1934 – Clark Gable
It Happened One Night
Clark Gable turned in a really delightful performance in this really delightful movie. There was a natural ease about him. He wasn’t afraid to act a little silly, but he also knew when to be a little tougher when the scene demanded it. He had a bit of juvenile boyishness at times, but it didn’t diminish his credibility as a serious actor. There is a reason he is considered one of the great actors of old Hollywood. Yes, he had those big ears, but that was part of his look. Even with them, I still think he was a very attractive man.
Here, he played Peter Warne, a newspaper man who generally only thought about himself… that is, until he met the spoiled little rich girl, Ellie Andrews. When he discovers her identity, he figures he can use her for the story of the day by helping her get from Florida to New York so she can marry a man she doesn’t really love. Of course, somewhere along the road, the two fall in love with each other. Gable was perfectly cast as the comedic romantic lead. He seemed likeable and genuine, and his chemistry with Colbert was plain to see.
Even in the softer moments, when he is considering his blossoming love for Ellie, or when discussing the musings of his mind with her, there was a tenderness that Gable was able to bring out, making his affection for her seem believable. And in another scene, when a stranger recognizes the heiress and threatens to call in her whereabouts for the reward money, Peter threatens the man in a way that would have done just fine in a serious drama or a gangster film.
Now, I’ll admit, I haven’t seen many of Gable’s films. I’ve seen the Philadelphia Story, Gone With the Wind, and Mutiny on the Bounty, but I can easily say that I have never seen a bad performance from him. Over the course of his career, he was only nominated for Best Actor three times, but I’m actually a bit surprised at that, considering how well-revered he was back then, and how well-remembered he is, even today. And his career was pretty prolific. He was making movies until around 1960. His last film, The Misfits, was released posthumously in 1961. I call that pretty impressive.