Hollywood after all is a town of dumb luck, indeed. I worked there for many years and heard a heck of a lot of stories. This is one of them.
Two up and coming actors, and an industrious director willing to roll the dice on an interesting Depression era story, all somehow came together, and went to work at a low budget studio called Columbia Pictures. They put their heads together, put the egos in the back pocket, thank you, applied a little elbow grease and produced one of the most beloved romantic comedies of all time. How's that for a Hollywood happy ending?
IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT made Gable a name, whose career was slow to start, and gave a very small studio an undisputed reputation as a can-do organization now open for business. HOORAY! The rest is history, of course, but not without saying what an unforgettable story this is and, perhaps, the very first road trip movie ever produced. Great trivia question.
It's also a very simple story; "young man meets young woman" and the adventures they share together, going at it as best as they can, and let's not forget during the height of the Great Depression. Truly, audiences at the time needed a good laugh and this gem was their answer, which it remains to this day.
Also a tip of the hat to a marvelous supporting cast, foremost Walter Connolly as Colbert's frustrated father, whose bark is worse than his bite. Director Frank Capra outdid himself in this one, FIVE Oscars, a first in 1934. Not to be forgotten.
Capra's previous hit was LADY FOR A DAY, and a dynamic double feature with this and pizza.
Forever on dvd, remastered blu ray and whatever comes next.
Two up and coming actors, and an industrious director willing to roll the dice on an interesting Depression era story, all somehow came together, and went to work at a low budget studio called Columbia Pictures. They put their heads together, put the egos in the back pocket, thank you, applied a little elbow grease and produced one of the most beloved romantic comedies of all time. How's that for a Hollywood happy ending?
IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT made Gable a name, whose career was slow to start, and gave a very small studio an undisputed reputation as a can-do organization now open for business. HOORAY! The rest is history, of course, but not without saying what an unforgettable story this is and, perhaps, the very first road trip movie ever produced. Great trivia question.
It's also a very simple story; "young man meets young woman" and the adventures they share together, going at it as best as they can, and let's not forget during the height of the Great Depression. Truly, audiences at the time needed a good laugh and this gem was their answer, which it remains to this day.
Also a tip of the hat to a marvelous supporting cast, foremost Walter Connolly as Colbert's frustrated father, whose bark is worse than his bite. Director Frank Capra outdid himself in this one, FIVE Oscars, a first in 1934. Not to be forgotten.
Capra's previous hit was LADY FOR A DAY, and a dynamic double feature with this and pizza.
Forever on dvd, remastered blu ray and whatever comes next.