It Happened One Night
An essential and timeless theme if ever there was one, love naturally holds a special place in cinema. Romantic, sensual, obsessive, ambiguous, forbidden, lighthearted or profound, love on screen is as diverse as the individuals who live its stories. Drawing form different eras, tones, and cinematic styles, this program brings together a selection of remarkable films that will warm your heart from the start of the winter season to Valentine’s Day.
First film to win the "Big Five" Academy Awards in 1935
After an argument with her wealthy father, who disapproves her marriage to King Westley, Ellie elopes. She takes a bus from Miami to join Westley in New York and, during the journey, meets a journalist...

Frank Capra
Frank Capra was an American director, screenwriter, and producer of Italian descent. Born to Italian immigrant parents, he entered the world of cinema almost by chance, honing his skills under Mack Sennett as a gag writer before transitioning to directing. His collaboration with producer Harry Cohn helped elevate Columbia Pictures and cemented Capra as one of the most influential filmmakers of the 1930s, earning him three Academy Awards for Best Director. Among his enduring classics are It Happened One Night, Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, Lost Horizon, You Can’t Take It With You, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Meet John Doe, Arsenic and Old Lace, and It’s a Wonderful Life. During World War II, he also directed several propaganda films. Capra was one of the first Hollywood directors to enjoy significant creative freedom for many of his projects. His success helped pioneer the concept of the director as the primary creative force behind a film, paving the way for the auteur theory. A rarity at the time, Capra’s name became a recognized brand, often appearing above the title on movie posters—outshining even the biggest stars.
