the screwball/romantic comedy genre and I couldn’t agree more.  Although I, personally, do not tend to watch romantic comedies (repetitive plots and themes), it is impossible for me not to respect this film for what it does for the film industry.  The directing of this movie is superb for its time and the comedic timing of some of the lines does not tend to fall flat like some modern movies do now. 

 

The one scene that I am most impressed with and fortunately have had the opportunity to watch a few times is the famous “Wall of Jericho” scene.  Here we have two polar opposite strangers sharing one room together and feeling uncomfortable.  As both Peter and Ellie disrobe on their respective sides, it is not hard to grasp the concept of these two strangers also beginning to shed their tensions and anxiety.  The scene ends with the formal exchanging of names which also can be a bit ironic in the sense that they have just disrobed in the presence of each other. It Happened One Night deserved all of the accolades it received.  Whether you liked this movie or not, it is truly a one-of-a-kind film.