# It Happened One Night

> 1934 film by Frank Capra

**Wikidata**: [Q208632](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q208632)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It_Happened_One_Night)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/it-happened-one-night

## Summary
It Happened One Night is a 1934 American romantic comedy film directed by Frank Capra, produced by Columbia Pictures. It is historically significant for becoming the first film to win all five major Academy Awards (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Adapted Screenplay). The movie follows the story of a runaway heiress and a reporter, blending comedy and romance in a road-trip narrative.

## Key Facts
- **Release Dates**: January 1, 1934; February 22, 1934; February 27, 1934; August 27, 1934.
- **Director**: Frank Capra.
- **Production Company**: Columbia Pictures (founded in 1918, headquartered in the U.S.).
- **Genre**: Romantic comedy.
- **Awards**: Academy Award for Best Picture (1934), Best Director (Frank Capra), Best Actor (Clark Gable), Best Actress (Claire Adams), and Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay (Frank Capra and Benjamin Stoloff).
- **Preservation**: Selected for the National Film Registry (established in 1988) by the U.S. Library of Congress.
- **Alias**: Originally titled *Night Bus*.
- **Country**: United States (independence declared July 4, 1776; recognized May 12, 1784).

## FAQs
- **Who directed It Happened One Night?**  
  Frank Capra directed the film, which earned him the Academy Award for Best Director in 1934.  

- **What awards did the film win?**  
  It won five Academy Awards (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Adapted Screenplay) and the National Board of Review Award for Best Film.  

- **When was the film released?**  
  The film had multiple release dates in 1934, including January 1, February 22, February 27, and August 27.  

- **Why is the film historically significant?**  
  It was the first movie to win all five major Academy Awards and influenced the romantic comedy genre with its blend of witty dialogue and road-trip storytelling.  

- **Is the film preserved?**  
  Yes, it was added to the National Film Registry in 1988, recognizing its cultural and historical importance.  

## Why It Matters
It Happened One Night revolutionized the romantic comedy genre with its balanced mix of humor and heartfelt storytelling, setting a template for future films. As the first movie to achieve a "Big Five" Oscar sweep, it solidified Frank Capra’s reputation as a master filmmaker and demonstrated Columbia Pictures’ rising influence in Hollywood. Its preservation in the National Film Registry underscores its enduring legacy as a landmark of American cinema, reflecting 1930s societal values while remaining relatable to modern audiences.

## Notable For
- First film to win all five major Academy Awards (Best Picture, Director, Actor, Actress, and Writing).  
- Launched Clark Gable’s career as a leading man and established Claudette Colbert as a comedic star.  
- Selected for preservation in the National Film Registry in 1988.  
- Influenced the "road movie" subgenre with its cross-country narrative structure.  
- Demonstrated Columbia Pictures’ shift from low-budget productions to critically acclaimed films.  

## Body

### Production and Release  
Produced by Columbia Pictures (established in 1918), *It Happened One Night* was released in 1934 under the working title *Night Bus*. The film premiered on January 1, 1934, with subsequent releases on February 22, February 27, and August 27, 1934. It was directed by Frank Capra, who also co-wrote the adapted screenplay with Benjamin Stoloff.  

### Genre and Style  
As a romantic comedy, the film combines comedic misunderstandings with a romantic road-trip plot, following the escapades of a runaway heiress (Claudette Colbert) and a determined reporter (Clark Gable). Its blend of witty dialogue and character-driven storytelling set a new standard for the genre.  

### Awards and Recognition  
The film won five Academy Awards at the 7th Academy Awards (1934):  
- **Best Picture**: Columbia Pictures’ first major Oscar win.  
- **Best Director**: Frank Capra’s second Oscar.  
- **Best Actor**: Clark Gable’s first and only Oscar.  
- **Best Actress**: Claudette Colbert’s first Oscar.  
- **Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay**: Frank Capra and Benjamin Stoloff.  
It also received the National Board of Review Award for Best Film in 1934.  

### Legacy and Preservation  
In 1988, the film was deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" by the U.S. Library of Congress and added to the National Film Registry. This recognition ensures its preservation for future generations, highlighting its role in American film history.  

### Cultural Impact  
*It Happened One Night* influenced the development of the romantic comedy genre, inspiring later road-trip films and cementing the "meet-cute" trope. Its success marked a turning point for Columbia Pictures, establishing the studio as a major Hollywood player. The film’s dialogue and performances, particularly Clark Gable’s charismatic portrayal of Peter Warne, remain iconic in American cinema.

## References

1. [FilmAffinity](http://www.filmaffinity.com/en/film118834.html)
2. [IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0025316/)
3. [AlloCiné](http://www.allocine.fr/film/fichefilm_gen_cfilm=1557.html)
4. [The Numbers](http://www.the-numbers.com/movie/It-Happened-One-Night)
5. [Source](http://bbfc.co.uk/releases/it-happened-one-night-1970-2)
6. [Source](http://stopklatka.pl/film/ich-noce)
7. [Source](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0025316/fullcredits)
8. Česko-Slovenská filmová databáze
9. [Source](http://www.virtual-history.com/movie/film/1810/it-happened-one-night)
10. [Source](https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1935)
11. Virtual International Authority File
12. The Movie Database
13. [Source](https://www.loc.gov/programs/national-film-preservation-board/film-registry/complete-national-film-registry-listing/)
14. It Happened One Night. Rotten Tomatoes
15. IMDb
16. Rotten Tomatoes
17. [IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0025316/releaseinfo/)
18. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
19. BBC Things
20. [IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0025316/technical/)
21. [Box Office Mojo](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0025316/)
22. [Source](http://www.kijkwijzer.nl/index.php?id=26&i=252161)
23. [Source](https://www.kijkwijzer.nl/films/it-happened-one-night/)
24. List of film licenses issued from 1945 to 2020
25. [film distribution certificate](https://www.cnc.fr/professionnels/visas-et-classification/14980)
26. Online-Filmdatenbank
27. Bechdel Test Movie List
28. mymovies.it
29. [Source](https://ui.eidr.org/view/content?id=10.5240/396E-2CAC-0F24-317F-FAD2-1)
30. [Source](https://www.acmi.net.au/works/92762)
31. Source
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