The Palm Beach Story

Review #203
Paramount, 1942
Mov No. 7983
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Rated: G
Directed by: Preston Sturges
Staring: Claudette Colbert, Joel McCrea, Rudy Vallee, Mary Astor
Oscars: O Nominations
AFI 100 years, 100 _____ tributes: Laughs (#72)
Runtime: 1h 28min
Best quote: "I'd marry Captain McGloo tomorrow, even with that name." "And divorce him the next month." "Nothing is permanent in this world... except for Roosevelt." - Princess Centimillia & John Hackensacker

Gerry Jeffers (Claudette Colbert) and her husband, Tom (Joel McCrea), are on the outs. their marriage is crumbling; they aren't in love anymore.

Gerry decides to run away, eventually charming her way onto a train bound for... you guessed it... Palm Beach.

Tom, however, won't stand for it, and tries to follow her. On the train, Gerry looses her luggage, but befriends a wealthy man named John (Rudy Vallee) who is smitten with Gerry almost immediately.

John starts to buy the world for Gerry, and she accepts. She even starts to fall in love with him, as well!

John and Gerry make it to John's house where he introduces her to his sister, Princess Centimillia (Mary Astor). However, The Princess falls in love with Gerry's Husband, Tom!

Gerry and Tom soon reconcile, and decide not to divorce. But all is not lost because the ending, possibly right out of Shakespeare, is so wild and nutty you won't believe your eyes!

Personal Comments

The Palm Beach Story wasn't nominated for any Academy Awards, but this really doesn't matter because the movie is terribly funny and equally deserving of it's #77 placement on the AFI's list of funny movies.

The story is kind of absurd, and very much screwball, but it delivers the laughs at a steady pace. The Only problem is its wild ending, which is hard to believe, but it works none-the-less.

A funny, rainy day comedy to cheer you up and make you feel better.

Plot:
Although the ending is suspect, the rest of the film is very funny and the stars make it the whole thing fit nicely together.

Visual Effects:

Sound:

Character Development:
There isn't really a change in the characters; however, Tom and Gerry "find" each other again without really even trying, and the ending solves the problems of the other two people who love them. They take the easy way out; it's like they couldn't find a good ending so they quickly threw out something to end the picture. And yet it still works. Somewhat.

Atmosphere:
Though the ending may make you feel gypped, the film is funny and enjoyable by anyone.

Realism:

Warren’s Rating:

Movies it was nominated with for Best Picture:
Did the movie deserve the Best Picture Award?

FINAL RATING

Is the movie worth your time to watch?

03-06-06