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No consensus yet.
All Critics (29) | Top Critics (7) | Fresh (28) | Rotten (1) | DVD (3)
In many ways this screwball comedy is a precursor to Some Like It Hot, but with a silkier wit and some gorgeous fashions. Jan 28, 2016 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…
In many ways this screwball comedy is a precursor to Some Like It Hot, but with a silkier wit and some gorgeous fashions.
Kate Muir
This might not be the funniest film of Sturges' brilliant '40s heyday ("The Miracle of Morgan's Creek"), or the most subversively romantic ("The Lady Eve"), or the best made ("Sullivan's Travels"), but it's definitely a censor-baiting treat. Apr 11, 2015 | Rating: 4/4 | Full Review…
This might not be the funniest film of Sturges' brilliant '40s heyday ("The Miracle of Morgan's Creek"), or the most subversively romantic ("The Lady Eve"), or the best made ("Sullivan's Travels"), but it's definitely a censor-baiting treat.
Lou Lumenick
This Prestton Sturges production is packed with delightful absurdities. Nov 13, 2007 | Full Review…
This Prestton Sturges production is packed with delightful absurdities.
Variety Staff
Rudy Vallee turns in his best performance as a gentle, puny millionaire named Hackensacker in this brilliant, simultaneously tender and scalding 1942 screwball comedy by Preston Sturges. Feb 9, 2007 | Full Review…
Rudy Vallee turns in his best performance as a gentle, puny millionaire named Hackensacker in this brilliant, simultaneously tender and scalding 1942 screwball comedy by Preston Sturges.
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Hilarious, irresistible, impeccably cast. Feb 9, 2006 | Full Review…
Hilarious, irresistible, impeccably cast.
It should have been a breathless comedy. But only the actors are breathless -- and that from talking so much. May 20, 2003 | Full Review…
It should have been a breathless comedy. But only the actors are breathless -- and that from talking so much.
Bosley Crowther
I was impressed with how modern the script was in both tone and candor. Feb 27, 2019 | Rating: A- | Full Review…
I was impressed with how modern the script was in both tone and candor.
Rachel Wagner
Leave it to Preston Sturges to create the sexiest and most grown-up romantic comedy of his day. Mar 14, 2015 | Full Review…
Leave it to Preston Sturges to create the sexiest and most grown-up romantic comedy of his day.
Sean Axmaker
It's about as breezy, carefree, and anarchic as romantic comedies get. Full of absurd comedic digressions and bookends that still don't quite make sense, this eccentric road trip comedy would likely never get made in today's Hollywood climate. Feb 28, 2015 | Rating: 3.5/4 | Full Review…
It's about as breezy, carefree, and anarchic as romantic comedies get. Full of absurd comedic digressions and bookends that still don't quite make sense, this eccentric road trip comedy would likely never get made in today's Hollywood climate.
Eric Melin
one of the outright funniest movies of its era, a veritable parade of wicked-rapid dialogue, absurdist narrative loops, and socially subversive attitude Feb 7, 2015 | Rating: 3.5/4 | Full Review…
one of the outright funniest movies of its era, a veritable parade of wicked-rapid dialogue, absurdist narrative loops, and socially subversive attitude
James Kendrick
Even as Colbert and McCrea trade fast-paced dialogue and fall into each others' arms, they sell their characters' marriage as one whose fire desperately needs tending. Feb 4, 2015 | Rating: 4.5/5 | Full Review…
Even as Colbert and McCrea trade fast-paced dialogue and fall into each others' arms, they sell their characters' marriage as one whose fire desperately needs tending.
Keith Phipps
Sturges at his confident best. Nov 13, 2007 | Full Review…
Sturges at his confident best.
Film4 Staff
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.
Super Reviewer
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.
Madcap, screwball, shenanigans and hooligan antics abound in this, another Sturges comedy. Starring Claudette Colbert, in another of her zany roles, and the much underappreciated Joel McCrea, there are some immensely funny moments nestled in between the sheets of this 40's film. Besides Colbert's great comedic chops, her character easily falls into desperate situations aboard a train full of gunmen, then takes advantage of a wealthy millionaire to finance her unsuccessful husband's ventures. Great scenes include a featuring of William Demarest (My Three Sons) shooting out a train window with live ammunition, the performance of Sig Arno as the foreign born and unintelligible Toto, and Rudy Vallee serenading his beloved from below while she reconciles with her beau. With some great romantic lighting to set an amorous mood, and the charm of such innocent namecalling as "you cluck" you can't help but enjoy it. The only qualm I hold is that it wasn't a comedy classic such as It Happened One Night or Capra's Platinum Blonde. Still, it holds water.
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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