It Happened One Night: A Sleeper Sensation

It Happened One Night is revered as a romantic comedy masterpiece—one that truly lives up to its title. A work of outstanding artistry in form and performance, it’s hard to believe it started out as a picture nobody expected much from. But in fact it did.

In the early 1930s, Columbia Pictures was considered “Poverty Row,” only churning out cheap B movies. But they had one gem: director Frank Capra, a magician who could make magic out of simple story. And that’s exactly what he did with this film, shooting it on a shoestring over the course of four weeks.

Capra described the making of the film as being like a “screwball comedy.” Which is ironic, as the film was notable as the first of its genre.

Neither of the movie’s leading stars wanted anything to do with the production in the beginning. Clark Gable was sent over to star as wisecracking reporter Peter Warne as punishment for acting up on set at MGM. In fact, it’s even rumored that Gable showed up drunk to his first meeting with Capra.

The role of runaway heiress Ellie Andrews was rejected by a slew of top stars including Myrna Loy and Carole Lombard. Claudette Colbert was a hard sell for the part and only accepted it days before shooting began due to a big pay incentive. After the film wrapped, Colbert said, “I just finished the worst picture in the world.” Little did she know, it would be smash success and her most memorable performance.

When the 1934 Academy Awards rolled around, It Happened One Night swept all five major award categories—the first time any picture had done so, and a feat accomplished only twice since then.

Colbert and Gable are a magnetic force as the perfect mismatched pair. Their banter has never been bettered and their charm has never been surpassed. They have a strong, easygoing chemistry that effortlessly enhances the simple story of two opposites who unexpectedly fall in love on a bus trip.

A racy construction of grace and gumption, It Happened One Night showed the sexiness between couples without showing any sex. Through a sharp script of double entendres and several close moments between Peter and Ellie, Capra created some of the sexiest scenes in film, most of which are silent. He showed that sometimes the things you’re not saying to your partner are just as important as the things you are saying.

However, the film isn't completely devoid of any sex. Capra knew a little sexiness could go a long way. Gable almost put undershirt companies out of business by appearing shirtless in the film, something that had never been done before on camera. And Colbert stopped more than traffic when she hitched up her skirt and showed her leg to stop a car. Gable’s chest and Colbert’s leg became two of the most enduring screen images in cinema history.

This film is a romantic comedy that is truly romantic and still makes people laugh. Capra humorously shows that while men and women are different, for some reason they can't live without one another, even if they drive each other crazy. It’s a universal truth that resonates with audiences of any decade.

Released at a time when people needed fantasy to escape, It Happened One Night is a depression-era film rooted in the reality of the times. It’s purely smart with a lot of heart, and was the genesis of so many films that came later. In fact, it still sparkles brighter than most of today’s romantic comedy imitations.

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