Why did Gable and Colbert hate this film? - It Happened One Night (1934) Discussion

[–] ctomisha 19 years ago

That is wierd. From what I understand Clark Gable was The Man over at MGM. After Clark claimed to be sick and went into the hospital to avoid work for a while, MGM loaned him out to Paramount as a "Punishment". So, Gable did'nt appreciate being there for a while anyway. They say he came around and was very pleasant. Claudette Colbert was another story. Apparently she complained everyday and even told her friends the last day of shooting that she had just finished the worst film she ever did.

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[–] bluecandy14 19 years ago

I heard that on TCM, too. I thought it was odd because I thought the script was very bright and witty.

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[–] 19 years ago

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[–] bow_down_daisy_duke 19 years ago

Gable was forced into doing the movie cos he kept turning down 'better' MGM movies, so he was loaned out to other studios as a punishment.
The script was redrafted like 4 times before the movie was shot so maybe the guy who turned down the role of Peter read the earlest draft which is supposed to have been really crappy
Dunno why Colbert hated it tho

Hope that helps a little

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[–] robert48-1 17 years ago

Thought I read that Gable had a gum infection that almost killed him and had most of his teeth removed. He and his wife went on a vacation to Canada and Alaska to give his mouth time to heal. When he returned, he had dental plates made and I guess that's what he's wearing in It Happened One Night. I could have the chronology wrong but that's my recollection.

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[–] lubin-freddy 13 years ago

MGM loaned him out to Paramount ....

That should read COLUMBIA.

We could have high times
if you'll abide

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[–] jenifefa 19 years ago

I was shocked too! This is one of the wittiest films I've ever seen. Fortunately the actors didn't show their displeasure on screen. Gable and Colbert give top rate performances, as does every one else.

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[–] haverpopper4 19 years ago

Wow, that is surprising! Is it possible that they looked down on comedy in general? Some actors take themselves too seriously and think that if they're not doing drama they're shlumming -- maybe that could be a clue to their feelings towards this film?

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[–] Tobias-m 19 years ago

I understood Colbert was bitchy around that time...They had to shoot the all God wonderfull thing in 4 weeks because of her!!! Gable suposed to have binn agreable...even nice and cinde.

Actors nor actreses should ever look down on commedy though, it is suposed to be one of the most dificult ways playing.

Great film, great film!!!

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[–] 19 years ago

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[–] fallsguy77 11 years ago

Well, I would guess that part of their lack of enthusiasm had to do that they were being loaned out to Columbia --- after all it was more or less "punishment" for being less then agreeable on their own lots. Before this was made, Columbia was definitely looked down as a second rate movie studio -- they did not have any movie stars on contract - it was all more or less "freelance" - and they did things quickly and cheaply. So im sure the stars went into this project with very low expectations for the finished product. This movie more or less transformed the reputation and standing of Columbia pictures ----

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[–] mecormany 10 years ago

I think this is the main reason. At this point in time, being loaned out to Columbia was pretty much like being loaned out to Monogram. It was considered a poverty row studio. And I'm sure both stars thought they were above that. As much as I love this movie, I would've really enjoyed seeing Myrna Loy in it, but then I love seeing Myrna Loy in anything. But as I understand it, the script she and some of the other actresses who turned it down read-- Lombard would have been very good in this too -- was an earlier draft and not nearly as fresh and witty as the final one used for the film. But I still think it was the indignation of being assigned to a Columbia picture in the early 30's that caused them to go in with poor attitudes, and in Colbert's case, caused her to stay in a foul mood.

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[–] nateba 19 years ago

The film was being done at Columbia Studios, which was considered a poverty row, low rent district operation at the time. The success of "It Happened One Night" kicked Columbia Studios into the major leagues.

cinefreak

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[–] qwest602000 19 years ago

best movie i have ever seen. by far

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[–] kenneglds 19 years ago

Nobody expected this movie to be the sucess that it was. They all thought it was just going to be a minor fluff piece. Both Gable and Colbert were assigned to this movie as punishment by their studios. This might explain why they didn't enjoy the experience.

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[–] 19 years ago

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[–] congerking 18 years ago

You have to remember as well, this movie was pretty much the FIRST screwball comedy ever made. The actors probably didn't know how well the movie was going to pan out. We think it as great today and it's hilarious and all that. But back then people had never seen a movie like this and producers/actors/director/etc COULDN'T forsee how ANYBODY would see it. I'm just glad they gave the movie the go-ahead because it's one of my favorite movies.

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[–] BennetDarcy 18 years ago

It's easy for people to have been biased against this movie when many other "bus movies" made during that time were box-office bombs.

It's also really weird that Colbert did not appreciate the film (apparently right after filming she said it was the worst movie she'd ever made). One interesting note is that Frank Capra made this movie because so many people thought it couldn't be done-- and look at the results! It is my favorite screwball comedy, and in my top 5 all-time, easily.

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[–] 18 years ago

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[–] BennetDarcy 18 years ago

Yeah, it did just that: 5 Oscars! Actually, the movie helped more in bringing about the age of screwball comedies than it did in bringing about more "bus" movies.

By the way, that quote-- it sounds so familiar. I want to say it's from a novel (heck, I want to say For Whom the Bell Tolls because I know it's a title of a movie), but I'm not sure.

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[–] 18 years ago

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[–] BennetDarcy 18 years ago

ah, okay. That makes sense... thanks for the info!

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[–] brianveitz 18 years ago

They thought the same about Casablanca when they were making it.

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[–] Asterixxxx 18 years ago

I read that Colbert thought that this movie would never see the light of day. I dont know why, its a classic film.

