Charm Over Chuckles in ‘It Happened One Night’ 1934

Clark Gable & Claudette Colbert on the road to romance: "It Happened One Night."

A year after its release, 1934’s It Happened One Night swept the Oscars on February 27, 1935—Best Picture, Director, Actor, Actress, and Writer—a feat seldom duplicated. As of January 1, 2025, at age 65, I had never seen this classic, except for clips. I then watched Night twice and these are my takeaways.

The big surprise for me was that I thought It Happened One Night was a straight up comedy, but it's really a humorous but heartfelt slice of life during America’s Depression era. The runaway bride is a screwball comedy staple, for sure. Yet it’s more about the rich girl, Ellie Andrews, rubbing elbows with everyday people, like fired reporter Peter Warne. Night then becomes a romantic “road” movie, as well.

"It Happened One Night" was made on a modest budget but became a popular hit.

There are some famous comedic moments: The society girl jumping off the family yacht, the motel blanket “walls of Jericho,” the girl hitching her skirt to hitch a ride, and the bride bolting from the altar. But there really aren't any hilarious lines and the scenes that I just mentioned brought a smile to my face, but no outright chuckles—and I have a good sense of humor.

The walls of Jericho provide a blanket of privacy in 1934's "It Happened One Night."

Considered one of the big screwball comedies, It Happened One Night was directed by Frank Capra, who directed a few, like You Can’t Take It with You and Arsenic and Old Lace. Frankly, I don’t find It Happened One Night a “screwball” type comedy—not like the antic My Man Godfrey or Bringing Up Baby. There are elements, but they’re pretty mild, not wild. Also, for a comedy of this era, it’s a bit leisurely at an hour and forty five minutes. Twentieth Century, My Man Godfrey, and Nothing Sacred all clocked in at around 90 minutes.

Many have noted that It Happened One Night may be the first rom-com, where the leads are at odds, while also attracted to one another. What’s typical is that nearly a century later it’s still almost always the woman who’s the flake or a spoiled brat who needs to be taken down a notch or two, and the strong man who just softens up with love. One of the few times that the roles were reversed was Cher and Nicolas Cage in Moonstruck—though I’m sure there have been others.

Director Frank Capra with stars Clark Gable & Claudette Colbert.

Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert were in their first flush of stardom by 1934. Both proved adept at comedic acting here, and already played romantic and serious roles. It Happened One Night was by turns a comedy, a romance, and with some dramatic moments. Clark and Claudette were triple threats in this classic.

Claudette Colbert as the bride about to bolt, with father Walter Connolly,
in 1934's "It Happened One Night."

Claudette Colbert, with her crescent moon eyebrows and Betty Boop makeup, is the perfect comedic doll, balanced by her natural intelligence and class. Colbert’s large, expressive eyes, especially when she realizes she’s in love with the hard-nosed reporter, are well-utilized by the star. Clark Gable was still a lean young movie star in Night. While Gable’s not so skilled in his comic drunk scenes, he’s naturalistic in his dramatic as well as comedic scenes. The two stars play in a modern style that still makes this movie watchable today.

Clark Gable at his youthful peak, in 1934's "It Happened One Night."

This is really a two character film, Gable’s reporter and Colbert’s rich girl. There are some great character actors who show up for one scene—Alan Hale, Sr., Ward Bond, etc. Colbert has her irascible millionaire father (Walter Connolly), Gable has his ornery editor (Charles C. Wilson). But they are all window dressing for the two leads on the road to romance.

Audiences made this movie a hit with word of mouth, perhaps because they saw themselves and their lives depicted realistically on the screen. Also, It Happened One Night was considered risqué back in the day, and was released before the July 1934 clamp down of the enforced censorship code for films.

Claudette Colbert's rich girl shows know-it-all reporter Clark Gable how to get a lift,
in 1934's "It Happened One Night."

I think this movie was a refreshing change of pace for its time and it’s why It Happened One Night swept the Oscars that year. It's interesting that Gable beat William Powell's first time as Nick Charles in The Thin Man, which led to a long-running movie series. Or that Myrna Loy wasn't even nominated as Nora Charles! And that Bette Davis was a write-in for her career changer, Of Human Bondage. 

