It Happened One Night (1934)

Director:

Frank Capra

Writers:

Robert Riskin (screenplay)
Samuel Hopkins Adams (short story)

Release Date:

23 February 1934 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

Two great lovers of the screen in the grandest of romantic comedies !

Plot:

A spoiled heiress, running away from her family, is helped by a man who's actually a reporter looking for a story. But then he falls for her...

Plot Keywords:

Reporter | Bus | Yacht | Running Away | Love

Awards:

Won 5 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Clark Gable	...	Peter
Claudette Colbert	...	Ellie
Walter Connolly	...	Andrews
Roscoe Karns	...	Shapeley
Jameson Thomas	...	Westley
Alan Hale	...	Danker
Arthur Hoyt	...	Zeke
Blanche Friderici	...	Zeke's Wife
Charles C. Wilson	...	Gordon
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ernie Adams	...	The Bag Thief (uncredited)
Jessie Arnold	...	Woman at Auto Camp (uncredited)
Irving Bacon	...	Gas Station Attendant (uncredited)
William Bailey	...	Clark (uncredited)
Ward Bond	...	Bus Driver #1 (uncredited)
Harry C. Bradley	...	Henderson (uncredited)
George P. Breakston	...	Boy Bus Passenger (uncredited)
Charles A. Browne	...	Reporter (uncredited)
James Burke	...	Detective (uncredited)
Edmund Burns	...	Best Man at Wedding (uncredited)
Ken Carson	...	Guitar Player on Bus (uncredited)
Eddy Chandler	...	Bus Driver #2 (uncredited)
Wallis Clark	...	Lovington (uncredited)
Ray Cooke	...	Drunk Reporter (uncredited)
Joseph Crehan	...	Detective (uncredited)
Ray Creighton	...	Bus Passenger (uncredited)
Jack Curtis	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Mickey Daniels	...	Vendor on Bus (uncredited)
Eva Dennison	...	Society Woman (uncredited)
Neal Dodd	...	Minister at Wedding (uncredited)
Oliver Eckhardt	...	Mr. Dykes - Auto Camp Owner (uncredited)
Billy Engle	...	Bus Passenger (uncredited)
Jack Evans	...	Man Saying 'Your Bus Leaves in 5 Minutes' (uncredited)
Bess Flowers	...	Agnes - Gordon's Secretary (uncredited)
Allen Fox	...	Bus Passenger (uncredited)
Dolores Fuller	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Carlton Griffin	...	Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Kit Guard	...	Bus Passenger (uncredited)
Sherry Hall	...	Drunk Reporter (uncredited)
A.R. Haysel	...	Bus Dispatcher (uncredited)
Frank Holliday	...	Detective (uncredited)
Harry Holman	...	Last Auto Camp Manager (uncredited)
Harry Hume	...	Policeman (uncredited)
William Irving	...	Passenger on Second Bus (uncredited)
Sam Josephson	...	Bus Passenger (uncredited)
Milton Kibbee	...	Drunk Reporter (uncredited)
Mimi Lindell	...	Bus Passenger (uncredited)
Marvin Loback	...	Bus Passenger (uncredited)
Rose May	...	Bus Passenger (uncredited)
William McCall	...	Bus Passenger (uncredited)
Claire McDowell	...	Mother on Bus (uncredited)
Kate Morgan	...	Bus Passenger (uncredited)
Patsy O'Byrne	...	Bus Passenger (uncredited)
Earl Pingree	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Hal Price	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Margaret Reid	...	Bus Passenger (uncredited)
Ky Robinson	...	Detective (uncredited)
Blanche Rose	...	Bus Passenger (uncredited)
Rita Ross	...	Bus Passenger (uncredited)
Matty Roubert	...	Newsboy (uncredited)
Marvin Schecter	...	Bus Passenger (uncredited)
Harry Schultz	...	Bus Passenger (uncredited)
Bert Scott	...	Bus Passenger (uncredited)
Harry Semels	...	Bus Passenger (uncredited)
S.S. Simon	...	Bus Passenger (uncredited)
Linda Lee Solomon	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Bert Starkey	...	Bus Passenger (uncredited)
Ethel Sykes	...	Maid of Honor (uncredited)
Jane Talent	...	Bus Passenger (uncredited)
Emma Tansey	...	Ticket Buyer (uncredited)
Harry Todd	...	Flagman at Railroad Crossing (uncredited)
Maidel Turner	...	Last Motel Manager's Wife (uncredited)
William Wagner	...	Waiter at Wedding (uncredited)
John Wallace	...	Bus Passenger (uncredited)
Fred Walton	...	Butler (uncredited)
Dave Wengren	...	Bus Passenger (uncredited)
Charles Wilroy	...	Bus Passenger (uncredited)
Buck Woods	...	Cook Serving Food to Passengers (uncredited)
Frank Yaconelli	...	Tony (uncredited)

