It Happened One Night 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.5

It Happened One Night 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown December 9, 2024

Frank Capra's 1934 classic It Happened One Night already made its 4K debut in 2022 via Volume 2 of the Columbia Classics Collection. This version adds a newly recorded audio commentary but otherwise is identical to its already high-scoring predecessor.

Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert team up for laughs as mismatched lovers in this 1934 screwball comedy classic. Spoiled Ellie Andrews (Colbert) escapes from her millionaire father (Walter Connolly), who wants to stop her from marrying a worthless playboy. En route to New York, Ellie gets involved with an out-of-work newsman, Peter Warne (Gable). When their bus breaks down, the bickering couple set off on a madcap hitchhiking expedition. Complications fly when the runaway heiress and brash reporter fall in love. Of particular note: It Happened One Night was the first movie to be honored with all five major Oscars... Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director and Best Screenplay.

Click here to read Dr. Svet Atanasov's 2014 review of the film, when it was first released on Blu-ray by Criterion. He says, "Gable and Colbert are sensational together," adding all its praise is well-deserved. "It is an exceptionally well scripted, acted and directed film which has the special magic that makes people forget about their troubles and feel good about themselves."

It Happened One Night 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The excellent video transfer featured on this edition is the same as the presentation found on the previous Columbia Classics Collection release. Click here to read Martin Liebman's analysis.

It Happened One Night 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The strong lossless mono audio track featured on this edition is the same as the presentation found on the previous Columbia Classics Collection release. Click here to read Martin Liebman's analysis.

It Happened One Night 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The latest edition of It Happened One Night offers one extra exclusive to the Frank Capra at Columbia Collection: a newly recorded Audio Commentary with film historian Julie Kirgo. All the other supplemental content has been released previously, including:

• Audio Commentary with Frank Capra Jr.
• Frank Capra Jr. Remembers... It Happened One Night
• Screwball Comedy? featurette
• Original Live Radio Broadcast
• Vintage Advertising Gallery
• Theatrical Trailer

It Happened One Night 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

It Happened One Night not only remains a timeless, feel-good classic, it continues to shine in its 4K releases. Sony's disc delivers excellent audio and video, along with a number of special features, including a film historian audio commentary exclusive to the Frank Capra at Columbia Collection edition.