How was it that Claudette Colbert thought she wouldn’t win the Oscar? Her only official competition was MGM’s perennial nominee Norma Shearer and opera singer Grace Moore. It Happened One Night was released with little fanfare in February 1934, to mixed-to-good notices. But by Oscar night a year later, the sleeper comedy had become a huge hit with the public. Colbert still departed by train for a long-overdue vacation only to be brought back when she won, accepting her Oscar in a Travis Banton traveling suit.

Shirley Temple gives Claudette Colbert her Best Actress Oscar.

The cinematography by Joseph Walker is beautiful, this artist worked on nearly all of Capra's films. The outdoor night scenes or the rain sparkling on the bus and motel windows, are just exquisite. The script by Robert Riskin is bright and clever, depicting people of all variety. And Frank Capra’s direction is warm and character-driven, Capra at his best.

It Happened One Night has a lasting charm, with characters that feel quite real, quite an accomplishment for a movie that happened nearly one century ago!

The walls of Jericho, about to come down, in 1934's "It Happened One Night."

Here’s Clark Gable, a quarter of a century later, playing another rough around the edges reporter, out to get a story and the leading lady, this time Doris Day, in Teacher’s Pet. My take here: https://ricksrealreel.blogspot.com/2022/04/teachers-pet-1958.html

 

Here's Clark Gable a quarter of a century later, in 1958's "Teacher's Pet."

 

Rick's Sendup of Sondheim: "I’m Still Here & UP Here!"

This jazzy photo is from the summer of 2007, when I decided to leave
 Traverse City, MI after 30 years.

I re-watched Postcards from the Edge recently, with Meryl Streep and Shirley MacLaine, based on Carrie Fisher’s novel. As a thinly veiled Debbie Reynolds, Shirley plays the always “on” and aging movie queen. After Streep-as-Carrie sings at a welcome home party, guess who decides to do a number, too? MacLaine’s Mommie movie star selects Stephen Sondheim’s “I’m Still Here,” re-vamped to her legendary life!

Many an aging diva has sung this showbiz battle cry. I’ve viewed many versions on YouTube since watching Postcards. Yvonne De Carlo introduced the song on Broadway back in 1971, in Stephen Sondheim’s Follies. Perhaps the most famous take on “I’m Still Here” is by Elaine Stritch.

It got me to thinking that anyone of a certain age could tailor this tune to their life. So here’s my hopefully humorous take as an aging Yooper back in Upper Michigan, aka the Upper Peninsula. After this, you readers out there will know a little more about Rick’s real life. Cheers!

I'm Still Here & UP Here

Good times and bum times,

I’ve seen them all and Holy Wah!

I’m still here.

Soft flannel sometimes,

Sometimes just Pringles and PBR,

But hey, it’s still beer.

A gathering of Gould kids in hard knocks Upper MI! I was in the
2nd row, second from the right, in the purple striped shirt. And I'm still here!

I’ve slipped plastic bread bags,

In my boots.

Bummed school lunches,

3^rd grade was a real hoot.

Seen all my dreams go up in flames,

But I’m here.

My family bought this house the summer of '67 UP here;
it burned down the following February. And I'm still here!

I’ve shivered in fish shanties,

Gawked at the guys' girlie mags,

But I’m here.

Slept in my long undies,

Seven months of the year,

But I’m here.

Little Ricky relocated in the U.P. starting with 3rd grade!

I loved plaid flannel & being 23,
here with my niece as a baby, who will be 43 in 2025!

I’ve stood in unemployment lines

With the best,

Watched while the headlines

Did their worst.

In the Great Recession was I depressed?

Nowhere near.

I loved a Texas oilman,

And I’m here.

My sweet Texas oil man, the late Jigger Johnson. Me AKA "RG" at the left.

 

I’ve been through Oprah,

JLo and Ben’s affairs,

And I’m here.

Ben & Jerry’s,

Oversized glasses and permed hair,

And I’m here.

I got through Ted Nugent, Kid Rock, too

Three Kardashians, Two Jenners, ewww.

Had plenty of Pasties,

And Upper MI atmosphere.

I’ve lived through Paris Hilton.

And I’m here.

Like a lot of '80s youth with straight hair, I just had to get a perm. And rinse & repeat!

I’ve gotten through George Senior and George Dubya Bush,

Gee, that was fun and a half.

When you’ve been through two Bushes,

Anything else is a laugh.

The Top of the Park at the Place Hotel in Traverse City, MI for Martini Night!

I’ve been through Traverse City.

