It Happened One Night (1934) Reviews

Gable starts off snappy and never lets up. Colbert overacts annoyingly for the first hour, but eventually straightens out. There are some classic scenes - the donut dunking lesson, the trapeze song on the bus, the scene where Gable meets Colbert's father. This movie invented the notion of a woman lifting her skirt while hitchhiking. Audiences probably laughed at the celebrity worship - if only they coulda seen Anna Nicole's death. A few moments were too over the top (a lot of sneaky thieves in this movie). But, a very worthwhile rental.
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I didn't like this movie very much, I think it took me two months to finish it, but I forced myself b/c I must have had it on my list for a reason. In any case, I think most movies back in the "old days" that won best picture etc. won primarily because of such poor and limited competition, not because they were fabulous. The story was far fetched - I mean come on - daughter escapes rich father makes headlines? And those two were in love and ready to plan a marriage after that? I didn't feel it. And I didn't think she was very pretty or charming. In all, I was not impressed. I did like the bus scene where everyone was singing - I know people used to sing a lot more than they do now - and I realised that is what karaoke is - an outlet for non-professionals to sing in public like everyone used to - the loss of singing in America is a grave tragedy.
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