When it comes to icons of classic Hollywood, one of those that I just don't understand is Preston Sturgis. Among those who matter, he was a wonderful writer/director whose work was pure genius and this is probably the general tenor of reviews of his films here on IMDb. It's funny, because while I am a huge fan of screwball comedy from the 1930s and 40s, I just don't 'get' Sturgis. I've seen almost every film he's made, and with only a few exceptions (such as HAIL THE CONQUERING HERO and THE LADY EVE),I thought most of his films were pretty ordinary. All too often, his films, to me, seem to try too hard and lack subtlety or timing. Some prime examples are the laughing sequences as the chain gang members laugh to a Mickey Mouse cartoon as if they are all on LSD and Rex Harrison's bumbling with a chair and other household items in UNFAITHFULLY YOURS. These moments were just too over-the-top and lacked the charm and timing of such marvelous non-Sturgis screwball comedies like BRINGING UP BABY or MY GIRL Friday.

While PALM BEACH STORY isn't a bad film, it certainly didn't do anything to turn me into a "Sturgiphile". It's a good movie, but has too many improbable and over-the-top moments to keep it consistent. Some examples would include the hunting club scene on the train. While generally this was a cute sequence, it went from mildly cute to just plain stupid--using slapstick when it actually detracted from the overall plot. Having these drunk hunters running amok shooting hundreds of shotgun blasts throughout the train car just wasn't funny--it was more like something Elmer Fudd would have done, not a real life person. Also, the film's ending is way, way, way too convenient and contrived--having identical twins of BOTH McCrea AND Colbert show up out of nowhere to marry the two jilted loves (Vallee and Astor)! This defies possibility and crosses over to just plain dumb.

All this is a shame, really, as apart from a few embarrassingly bad scenes (indicating that the great Sturgis COULD have used an editor),the film is a breezy and cute romantic comedy. Some elements, such as the "Wienie King", were weird but somehow worked and the overall momentum of the film was good.

My suggestion is that you SHOULD watch this overrated screwball comedy,...AFTER you've seen all of Cary Grant's first (they were so much better on practically every level).

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 Cox

The Palm Beach Story is one of the best examples of the wonderful nonsense that Hollywood used to turn out in its best comedies. It's only in the movies that circumstances like these happen and it's quite beyond my powers to describe them.

Joel McCrea and Claudette Colbert come to a dry patch in their marriage and decide to split. Colbert takes a train to Palm Springs and McCrea pursues her by plane. And they both wind up with a brother and sister pair of gazillionaires in the persons of Rudy Vallee and Mary Astor.

I will say that Preston Sturges did kind of reach into left field for his romantic ending, but that's half the fun of The Palm Beach Story.

Only half because the other half is the fun of the journey. Not much happens to Joel, but Claudette is on one wild ride when she's adopted by a gang of drunken millionaire sportsmen known as the Ale and Quail Club.

The proponents of gun control should get the right to The Palm Beach Story and run it at all opportunities. Seeing these louts, plastered out of their minds and shooting off their weapons is pretty funny and the best argument I know for gun control. Preston Sturges used some of his favorite players from his usual stock company for members of Ale and Quail.

Also look for a very funny performance by Robert Dudley as the 'wienie king' whose encounter with Colbert sets everything in motion.

Rudy Vallee gets to sing in this which is also nice. He sings a chorus of Isn't It Romantic and then sings his own hit, Goodnight Sweetheart which has the opposite effect from what he intended.

The Palm Beach Story is the object lesson in how to make screen comedy and make it to last.