The Palm Beach Story Movie Download

8 / 10

“Nothing is permanent in this world”
When Preston Sturges was in his prime (1940-1944, with ‘The Great McGinty’, ‘Christmas in July’, ‘The Lady Eve’, ‘Sullivan’s Treavels’, ‘The Palm Beach Story’, ‘The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek’ and ‘Hail the Conquering Hero’) it made for one of the best golden years/prime periods for any director in my view, where five or more very good to masterpieces in a row were made close to each other. Of those seven films mentioned, the top two for me are ‘The Lady Eve’ and especially ‘Sullivan’s Travels’.

‘The Palm Beach Story’ is not quite one of the best from this period and not on the same level as those two. It is still a very good film though that has a lot of what makes Sturges at his best such a good director and writer. Well worth sticking with, because it really does get better, if one finds themselves put off by the early scenes where ‘The Palm Beach Story’ is at its weakest. Being somebody who always aims to be fair watching and reviewing films, and this is including watching the whole film before passing judgement, will admit that the early scenes left somewhat of a false impression on me. Having heard nothing but great things, and who really likes Sturges’ work and the cast, decided to keep watching with the gut feeling that it would get better. And it luckily did.

Reasons for not being crazy about the early scenes of ‘The Palm Beach Story’ are that the pace lagged somewhat, tedious at times even, and the opening credits are a head-scratcher. Although likely intentional, Claudette Colbert and Joel McCrea seemed somewhat cold in their chemistry together, the latter at first coming over as stiff and stern.

Some of the comedy early on felt over-played and stretched to the limit, not being as funny as ought.

However, there is so much to recommend. It’s beautifully filmed and adroitly directed by Sturges with just the right touch of light sophistication while with enough punch to stop it from veering into fluff. The story is lively and compelling much of the time with a lot of charm, it is absurd in places but endearingly so rather than insultingly so, also never too cluttered or simplistic. The script is typical Sturges, razor sharp, witty, slyly cynical and sophisticated. The dialogue given to Mary Astor and Rudy Vallee is absolutely priceless at its best.

Vallee’s musical number is a memorable one and didn’t feel out of place. The cast sparkle, McCrea becoming much more comfortable as he grows into the character, and in doing so the chemistry between him and Colbert becomes warmer and the writing for him, while never as quotable as the others, lightens up. Colbert is an absolute delight here throughout, radiating charm and wit and she is always at ease doing it. Vallee and Astor are hilarious scene-stealing support, Vallee having most of the film’s best lines, and Robert Dudley enjoys himself.

Overall, very good film that falls short of being great due to an unsettled start. 8/10 Bethany CoxRead More