Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

It Happened One Night Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov November 12, 2014

Frank Capra's "It Happened One Night" (1934) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the disc include restored original trailer for the film; archival video interview with Frank Capra Jr.; filmed conversation with critics Molly Haskell and Phillip Lopate; Frank Capra's very first film, "Fultah Fisher's Boarding House" (1922); Ken Browser's documentary "Frank Capra's American Dream"; and more. The release also arrives with an illustrated leaflet featuring an essay by critic Farran Smith Nehme. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

"There is nothing I like better than to meet a high-class mama that can snap 'em back at ya. Because the colder they are, the hotter they get. "

On a bright and sunny day in Miami, the young, beautiful and spoiled heiress Ellie Andrews (Claudette Colbert, Sleep, My Love, Guest Wife) concludes that the right time to become a rebel has finally arrived after her wealthy father (Walter Connolly, Lady for a Day) declares that the man she wants to spend the rest of her life with does not deserve her. Initially Ellie refuses to eat, and later on escapes from her father’s yacht and boards a bus bound for New York City.

On the bus Ellie meets Peter Warne (Clark Gable, Run Silent, Run Deep), a slightly drunk reporter whose boss has recently told him that his services are no longer needed. A local newspaper’s headline reveals to Peter the identity of the girl sitting next to him and he offers her a deal: If she gives him an exclusive story, he will help her reunite with her man.

Based on a short story by Samuel Hopkins, Frank Capra’s It Happened One Night is rightfully regarded as one of Hollywood’s greatest romantic comedies. It is a hilarious, charming and very, very witty film that is absolutely impossible not to like.

Gable and Colbert are sensational together, but they were not Capra’s first choice. Robert Montgomery, Myrna Loy, Margaret Sullavan, Miriam Hopkins, Constance Bennet, and Carole Lombard were all approached before Gable and Colbert and offered their parts, but they turned them down. And even when shooting eventually started, Colbert was still not entirely convinced that the film was worth her time. (According to Frank Capra Jr., Colbert complained daily and when shooting ended even told her friends that she had made the worst film in her life).

It is not only the terrific chemistry between the two leads, however, that makes It Happened One Night such a special film. Robert Riskin’s screenplay is equally impressive. Indeed, the dialog is razor-sharp and totally authentic, routinely making the different exchanges between Gable and Colbert’s characters far more interesting than their journey.

Capra shot the film with cinematographer Joseph Walker in only four weeks, but the fact that the two did not have a lot of time to experiment with different sets and locations actually helped its pacing and atmosphere. Instead of being curious about the main characters’ surroundings -- as it is often the case, for instance, with Ernst Lubitsch's comedies from the same era -- the camera is fully committed to observing their interactions. As a result, even though locations frequently change a wonderful sense of intimacy permeates the film until the very end.

The film’s tremendous success was unexpected. Its performance at the box office was very impressive -- it brought $1 million during its initial run -- and solidified Columbia (at the time a minor studio) as the go-to destination for romantic comedies. The film also went on to win five Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor in a Leading Role (Gable), Best Actress in a Leading Role (Colbert), and Best Writing, Adaptation (Riskin).

It Happened One Night Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.33:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Frank Capra's It Happened One Night arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion.

The following text appears inside the leaflet included with this Blu-ray release:

"This new digital transfer was created in 4K resolution on a Scanity film scanner from a 35mm safety composite fine-grain made from the original nitrate negative and a 35mm nitrate print. The digital restoration was performed by the Prasad Group in Chennai, India. The original monaural soundtrack was remastered at 24-bit from the original nitrate optical soundtrack and a 35mm nitrate print. The soundtrack was restored by Sony Pictures, with additional restoration by the Criterion Collection. Clicks, thumps, hiss, hum, and crackle were manually removed using Pro Tools HD, AudioCube's integrated workstation, and iZotope RX 3.

Transfer supervisor: Rita Belda/Sony Pictures Entertainment, Culver City, CA.
Colorist: Scott Ostrowski/Sony Colorworks, Culver City.
Image restoration: The Prasad Group, Chennai, India."

