Nobody expected anything from this one. Clark Gable showed up hungover. Claudette Colbert called it the worst picture she'd ever made—and wasn't even at the ceremony when she won Best Actress for it. Frank Capra thought he was making a throwaway. Instead, they accidentally invented the screwball romantic comedy and became the first film to sweep all five major Academy Awards.
Pete and Andy dig into the hitchhiking scene, the Walls of Jericho, and the surprisingly rich supporting cast—including the detail that Oscar Shapeley and Ellie's father may have inspired Bugs Bunny and Yosemite Sam. We have a great time talking about it, so check it out then tune in—The Next Reel on TruStory FM, when the movie ends, our conversation begins!
Find the full episode resources and transcript here.
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Watch "It Happened One Night": Apple TV | Amazon | Letterboxd
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If You Liked This Conversation, Try These from the Next Reel Family:
Couples on the Run series — All eight films in the series, from "It Happened One Night" to "Gun Crazy."
"Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" — Another defining Frank Capra film, part of The Next Reel's 1939 series.
"The Silence of the Lambs" — One of only two other films to ever sweep the Big Five Oscars, part of The Next Reel's Hannibal Lecter series.
Screwball Comedy's Battle of the Sexes — Andy's Cinema Scope deep dive into the genre this film helped invent.
Screwball Comedy's Hidden Treasures — A second Cinema Scope conversation exploring the genre further.
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