Vintage 1930s film: It Happened One Night

Yes, he's eating a carrot.

Lovely, floating gown, incredibly cute actress.

The gorgeous couple.

Until this week, I had never seen It Happened One Night, released in 1934 and directed by Frank Capra. Can you believe it? I like old movies, romantic comedies and Clark Gable, and it had never even crossed my radar. Well, in case you've been living captive in an Oak tree like I apparently have, I recommend it to you. I really, really liked it.

Claudette Colbert plays a rich girl, newly married to a man of whom her father disapproves, on the run from her family, and Clark Gable is the newspaper man she meets on the bus who comes to assist her. In the special features it was stated that Colbert did not enjoy making the film, but you can't tell a bit onscreen. Gable and Colbert have believable chemistry as they fall in love. They are plucky,sassy and sexy. Plus, they're both absolute eye candy. Her outfits, though few, are fabulous, and she looks so dear in his pajamas. Try not to love the hitch hiking scene.

I award this movie extra points for the group sing on the bus of "The Man on the Flying Trapeze," and just for fun, here are the lyrics (at least one version):

THE MAN ON THE FLYING TRAPEZE (1934)

(George Leybourne)

Once I was happy, but now I'm forlorn

Like an old coat that is tattered and torn;

Left on this world to fret and to mourn,

Betrayed by a maid in her teens.

The girl that I loved she was handsome;

I tried all I knew her to please

But I could not please her one quarter so well

As the man upon the trapeze.

He'd fly through the air with the greatest of ease,

That daring young man on the flying trapeze.

His movements were graceful, all girls he could please

And my love he purloined away.

This young man by name was Signor Bona Slang,

Tall, big and handsome, as well made as Chang.

Where'er he appeared the hall loudly rang

With ovation from all people there.

He'd smile from the bar on the people below

And one night he smiled on my love.

She wink'd back at him and she shouted "Bravo,"

As he hung by his nose up above.

Her father and mother were both on my side

And very hard tried to make her my bride;

Her father he sighed, and her mother she cried,

To see her throw herself away.

Twas all no avail, she went there every night,

And would throw him bouquets on the stage,

Which caused him to meet her;

how he ran me down,

To tell you would take a whole page.

One night I as usual went to her dear home,

Found there her father and mother alone.

I asked for my love, and soon they made known,

To my horror that she'd run away.

She'd packed up her box and eloped in the night

With him, with the greatest of ease;

From two stories high he had lowered her down

To the ground on his flying trapeze.

Some months after this I went to the Hall;

Was greatly surprised to see on the wall

A bill in red letters, which did my heart gall,

That she was appearing with him.

He'd taught her gymnastics and dressed her in tights,

To help him live at his ease,

And made her assume a masculine name,

And now she goes on the trapeze.

She'd fly through the air with the greatest of ease,

You'd think her the man young man on the flying trapeze.

Her movements were graceful, all girls she could please,

And that was the end of my love.