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The Palm Beach Story Photos
Movie Info
This screwball comedy finds married couple Tom (Joel McCrea) and Gerry Jeffers (Claudette Colbert) in a strained relationship, largely due to financial difficulties. Gerry decides to leave Tom, a struggling architect, and head to Palm Beach in order to marry a wealthy man who could fund Tom's projects. When Tom follows Gerry, they cross paths with the quirky millionaire John D. Hackensacker III (Rudy Vallee) and his chatty, husband-seeking sister, Princess Centimillia (Mary Astor).
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Genre: Comedy
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Original Language: English
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Director: Preston Sturges
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Writer: Preston Sturges
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Release Date (Theaters): original
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Release Date (Streaming):
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Runtime:
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Distributor: Paramount Pictures
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Production Co: Paramount Pictures
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Sound Mix: Mono
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Aspect Ratio: 35mm, Flat (1.37:1)
Cast & Crew
Critic Reviews for The Palm Beach Story
Audience Reviews for The Palm Beach Story
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A trifle of a film, a light confectionary, but exquisitely prepared by writer/director Preston Sturges, concerns the misadventures of a married couple (Joel McCrea and Claudette Colbert) when the wife decides to positively affect her husband's failing career by divorcing him, and marrying some rich guy, any rich guy. Yes, wacky (as rich old guys just walk into a scene, hand out wads of cash and then disappear again!), but nonetheless charming. And as well-rounded a piece of work as you are like to see.
kevin w Super Reviewer -
Written and directed by Preston Sturges ("Sullivan's Travels", "The Lady Eve"), The Palm Beach Story once again shows his knack for wittiness and light-hearted cynicism when it comes to conniving females. This time it's Claudette Colbert who uses her feminine wiles to manipulate wealthy men into doing her bidding. Her husband (Joel McCrea) doesn't want to let her go, but she's decided to leave him for the noble cause of letting him live within his means. This means she'll be free to pursue wealthy old men and live the kind of lifestyle she feels she's meant to live, but this of course is only a lucky coincidence for them both. Even with her self-sacrifice, her husband would rather keep ahold of her, and follows her down to Palm Springs where she's latched onto a wealthy poindexter by the name of J.D. Hackensacker the Third (Rudy Vallee). Of course his sister, The Princess Centimillia (Mary Astor) thinks the husband is a dreamboat, but she'll chase after any guy, apparently. Colbert convinces her wealthy beau that her husband is actually her brother, and this leads to double dating and double courtships. The Palm Beach Story stands out from other farcical comedies of it's day because it's rapid fire dialogue and quick pace are still just as clever today as they were when the film was made. Colbert and McCrea are fine as the leads, but it's Vallee and Astor who steal the show. The hedonistic playground of the wealthy is rich fodder for comedies of deceit, and this one takes quite a bit of the cake.
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A woman separates from her husband so she can gold dig for his benefit. I'm confused by the unanimous approval this film garnered. There are a lot of madcap absurdities from beginning to end, including the most gullible millionaire in film history and some crazy gun-toting club who shoot up a train. More importantly, Claudette Colbert's character's objective is to seduce men into giving her money, which, although believable, makes her character difficult to identify with even if she plans to use the money for a "good cause." And the deus ex machina at the end is too ridiculous to believe. Overall, after a finished watching this film, I was convinced that it was proof that not all old films are gold, and even after I finished reading critics' uncritical support of it, I can't say I've been swayed.
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I remember loving this movie, but from reading the synopsis on here, it didn't remind me of the plot any, so I can't remember at the moment. I want to see this movie again.
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