I’ve traversed through Portlandia,

And I’m here.

American Spirits and Martini Night,

Nap times and binging on Netflix,

And I’m here.

Been called a homo,

Faggot, too,

Got through it all as a rule.

I should’ve paid more attention in school,

That seems clear.

Still someone said, “He has potential.”

So I’m here.

Stocking shelves & going to grad school at 50 was typical of Rico's irregular path!

In the black one day,

Next day you’re cashing out stocks,

But I’m here.

Grad school Monday,

Tuesday, you’re stocking the shelves,

But I’m here.

"RG" on the edge of 30, in Traverse City, MI.

First you’re another

Big-eyed twink,

Then someone’s ex,

Then you’re camp.

Then you career to career,

Any career!

I’m almost through my memoirs,

And I’m here.

Like the tee shirt says, MI's Upper Michigan AKA The U.P. is someplace special!

I went from regularly hiking on the PNW's Columbia Gorge 15 years ago
to tripping on three steps 1 year ago here in Upper MI, breaking my leg!

Ricky in Mackinac Island, MI in my 20s. I was more into fudge than leather!

I’ve gotten through, “Hey, is that Rick?

Wow, he used to be good looking, too!”

Or better yet, “I wasn’t sure that was you.

Gee, you’ve really changed!”

I actually felt pretty great at 60 in the fall of 2019. 
Unfortunately, the COVID epidemic was just around the corner!

Good times and bum times,

I’ve seen them all and Holy Wah!

I’m still here.

Soft flannel sometimes,

Sometimes just Pringles and PBR,

But hey, it’s still beer.

The COVID era was my last career hurrah. I retired at 62. 
And I'm UP here!

I've run the gamut,

 A to Z.

Three cheers and dammit,

Holy Wah!

I got through all of these years,

And I'm here.

Lord knows, at least I was there,

And now I'm UP here!

Look who's here!

I'm still here!

And UP here!

I'll let you decide if I've gone to the dogs at age 65 circa 2025
in Upper Michigan, in my home town of Manistique!

 

The Many Faces of ‘Eve’ & ‘Lizzie’ 1957

"The Three Faces of Eve" & "Lizzie," that respectively starred Joanne Woodward &
 Eleanor Parker, were both 1957 films that depicted the topic of multiple personalities.

Hollywood had competing films about title characters with three conflicting personalities, both released in 1957. Very specific coincidences, right?! The Three Faces of Eve showcased rising star Joanne Woodward; Lizzie starred film veteran Eleanor Parker. The movies were made on small budgets, returned modest profits, and its stars were praised—with Woodward winning a Best Actress Oscar.

Of course, the studios promoted the more sensational aspects of their subjects
in 1957's  "The Three Faces of Eve" & "Lizzie."

Their Situations

The Three Faces of Eve was based on a true story, with Joanne Woodward as Eve White, Eve Black, and Jane. The first personality is a meek young housewife with a young child. Her behavior has become increasingly erratic, at one point endangering her little girl. It's not long before her doc meets Eve Black, a raucous gal who comes out occasionally to find fun and create chaos. Jane comes on later in the movie as the even-keeled personality, who is the best bet to take over this woman's body. David Wayne is her exasperated husband Ralph; Lee J. Cobb is the sympathetic, but no-nonsense Doctor Luthor.

In 1957's "The Three Faces of Eve," Lee J. Cobb is the psychiatrist,
Joanne Woodward the title character, and David Wayne her bewildered husband.

In Lizzie, Eleanor Parker plays a young woman, Elizabeth, who lives with her drunken Aunt Morgan (Joan Blondell) and works at a museum. Her character is plagued with headaches and insecurities, making her a co-worker to avoid. Her aunt is mostly oblivious to her but does notice her escalating odd behavior. Lizzie’s director, Hugo Haas, also plays the writer neighbor, Walter, who encourages alcoholic auntie to get her niece to kindly doctor Dr. Wright, played by Richard Boone. Once Doc has Elizabeth under hypnosis, he meets her alter ego, Lizzie. She is a vicious character, a female Mr. Hyde. Later in the movie, the doc discovers a third personality, Beth, who is balanced and normal.

In 1957's "Lizzie," Eleanor Parker is the title character with three personalities.
Joan Blondell is the aunt with an overbearing personality!