Directed by
Frank Capra

Writing credits
Robert Riskin		(screenplay)
Samuel Hopkins Adams		(short story)

Produced by
Frank Capra	....	producer (as A Frank Capra Production)
Harry Cohn	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Howard Jackson		(uncredited)
Louis Silvers		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Joseph Walker		(photography)

Film Editing by
Gene Havlick

Art Direction by
Stephen Goosson		(uncredited)

Costume Design by
Robert Kalloch		(uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Charles C. Coleman	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Edward Bernds	....	sound engineer (uncredited)

Stunts
Mary Wiggins	....	stunt double: Claudette Colbert's dive off ship (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Cliff Shirpser	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Music Department
Louis Silvers	....	musical director

Other crew
Harry Cohn	....	president: Columbia Pictures Corporation
Samuel J. Briskin	....	executive assistant: Mr. Cohn (uncredited)
George Brown	....	general press agent (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation (presents)

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1934) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Pictures (1949) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Columbia Pictures Television Distribution (????) (USA) (TV) (a Sony Pictures Entertainment Company)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (USA) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)
• Columbia TriStar (Brazil) (DVD)
• Cult & Classic (Brazil) (VHS)
• RCA Home Video (video)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)
• Sony Pictures Entertainment (2000) (Japan) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Sunset Gower Studios  sound stages (uncredited)

Also Known As:

Night Bus (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Certification:

Canada:G (Nova Scotia/Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Iceland:L | Portugal:M/12 | Norway:16 (1934) | Brazil:Livre | USA:Approved (PCA #4311-R: 11 May 1938 for re-release) | Argentina:Atp | Germany:o.Al. | Sweden:15 | UK:U | South Korea:15 (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

Busch Gardens - S. Grove Avenue, Pasadena, California, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

When Clark Gable showed up for work on the first day, he reportedly said grimly, "Let's get this over with."

Goofs:

Errors in geography: In the opening scene, Daddy's yacht is supposedly anchored off Miami. Yet in the distance are tall coastal hills, similar to what one might see in Southern California. Such a topographical feature is unknown in South Florida.

Quotes:

[Peter is carrying Ellie across the creek slung over his shoulder]
Ellie Andrews: You know this is the first time in years I've ridden piggy-back.
Peter Warne: This isn't piggy-back.
Ellie Andrews: Course it is.
Peter Warne: You're crazy.
Ellie Andrews: I remember distinctly my father taking me for a piggy-back ride.
Peter Warne: And he carried you like this, I suppose?
Ellie Andrews: Yes.
Peter Warne: Your father didn't know beans about piggy-back riding.
Ellie Andrews: My uncle, mother's brother, has four children and I've seen them ride piggy-back.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in With a Song in My Heart (1952)

Soundtrack:

The Flying Trapeze

Romantic Comedy that sweeps the first year of the Oscars

I have seen this movie a few times over the year and have just recently viewed it again twice on the DVD version. This is a highly recommended movie on several levels. First, it has to be seen because it won multiple academy awards during 1934. It has won at least best actor, best actress and best director. So it should be seen just for it's historical significance if you are into movies as an art form. However, if you are just looking for entertainment then it is simply a great classic romantic comedy. The set up is that Ellie (Claudette Colbert) is a rich, spoiled, independent woman who is running away from her father (in Florida) to join her husband (not quite a complete marriage) in New York City. She meets Peter (Clark Gable) on the bus who is a down & out reporter looking for a big story. They join forces in that he will help her to get to New York for an exclusive on her story. In essence it is the bratty socialite vs the hard nosed -know it all reporter - Can they achieve true love? Just watch the movie and figure it out for yourself.. There is the classical scene regarding the battle of the sexes which involves hitchhiking. There is some dated material because the movie was made in the 30's about the 30's. This may be both good and bad as a viewing experience. Gable is a bit too shallow as a desirable character. He lacks the sensitivity of a guy that would be in a modern romantic comedy. However, his portrayal of Peter is likely typical for the ideal man of the era in that he attempted to be competent and in charge at all times (the know it all guy). The character comes across as too simplistic by today's standards. However, when he gets the feedback on his rough edges from Ellie he shows his nice guy side. Claudette Colbert is great in this movie she had opportunities to display her acting craft as she responded to different situations. The scene in which she and Gable pretended to be basically 'white trash' was very funny. Her getting the best actress award is very evident even without having to see the performances of her rivalries for the Oscar in 1934. Overall this movie is rated a 9.0 and is highly recommended. A viewer may avoid older movies because they lack dept; however, hang in for this one. Once the screen chemistry starts between Colbert and Gable (their first scene together) the rest of the picture is just a joyride of entertainment in watching these two work their magic for the camera. Enjoy this movie it should be an awesome experience.