The film looks quite beautiful in high-definition. Shadow definition, in particular, is greatly improved and the flatness from the very early R1 DVD release is completely eliminated. There are a few minor clarity and density fluctuations that occur during select transitions, but it is very easy to tell that these are indeed source limitations rather than digital anomalies (see the footage around the 9-minute mark). Image stability is greatly improved. Contrast levels remain stable. There are no traces of problematic degraining corrections. Predictably, light grain is visible throughout the entire film. However, with some of the minor density fluctuations mentioned earlier grain exposure could vary a bit (see screencapture #8). Nevertheless, from start to finish the film has a very convincing and very pleasing organic appearance. Lastly, there are absolutely no cuts, large debris, damage marks, or stains to report in this review. All in all, the new 4K restoration of It Happened One Night offers dramatic improvements in all of the important areas we typically address in our reviews. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free PS3 or SA in order to access its content).

It Happened One Night Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 1.0. For the record, Criterion have provided optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature.

Clarity and depth are stable (they are not on the DVD release). It is also easy to tell that hiss and hum have been attenuated (and more than likely Criterion's team is to be credited for the specific improvements). Dynamic intensity is limited, but this should not be surprising considering the age of the film. There are no audio dropouts or digital distortions to report in this review.

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

• Trailer - restored original trailer for It Happened One Night. In English, not subtitled. (2 min, 1080p).

• Frank Capra Jr. Remembers... "It Happened One Night" - in this video interview, Frank Capra Jr. explains how his father came up with the idea to shoot It Happened One Night (the film was inspired by a magazine article) and how Claudette Colbert was approached to play Ellie, and discusses the small sets that were used during the shooting process, the film's commercial success, the Oscar ceremony (It Happened One Night won five Academy Awards, including Best Film), etc. The interview was conducted in 1999. In English, not subtitled. (12 min, 1080i).

• Screwball Comedy? - in this filmed conversation, critics Molly Haskell and Phillip Lopate discuss Robert Riskin's screenplay (and specifically the quality of the dialog), the film's pacing, the validity of its description as the first screwball comedy, the subversive tone of the film (the two critics mention Andrew Sarris who described It Happened One Night as a sex comedy without sex), the terrific chemistry between Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert, etc. The conversation was filmed exclusively for Criterion in August 2014. In English, not subtitled. (39 min, 1080p).

• Fultah Fisher's Boarding House - presented here is Frank Capra's very first film, Fultah Fisher's Boarding House, which he directed in 1921. Based on Rudyard Kipling's poem "The Ballad of Fisher's Boarding House", the film tells the story of Anne of Austria (played by Mildred Owens), who falls for the handsome Hans the Dane, but soon after loses him. With a new score composed and performed by Donald Sosin. (13 min, 1080p).

• Frank Capra's American Dream - directed by Ken Browser, this excellent documentary film focuses on Frank Capra's unusual life, from his early years in the immigrant ghetto in Los Angeles to his success in Hollywood, and remarkable cinematic legacy. Included in it are clips from various interviews with directors Martin Scorsese, John Milius, Robert Altman, Oliver Stone and Bill Duke, actors Michael Keaton, Peter Falk, Richard Dreyfuss and Angela Lansbury, and film critic Richard Schickel, amongst others. It is narrated by director/producer Ron Howard. In English, not subtitled. (96 min, 1080i).
  
  1. The American dream
  2. The Hollywood ladder
  3. Oscar aspirations
  4. Personal films
  5. Mr. Smith
  6. "From Deeds to Doe"
  7. Why we Fight
  8. Its a Wonderful Life
  9. The last Frank Capra movie
  10. Endings

• AFI's Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Frank Capra - presented here is an edited TV version of the 1982 AFI ceremony, which was hosted by actor James Stewart. In English, not subtitled. (60 min, 1080i).

• Leaflet - an illustrated leaflet featuring an essay by critic Farran Smith Nehme.

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

All the praise Frank Capra's It Happened One Night has gathered during the years 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. The film looks wonderful on Blu-ray. This upcoming release also has an excellent selection of supplemental features. Amongst them is Ken Browser's terrific documentary Frank Capra's American Dream. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.