Their Stories

In The Three Faces of Eve, Eve White is hospitalized for treatment. While the symptoms are identified with her varying personalities, the doctors can not figure out what sets them off. Once home, Eve isn’t getting better. It doesn’t help that husband Ralph wants to drag Eve to another state. And the more Eve Black comes out, it’s more than the reactionary husband can handle. Once he leaves her, this leads Eve back to Dr. Luthor.

David Wayne's Ralph has an obedient wife in Eve, but not when she's Eve Black! Joanne Woodward plays three personalities in 1957's "The Three Faces of Eve."

Lizzie’s Aunt Morgan isn’t a deep thinker, but when auntie's bourbon bottles empty ever faster, her antennae go up. The writer neighbor notices and for some reason is empathetic to the harridan aunt. Yet, he urges her to be more patient to the niece. It all comes to a head when the woman's work life and her erratic nightlife collide. You see, there are nights when mousy Elizabeth is left behind and hellcat Lizzie springs out. She hangs out at local nightclubs on the prowl and one evening meets up with her office place Romeo.

Joan Blondell's Aunt Morgan knows where Eleanor Parker's "Lizzie" finds
the booze AND the boys! "Elizabeth" only gets the hangover! 

The Actors

The Three Faces of Eve got a lone Oscar nomination and win for Joanne Woodward; Lizzie received no nominations.

Joanne Woodward is excellent in all three roles in The Three Faces of Eve. Eve White is totally repressed, a type of role Woodward played well. Joanne played a more raucous sort like Eve Black as the beatnik in The Fugitive Kind. And the later personality to emerge is Jane, the most complete personality to emerge, that Joanne plays with great empathy. Woodward, an Actor's Studio product, is quite natural without going over the top, like Geraldine Page or Kim Stanley would have probably done.

Joanne Woodward as Eve Black comes on to a male nurse like Blanche Dubois
 chatting up the paper boy in 1957's "The Three Faces of Eve."

In Lizzie, Eleanor Parker's performance is quietly effective as the repressed Elizabeth and the serene Beth. Though flatteringly photographed, Parker is quite toned down from her studio era glamour, and is very expressive in Elizabeth’s anguish and Beth’s calm. However, as wildcat Lizzie, Parker goes big, either of her own volition or Haas’ direction. Either way, Eleanor as Lizzie is way over the top. From the way she makes herself up like a clown or vamps around the cocktail bar like Sadie Thompson, it’s funny, not fierce. Also, Elizabeth is 25 going on 26; Eleanor was a lovely 35. Very typical in its movie age math—thankfully, Parker can pass as a decade younger.

Eleanor Parker suffers in chenille as tormented Elizabeth in 1957's "Lizzie."

Lee J. Cobb is more three-dimensional as Eve’s Doctor Luthor than super-kind Richard Boone in Lizzie. David Wayne as Ralph is most realistic as the confused small town spouse of Eve White. 

Joan Blondell's acting as the alcoholic aunt in "Lizzie" is about as subtle as her hat!

Joan Blondell’s performance as the alcoholic aunt in Lizzie is about as subtle as slugging down a bottle of bourbon. Joan gave a handful of memorable dramatic performances in her career and should have been given more opportunities. But Blondell is a complete caricature here—partly the way the character is written, as well as performed. My guess is that came from director Hugo Haas, who made a number of dime store melodramas that were hilariously unsubtle. Blondell’s boozing and barking in her bathrobe gives off a Baby Jane Hudson vibe!

Joan Blondell w/ director Hugo Haas, who plays a kindly neighbor in 1957's "Lizzie."

The Films

Eve White has a traumatic childhood incident that’s subtly recalled. In Lizzie, Elizabeth recalls a vile incident on her birthday, not subtle at all, but still powerful. Both characters find resolution in facing their pasts. The Three Faces of Eve was written by doctors Corbett H. Thigpen and Hervey M. Cleckley, who treated the real Eve. Lizzie was a novel written by Shirley Jackson (The Lottery). 

The book versions of "The Three Faces of Eve" & "Lizzie."

Nunnally Johnson was more famed as a screenwriter than as director, but his intelligence was always a plus, and it shows in the sensitivity of The Three Faces of Eve. Hugo Haas, on the other hand, seemed to dwell on sensationalism in his B-movies. There is a lurid quality to Lizzie that screams Hugo Haas, especially with Joan Blondell’s role and Parker’s performance as the lowdown Lizzie.