I am the third Coen Brother

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[–] lcpeters_88 18 years ago

I ALSO read that Claudette was rumored to be at a railway station on Oscar night because she thought she had no chance of winning.

I prefer a man who lives and gives expensive jewels...

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[–] eryan2-1 17 years ago

One of my favorite movies of all time. I remember reading that about Claudette and Gable though. Proof why Frank Capra is one of the greatest

"The only thing new in the world is the history you don't know."
~Harry Truman

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[–] divapig 17 years ago

Columbia was considered the "poverty row" of studios, so I guess it seemed rather demeaning to monster MGM stars Gable and Colbert to be forced to make a film there. Legend has it that Gable was forced to do the film because he had been cavorting around town with Joan Crawford, quite the scandal since he was married and she was still techincally married to Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Louie Mayer demanded the two stay apart, which they didn't. Plus Gable was getting a bit big for his britches and had been turning down scripts. So he was sent to Columbia to make this film. Apparently for his first meeting with Capra he showed up drunk. (He later apologized). Anyway, I know that he did like the film at least later in life, he had a print of it at his house, and used to show it to his fifth wife Kay's children when they wanted to see his old films.

It is true that Colbert was at the train station when they announced she won Best Actress. They tracked her down and she accepted her award in her traveling suit. And she did declare to friends after finishing the film that she just made the worst picture ever. I am not sure on her opinion of the film later in life.

I do know that IHON had a very different script to start with. Myrna Loy said in her autobio that they offered her the part and sent her the first draft of the script and it was awful. She turned it down. Then when the picture came out, she said she loved the film and wished they had sent her THAT script, she would have definitely done it.

"Just head for that big star straight on. The highway's under it. It'll take us right home."

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[–] cool_splash1 17 years ago

Ginger Rogers thought most of the movies she was in were bad (the classics we all love today)

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[–] cool_splash1 17 years ago

Columbia was considered the "poverty row" of studios, so I guess it seemed rather demeaning to monster MGM stars Gable and Colbert to be forced to make a film there. Legend has it that Gable was forced to do the film because he had been cavorting around town with Joan Crawford, quite the scandal since he was married and she was still techincally married to Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Louie Mayer demanded the two stay apart, which they didn't. Plus Gable was getting a bit big for his britches and had been turning down scripts. So he was sent to Columbia to make this film. Apparently for his first meeting with Capra he showed up drunk. (He later apologized). Anyway, I know that he did like the film at least later in life, he had a print of it at his house, and used to show it to his fifth wife Kay's children when they wanted to see his old films.

These kinds of things are the reasons the courts made the studio system change their ways. They had people in 7 year contracts etc. getting paid salaries that had them in high tax brackets etc. and basically tried to control them.

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[–] j_captain 17 years ago

Plus I think this movie really came together in the editing process. The script may have felt/looked crappy or something plus the Columbia studios thing as well may have made them feel that way. But whoever put this movie together did a good job I guess.

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[–] jamdonahoo 17 years ago

It's because actors don't really know what's good and bad. Writers and directors are the creative forces. It is reported that Hitchcock said actors are cattle. What he really said was that actors should be treated like cattle.

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[–] fevredream-1 16 years ago

Colbert's dislike of the film stems from her being due a four week holiday she was due from her studio
She wanted the break and was offered this part so she asked for twice her normal fee to do it hoping they would refuse.
The studio agreed to her price and had to shoot it in four weeks so she could get back to her studio work.
Claudette was very tired shooting this film but gave a great performance

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[–] aciolino 16 years ago

I think we have to remember is that these are ACTORS we are talking about, not great thinkers or critics or intellects. They're just as likely to not have a clue as anyone else. Their gift is acting--nothing else.

Also, they could not take into account their own skill in making a rather banal script sound much better than it was. (If you just read the script I think you'll agree there's not much there)

Also, they probably did not appreciate Capra's ability to make the most of every scene, or photography, which they probably didn't see until it opened, if then.

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[–] johnlsullivan 16 years ago

If Colbert had a negative opinion of the movie while making it and even just after finishing it, that didn't last long. She pointedly thanked Frank Capra in her Oscar acceptance speech and also appeared at the American Film Institute salute to Capra in the 70's once again thanking him for the best movie she ever made (my opinion, anyway.)

By the way, I just watched the movie again for the fifth or sixth time and I noticed a pretty funny continuity error. In Gable's first scene with his drunken pals in the phone booth, he's clean shaven (as he generally was early in his career, see "Red Dust" for example.) On the bus the very next morning, he has a perfectly trimmed mustache.

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[–] JavierBoredom 14 years ago

You may want to get new glasses (or a better copy of the film). Gable sports a very intact and distinct moustache in the first scene you mention, the same moustache he sports throughout the film.

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[–] bethebestforthejob 10 years ago

It is reported that Hitchcock said actors are cattle

Hitchcock never said actors are cattle, but that actors should be treated like cattle. He was referring to how directors, in his opinion, should direct them: so go left, turn right, slower/faster instead of psychotherapy babble open yourself up, imagine ABC and stuff like that.

So tell them what to do, don't tell them how to feel.

Don't explain with malice what you can explain with stupidity

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[–] bn_filmz 14 years ago

"her opinion of the film later in life"?

Well, after the Oscar ceremony, she thanked Frank Capra for making the film.

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[–] zbork123 14 years ago

Both Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert were cast in this movie as punishment.

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[–] teacherhelps 14 years ago

I've come to learn sometimes a lot of my favorite actors hated some of my favorite films and shows they were in-it can sting at first but after awhile you get used to it-it's a different thing making it to how it turns out to all of us in the audience, and it'll never be quite like it is to us how it is to them. The important thing is that they are pros and they did a great job, which is part of why we do love it so much.

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