The Palm Beach Story

1942
Approved
1h 28m

IMDb RATING

7.5/10

13K

YOUR RATING

Mary Astor, Claudette Colbert, Joel McCrea, and Rudy Vallee in The Palm Beach Story (1942)

Play trailer2:13

1 Video

54 Photos

Farce Screwball Comedy Slapstick Comedy Romance

A New York inventor needs cash to develop his big idea, so his adoring wife decides to raise it by divorcing him and marrying an eccentric Florida millionaire with a capricious high-society ... Read allA New York inventor needs cash to develop his big idea, so his adoring wife decides to raise it by divorcing him and marrying an eccentric Florida millionaire with a capricious high-society sister.A New York inventor needs cash to develop his big idea, so his adoring wife decides to raise it by divorcing him and marrying an eccentric Florida millionaire with a capricious high-society sister.

Director
- Preston Sturges
Writers
- Preston Sturges
- Ernst Laemmle
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.5/10

13K

YOUR RATING

Director
- Preston Sturges
Writers
- Preston Sturges
- Ernst Laemmle
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 win

Videos1

Trailer 2:13

The Palm Beach Story

Photos54

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
In the long dolly shot of Joel McCrea and Mary Astor strolling on the pier from Rudy Vallee's yacht, Preston Sturges makes a rare Alfred Hitchcock-style appearance as the chubby, moustachioed leader of the crew toting Claudette Colbert's luggage.

Goofs
On the train, the men with the shotguns shoot out the glass of the same window several times.

Quotes
Wienie King: Cold are the hands of time that creep along relentlessly, destroying slowly but without pity that which yesterday was young. Alone our memories resist this disintegration and grow more lovely with the passing years. Heh! That's hard to say with false teeth!

Crazy credits
While the opening credits are running, a prequel story about the two leads' wedding is being shown that is only hinted at in the last few minutes of the movie and the words, "And they lived happily ever after...or did they?". The movie comes full circle at the end to another wedding with the the same phrase "And they lived happily ever after...or did they?"

Alternate versions
There is an Italian edition of this film on DVD, distributed by DNA Srl: "RITROVARSI A PALM BEACH (1942) New Widescreen Edition DONNE E VELENI (1948)" (2 Films on a single DVD, with "The Palm Beach Story" in double version 1.33:1 and 1.78:1), re-edited with the contribution of film historian Riccardo Cusin. This version is also available for streaming on some platforms.

Connections
Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Beverly Hills Cop II/Amazing Grace and Chuck/Ishtar/The Chipmunk Adventure (1987)

Soundtracks
Isn't It Romantic?
(1932) (uncredited)
Lyrics by Lorenz Hart
Music by Richard Rodgers
Played by a dance orchestra during the ballroom sequence

User reviews124

Review

Featured review

8/10

Colbert, Mcrea, Vallee. fun stuff.

Fun fun!! the versatile Claudette Colbert is Gerry, married to an architect Tom (Joel Mcrea), who can't get his designs across. so... Gerry hatches a ridiculous plot to leave him, and get hitched to someone who CAN help him. right from the start, we know its going to be silly and fun, with the william tell overture. Supporting cast is filled with incredible hollywood names (how did they ever get all of them together?) Mary Astor, Rudy Vallee, William Demarest, Franklin Pangborn. and some funny scenes, like the old,deaf guy that wants to rent Gerry's apartment while she's still in it, or the group of drunks on the train. all classic Sturges... loud, over the top scenes. it all moves right along, with a snappy script and story. Vallee is the rich guy who may or may not come to Gerry's rescue. and that surprise ending... where did that come from? but it's fun. a lot of fun. definitely worth catching this one! Written and directed by Preston Sturges. one of only fourteen films he directed. all clever and fun.