Tears Mixed With Humor

The leavening humor in The Three Faces of Eve is in the small town world of the husband and doctors, faced with this strange woman, who’s a timid mouse one moment and then a purring cat on the prowl. There are some smiles with the perplexed classic '50s husband that can’t reconcile the two extreme behaviors of his wife. Eve Black reminded me of a cross between Shirley MacLaine's good-hearted bimbo in '58s Some Came Running and Lee Remick's good-humored trailer tart in Anatomy of a Murder in '59. 

In Lizzie, the humor is unintended camp. The intentional “comic relief” between the aunt and niece, and aunt and neighbor are heavy-handed to the point of hilarity. Lizzie and Aunt Morgan's domestic life reminded me of the dramatized story of Frances Farmer’s life with mother or the Hudson sisters without the wheelchair. I love it when meek Elizabeth walks upstairs to get away from boozing Blondell and randomly barks out an insult as Lizzie, worthy of Kathleen Turner's Serial Mom asking her neighbor if she likes pussy willows!

Lizzie getting herself up to go out reminds me of Faye Dunaway in Mommie Dearest. She meets the sexy janitor in the bar, who has switched out from his work white tee-shirt for evening wear black tee-shirt with jacket, anticipating the Miami Vice look by 30 years. As Lizzie finds the booze and the boys, Aunt Morgan seems more concerned where the booze is going than what's going on with Elizabeth.

Eleanor Parker getting dolled up as "Lizzie" gives me a Faye Dunaway vibe as
 "Mommie Dearest!"

Near the showdown between the two women, Blondell’s aunt snaps, “You look like a slut!”

Parker’s Lizzie gives a Patty Duke/Neely O’Hara snarling delivery, “Drop dead, Auntie, drop dead!”

Future TV Stars

In The Three Faces of Eve, Vince Edwards aka Ben Casey, plays the horny young soldier who wants his due with Eve Black—after all, he spent 8 dollars on her! Near the end of the film, Nancy Culp of The Beverly Hillbillies appears in a flashback as Eve’s mother. In Lizzie, Marion Ross of Happy Days plays a kind co-worker of Parker’s lonely Elizabeth.

Vince Edwards plays a soldier who expects Eve Black to put out in
1957's "The Three Faces of Eve.

Needless Guest Appearances

Alastair Cook's introduction and narration in The Three Faces of Eve is highly unnecessary. It feels very condescending, as if he's a professor lecturing students about a very serious subject! With Lizzie, there is a very distracting piano bar player/singer named Johnny Mathis. He sings two tunes; one is his big hit, It’s Not for Me to Say. At least it wasn’t wailing Johnny Ray! All the while, Parker’s personality-plus Lizzie is working the joint with her hoochie mama antics.

Final Analysis

The Three Faces of Eve and Lizzie have very similar stories, likewise the female characters’ multiple personalities. The difference is in tone. The Three Faces of Eve plays like a pseudo-documentary mixed with a William Inge slice of life drama. Lizzie comes across like a campy “woman’s picture,” to use an old Hollywood term. Here, with the two women at odds in their dreary home, “suffering in chenille” might be more apt!

Why Cinemascope? To fit all those personalities?

"Lizzie" & "The Three Faces of Eve," both from 1957.

By today’s standards, both are very simplistic in the telling of multiple personalities. The one thing Eve and Lizzie have in common is strong lead performances by its stars, Joanne Woodward and Eleanor Parker. Both are worth a look, if only for the attitudes of the era on this controversial subject.

"Jane" is the most balanced personality played by Joanne Woodward in
1957's "The Three Faces of Eve."

"Beth" is the winning personality between meek "Elizabeth" & monstrous "Lizzie."
Eleanor Parker played the triple role.

Bonus Material

Here’s my look at when Joanne Woodward teamed with husband Paul Newman for the first time, 1958’s The Long, Hot Summer: https://ricksrealreel.blogspot.com/2017/08/the-long-hot-summer-long-but-not-so-hot.html

My take on one of Eleanor Parker’s best performances, from 1950 as “cute little trick” who is Caged: https://ricksrealreel.blogspot.com/2019/02/caged-never-classic-but-still-packs.html

Joanne Woodward as tarted up Eve Black in 1957's "The Three Faces of Eve."

Eleanor Parker goes big as demented "Lizzie."