Films have contributed significantly to the development of the society as noted in the entertainment industry such as creating employment and business opportunities for thousands of people among others benefits. The film displays various themes that occur in most societies enabling people to comprehend life and relate events. However, this paper analyses the film titled “It Happened One Night (1934)” by Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert to show how the theme of love conquers all is displayed through the use of film techniques such as lighting, direction, and acting style as well as design aspects such as costuming, hair or makeup and set design to support and present the theme in the story.
The piece shows the theme of Love conquers. All through the story that develops that shows how love can overcome other obstacles in building relationship such parental and other friend’s refusal of somebody due to various reasons such as socio-economic class, race, and ethnic background or even geographical barriers among other but love overcomes all the challenges and obstacles to ensure a successful love relationship. The theme is presented from the story in the movie where, Ellie Andrews, who had tied a knot with King Westley, received criticism and resistance from her wealthy father, Alexander Andrews. He objected the relationship because Westley was poor and the father thought that Westley only was interested in his wealth and did not truly love her daughter (Capra & Cohn (Producer), 1934). She was compelled to run away from her father’s presence to go and look for her partner and spouse Westley. It indicates how love conquers all and despite the good condition and wealth that her father has, she still manages to run and look for her spouse because of love. She is aware that her father is not in the relationship and is ready to annul the marriage.
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On her way to New York to reunite with her new spouse, she encounters another challenge and threat to the relationship newspaper reporter Peter Warne who is aware of her desperate situation and exploits it by giving Ellie a condition that she either conforms to or report her moves to her father. Ellie gives in to the conditions allowing the reporter to cover her story exclusively for the sake of her spouse and lover Westley that further shows how the theme of love conquers it all is displayed in the film. Many people in love sacrifice a lot of things including tricky and challenging conditions for the sake of their love and relationship. The reporter wants to exploit on the desperate condition that Ellie has. As they spend time with Peter, she starts falling in love because of the loneliness that she has and desperation but in the end she only reunites with Westley, who is her true spouse to indicate further the theme of love conquers it all (Oleszczyk, 2013). When Ellie revealed to her father about her whereabouts and the experience that she had when with reporter Peter, the father agrees her to marry Westley a position he had initially objected. It indicates that despite the challenges that people experience in family and relations, true love conquers all and even those that had objected such relationship finally gives in as noted from Mr. Alexander Andrews’s final decision about the relationship.
The story is presented through the use of techniques and designs that makes the story well understood and the theme well expressed. The lightning techniques vary in different set up that such as when showing the two (Ellie and Peter) inside the hotel room and outside set ups. The balanced and control lightning also enables the film to be well presented as a classic film. The lightning, for instance, is regulated when the two are in their different beds in the hotel that creates a good scene for romance enabling the theme of love to be displayed in the film. The direction techniques also enable the story to flow whereby scenes develop that results and lead to show the theme of love conquers all. For example, Westley arrives at the wedding ceremony after Peter had left. It creates a good atmosphere for telling the story and showing the theme of love. If Peter had not left the scene, it would have most probably led to the confrontation of the two rivals and may be lead to a different setup and theme such as revenge. The direction technique hence enables the theme of love to conquer all to be displayed with ease. The realistic acting style is used as a technique in the film to enhance the theme of love). For example, most of the scenes that express the theme of love occur in almost similar contexts that are used in normal life (Bergfelder, Harris & Street, 2007). For instance, there is much privacy, and most of the two people are always together surrounded by nature that presents an ideal place that issues of romance can be discussed. For instance, they touch each other and express feelings for each other. For example, when Ellie tries to attract Peter’s attention but he fails to realize until she displays a shapely leg to Danker. Most people in real life also try different ways to show their love and attraction to other partners. The Technique of realistic acting style hence expresses the theme of love.
The consuming design also enables the theme of love easily expressed. For instance, during the wedding ceremony, Ellie runs sup with a wedding gown that reinforces the theme and set up of love and a true wedding. The hair and makeup of the major players present the style that most had in classic days especially the younger people. It makes an expression of the theme easy. The set design also encourages the theme of love to be expressed. For example, when in a restaurant, the two shares the same table allowing them to talk romance issues and expresses their love for each other. Even when they are outside the building, they are surrounded by nature; there is a bench that allows them to sit and relax while discussing their love issues.
The mise en scène is ideally placed enabling the theme to be expressed with an ease that has made elements work together. For example, wedding set up is similar to the ideal set up. The wealth of Ellie father is shown from what he possess among other scenarios that enabling the story to flow. The design hence harmonizes with the theme of the film of love conquers sit all. The techniques of direction, lighting, and acting style have proved to be effective making the film easily understood enabling viewers relate to real life setups and hence appreciate the film.
References
Bergfelder, T., Harris, S., & Street, S. (2007). Film Architecture and the Transnational Imagination: Set Design in 1930s European Cinema. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press.
Capra, F. & Cohn, H. (Producer). (1934, Feb 22). It Happened One Night . [Columbia Pictures]. United States. Columbia Pictures
Oleszczyk, M. (2013). Looking back at "it happened one night." 12 nov. rogerebert.com . Retrieved from http://www.rogerebert.com/far-flung-correspondents/looking-back-at-it-happened-one-night
