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I’m a big fan of Frank Capra films. Meet John Doe, It’s a Wonderful life, and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, and Mr. Deeds Goes to Town are four of the greatest films ever made. Capra was not without his misses and downright lemons though. Arsenic and Old Lace and the abysmal Here Comes the Groom fall into these categories. It Happened one Night falls somewhere in between. Not an all out screwball comedy and not alot of social commentary, it is nevertheless a good light road picture, one of the first, and shouldn’t fail to entertain. Innovative in it’s way it was the forerunner to many more comedies in the later 30’s which have become standards in the genre of Screwball. Capra here was still honing his technique for better films to come and it shows. At times the timing is off and the writing could use snappier one liners which hit the mark. Gable’s funnier moments seem to be accidental or improvised — and Colbert, though capable, just is no Carole Lombard or Rosalind Russell in her delivery. The thigh scene where she hails the passing car has been improved upon in several later comedies and even cartoons. Even though I like this picture, I feel it is another film which has received a higher rating over the years than it is due. Maybe it’s just my love of more complex and polished comedic situations and dialogue in films like Bringing up Baby and His Girl Friday etc which I’m missing here. Cary Grant was, afterall, the definitive leading man in this type of picture. It Happened one Night is a good, not great evening at the movies. If you want to see Clark Gable really turning on the comedy charm check out Teacher’s Pet with Doris Day which was made late in his career. I’ve yet to see a better Gable comedy than that. And if you’re looking for another sweet road picture from yesteryear I recommend A Lady Takes a Chance with Jean Arthur and John Wayne, a light screwball comedy dappled with excellent performances. It’s a shame it is long forgotten and hard to obtain on video.

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