It Happened One Night, 1934

Clark Gable, as down and out newspaper reporter Peter Warne, happens to get on the same bus as a millionaire’s daughter who has run away from her father. Claudette Colbert does an excellent job as Ellie Andrews, the spoiled rich girl.

Ellie wants her father’s approval of her marriage to King Westley, his competitor. Her father is against the marriage and can’t make Ellie listen to reason. When she hops a bus to escape her father and his private detectives, she finds a seat next to a newspaper man who can keep a secret.

When Peter finds out that this is the scoop he’s been waiting for, he has to protect the girl – and protect his story from getting out. The closeness brings the couple together, but they keep many things from each other.

Because of one of his hottest scenes, Clark Gable angered underwear companies when he unbuttoned his shirt, revealing his bare chest. This started a trend of men not wearing an undershirt.

It was funny to me that Peter happened to have a rope to raise a blanket that would become a wall as sturdy as the walls of Jericho. What a hero! And how convenient that the rope was exactly the right length!

I love how Ellie finds out that Peter truly loves her and what she does about it. I always think of Julia Roberts when I see that scene.

According to IMDB.com, Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert both wanted to make this film as quickly as possible, and then move on to something else. No one anticipated that this would be the first movie to win the Oscar for Best Picture, Best Actor (Clark Gable), Best Actress (Claudette Colbert), Best Director (Frank Capra), and Screenplay.

After watching this movie, see if you can pick out who resembles “Looney Tunes” characters Bugs Bunny, Yosemite Sam, and Pepe LePew.

The American Film Institute ranked this movie as the #46 Greatest Movie of All Time. Personally, I would rank it higher.