Week 6. It Happened One Night (1934)

4 ¾ STARS - TOTALLY AWESOME!!!

“I kinda forgot how high that skirt got hitched!”--Ladd

The Film:  Heiress to a famously wealthy family, poor little rich girl Ellie Andrews (Claudette Colbert), dives off her father’s yacht to escape his decree she shall not marry a business rival he despises.  Now penniless and on the run, she must somehow get from California to New York, dodging a hungry press and alert travelers anxious to score daddy’s hefty reward.  Grudgingly, she accepts the help of a cynical, street-smart fellow traveler

(Clark Gable), who happens to be reporter.  He wants the exclusive, inside story that—almost literally--fell into his lap.  Naturally they despise each other at first--but c’mon, how long can a gal resist Gable?  As they bicker their way across country, they pause only to sleep on a farmer’s haystack or in tiny rented rooms.  Gable chivalrously hangs a sheet, dividing the rooms for privacy, which he dubs “the walls of Jericho.”  But, if we remember the Biblical version, those walls did come down.  For their trouble, and humorously nuanced performances, both Gable and Colbert won Oscars, and the film, Best Motion Picture.

The Society:  Good clean American fun!  Well, not all that clean since this would be the last year before the Hollywood production codes made sure all movies remained properly prim and sanitary.  Okay, but compared to today….  Dad saw this years (centuries) ago and loved it.  At the hitch-hiking scene, distractible Syd seemed especially distracted, so Dad said, “Okay, this is a great scene, pay attention.”  The scene develops a little slowly, so Syd replied, “This scene?  What’s so great about it?”  But momentarily, Kenz unleashed one of great pealing laughs, announcing what we were all feeling--that kick of joy when something delightfully unexpected, but perfectly fitting, happens.  Even the Great Depression had its moments of utter joy.

The Family Vote:

Kenz - 5 Stars - This one and “Little Women” are my favorite so far.  It has a lot of hilarious scenes, especially when she lifts her skirt to hitchhike.  (DON’T BLOG THIS.)

Kayla - 4.75 Stars - It was funny when she got a car, to hitch-hike.

Stacy - 5 Stars - Loved this one!  Clark Gable can never go wrong.  He was so endearing and I loved the references to the walls of Jericho.  Enjoyed it a lot.

Ladd - 4 Stars - “Little Women” was our biggest weeper, and this our biggest laugher, so far.  Especially in the classic hitch-hiking scene--Kenzie just kills me with her joyful bursts of pealing laughter.  She’s the family laugh-o-meter.  And I kinda forgot how high that skirt got hitched!  : O 

Thanks for Dinner, Mom!

Theme - The American Roadside Diner

We set the dining room up as a diner, with a sheet (only coincidentally!) dividing it off from the kitchen.  Sydney loved the chance to play waitress to the family, while Mom sweated it out in the kitchen.

Choice of:

Club, BLT or grilled cheese sandwiches

French fries

Pickles

Soda

and

Cherry pie a la mode or

Ice cream sundae