Today I’m reflecting on that tiny woman with the deep, sexy voice who managed to develop fully realized characters even in the smallest of roles. And in her greatest ones, set the bar so high for future comediennes that few have managed to approach, much less equal, her performances since.
Like many of us out there, I knew Claudette Colbert’s legs first, as she starred in one of the most iconic scenes in American film, proving “once and for all” that when it comes to hitchhiking, “the limb is mightier than the thumb.”
It took several years after seeing the image of her legs that I actually got around to It Happened One Night, which I’ve watched at least 30 times since. In her Academy-winning role as Ellen Andrews, she first perfects a chilly posture and refined voice as the stuck-up heiress. But slowly, Colbert reveals Ellen’s vulnerabilities and inexperience through expressions, gestures, stance, and tone. When Ellen and soon-to-be love interest Peter Warne (Clark Gable) stop at a motel en route to New York, she is ill at ease with the arrangement he makes to keep the room platonic–strapping a blanket between their beds. While she’s technically married, she has never been with a man. When she oversleeps the next morning, Peter threatens to come get her, and her clumsy, embarrassed fumbling to ensure he doesn’t makes me laugh every time I see it.
That winning performance made me a fan. Without it, I never would have sought out The Palm Beach Story, Midnight, and so many other wonderful movies since. Although I appreciate Colbert’s dramatic abilities, her skill with romantic comedy is what wows me. Here are just a few of the megastars she managed to upstage, in spite of the camera’s deep love for them (and theirs for it): Miriam Hopkins in The Smiling Lieutenant (1931), Clark Gable in It Happened One Night (1934), John Barrymore in Midnight (1939) and John Wayne in Without Reservations (1946).
So on her birthday, I’d like to say thank you to the actress who has lightened my mood again, and again and again: the mesmerizing Claudette Colbert.
Happy birthday, Claudette! It Happened One Night opened my eyes to the actress, as well. She was a fabulous comedienne — I just love that scene where she and Peter pretend that they’re a crass, screeching married couple. And the way she mutters lines always gets me.
Isn’t that wonderful? And so convincing that you think it actually is a different couple. I love that scene.
I love, love, love Claudette Colbert in her comedies! You are so right; she was the one I most cared about in The Smiling Lieutenant. The movie that really made me a fan was Midnight. I found it on youtube and couldn’t understand why I’d never heard of it before.
Midnight is WONDERFUL. That whole sequence when she’s faking her imaginary child’s illness, and then her lover’s insanity, is one of my favorite scenes ever.
Happy Birthday to Claudette! I agree that she is utterly fab in everything.
I saw “It Happened One Night” on the big screen a few years ago, and that was the film I discovered why Clark Gable was such a big deal. I’d seen his films, but only on television, and thought he was OK. It wasn’t until I saw him on the big screen that I fully understood his appeal.
I’m so envious you got to see it on the big screen! That sounds wonderful. I thought he was just OK until Dancing Lady. He and Joan Crawford had amazing chemistry in it (even though their relationship offscreen was waning by then). By It Happened One Night, I was thoroughly hooked:)
It Happened One Night is one of my all-time favourites, and that’s mostly because of Colbert – she plays the role perfectly. This was a lovely birthday tribute and has inspired me (albeit belatedly!) to watch some more of her films š
Isn’t she marvelous? That film is so perfect, but for me, Midnight would have edged it out–but for the presence of Gable.
to me Claudette was the one and only I have about 40 of her movies and all the books written about her plus framed pictures I check her on my computer almost daily
She’s wonderful, isn’t she?:)
The Smiling Lieutenant was what made me appreciate her comedic chops best. Heck, even her dramatic chops– that scene on the staircase where she’s leaving Nikki is phenomenal! In the end, I wanted her and the princess to ditch Nikki and run off together lol!
Definitely! She and the princess are so much cooler!!:)