Color Version 60 Movies You Should Watch in Your Lifetime

Author: Yao Xiaohua
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-07-01
Features: Too Many Cooks Must-Read Reasons: The plot is full of wit, and the dialogue is humorous yet full of life philosophy, making it a classic romantic comedy. Classic Dialogue: (Aly and Peter are camping in the wilderness)
Aly: I'm starving.
Peter: Oh, not really, that's just in your imagination.
Aly: No, I'm really hungry and scared.
Peter: You can't be both hungry and scared at the same time.
Aly: But I am!
Peter: If you're truly scared, you won't feel hungry.
Aly: Fear can't compare to hunger; hunger is worse than fear.
Peter: Alright, you win. Forget it.
Aly: But I can't forget it, and I'm still hungry.
Peter: That's terrible! Why did I follow you?
Aly: What about your news story?
Peter: Bringing a married woman back to her husband—I'm about to become a fool who gets rewarded.
Plot Summary: Wall Street tycoon Andrew disapproves of his daughter Aly's marriage to pilot Kim Wallis, leading Aly to protest with a hunger strike. The father and daughter argue on a luxury yacht by the Miami beach, and Aly escapes by jumping into the sea. On a night bus to New York, Aly meets Peter Wayne, an unemployed reporter for The New York Post. Peter recognizes the runaway rich girl and decides to follow her for a exclusive story to regain his job. A heavy rain washes out the bridge, forcing all passengers to stay overnight at a small inn. Aly and Peter, with limited funds, have to share a room. Peter divides the room with a blanket, with each staying on one side. He tells Aly it's like the "Walls of Jericho" in the Bible, which can only be blown down with a trumpet, and since he doesn't have one, she'll be safe. The next day, they take a ride and spend the night in a haystack in the wilderness. Peter makes a "mattress" for Aly with hay and finds her food. Over two days of interaction, Aly develops feelings for Peter and realizes she can't live without him. The next morning, they struggle to flag a ride but end up with a scammer who steals Peter's suitcase while they rest and drives off. Peter catches up, beats the driver, recovers his suitcase, and takes the car. Now penniless, Peter sells his clothes and suitcase for gas. They could have reached New York that night, but Aly excuses herself for being too late and asks to stay at the inn again. Peter sets up the "Walls of Jericho" with the blanket, and Aly confesses her feelings to him. Peter goes alone to New York to raise money to bring Aly back, but Aly misunderstands him and thinks he's abandoning her, so she calls her father to pick her up. When Peter returns, he learns Aly is about to marry Kim Wallis, making him feel betrayed. In anger, he demands the $39.60 he spent caring for Aly from Andrew but refuses a $10,000 reward offered by the wealthy tycoon. Andrew greatly admires the sincere and charming young man, talks to his daughter, and clears up the misunderstanding. Aly escapes the wedding and reunites with Peter at the inn, where they rebuild the "Walls of Jericho." The trumpet sounds, and the "Walls of Jericho" finally collapse.
It Happened One Night is Capra's last film, telling a non-trendy but heartwarming fairy-tale story: street vendor Anna lives in poverty. Her daughter Rose grew up in a boarding school in Spain and only keeps in touch with her mother through letters, believing Anna lives a luxurious life in New York's upper class. One day, Rose writes to Anna, saying she wants to visit her to convince her fiancé's aristocratic family of her noble background. This plunges Anna into despair. Anna's boyfriend David uses all his wit to avoid exposing the truth to this unexpected visitor.
Film Analysis: Adapted from Samuel Hopkins Adams' short story The Night Bus, It Happened One Night is one of the of American comedy films in the 1930s and 1940s. The debate among film historians about eccentric comedies has made this film particularly notable in American cinema history. The true reason it captivates audiences lies in its Cinderella-like plot structure, witty plot arrangements, and humorous yet insightful dialogue, making it an immortal romantic classic. The film borrows the Cinderella and Prince Charming fairy-tale structure but with a gender reversal: the "Cinderella" becomes a down-on-his-luck reporter, and the "Prince Charming" becomes a wealthy young woman, a structure that resonates with audiences.
The witty plot arrangements are another key to the film's success. From Aly and Peter's meeting to their arguments, from Peter's "Walls of Jericho" to Aly's escape from the wedding, these arrangements vividly portray Peter's charming, honest yet slightly clueless personality and Aly's gentle, affectionate yet slightly naive charm.
Another important factor in the film's success is its humorous yet insightful dialogue. The dialogue, whether revealing plot or emotions, or even during arguments, is always thought-provoking. The film uses a "coincidence plus misunderstanding plus happy ending" structure. The two sitting together on the bus is a coincidence; the roadblock forcing them to stay at the inn is a coincidence; encountering a scammer on a ride is a coincidence. The misunderstandings between the two also escalate: first, Peter's prejudice against the wealthy girl, then Aly's anxiety about the "Walls of Jericho," and finally, their mutual misunderstandings nearly leading to lifelong regrets. Coincidences and misunderstandings intertwine to drive the plot forward, and their relationship evolves through these twists, ultimately leading to a "happy ending." While this structure may seem naive today, it was pioneering for its time, earning it popularity among audiences and leaving an indelible mark in film history.
Film Knowledge: On February 1934, It Happened One Night was released in theaters, but the press remained silent. The love story between a millionaire's daughter and a poor reporter became the box office champion of the year and pioneered the tradition of screwball comedies. Capra had already directed Miracle Woman and What Happened to Roxy?, and It Happened One Night continued the fairy-tale-like treatment of everyday life.