742 The Palm Beach Story

[swo17]

Personally, I dug Hail the Conquering Hero the most, as one of his lesser known films, and I think that it would have been more appropriate for Criterion to release that one, especially considering its very filmic style with very long takes and tracking shots. This also somewhat applied to Miracle of Morgan's Creek (which was silly in a funny and political way). That one would've been a good Criterion pick too... I think I'll skip this and hope for further Sturges releases to follow on blu.

I feel like Safeguarding Military Information would have been a much more obvious fit for one of the Eddie Bracken/soldier films, so perhaps Criterion including the short as an extra here means that they don't have plans for either of those other films. (Although maybe it has more to do with the films being made in the same year, in which case, forget what I just said.)

[MichaelB]

It was made between Sullivan's Travels and The Palm Beach Story. Although I agree that Hail the Conquering Hero might be a better fit, as there seems to be an explicit nod towards it at the start when Eddie Bracken pointedly doesn't divulge military information over the phone.

[manicsounds]

blu-ray.com

[manicsounds]

DVDBeaver

[Drucker]

My approach to Preston Sturges is pretty basic:

Funny: The Lady Eve, The Palm Beach Story, Christmas in July, Hail the Conquering Hero
Not so much: Sullivan's Travels, The Miracle of Morgan's Creek, The Great McGinty, Unfaithfully Yours

Unsurprisingly, I select from Funny every time.

Pat Graham of the Chicago Reader actually singles out Unfaithfully Yours as the ONE Sturges film that he actually considers funny. I'm a much bigger fan of Sturges than Graham, but there are times when I think it's his funniest work too. Harrison's maniacal laughter, still conducting an orchestra as he finishes a daydream about KILLING his wife, always has me in stitches. It's so psychotic and so atypical of Sturges.

Morgan's Creek has the greatest concept ever made for movies - the "what happened last night?" plot that still pays off. (See The Hangover) You can pretty much make up whatever crazy shit you want, it works great. The crazier and more imaginative you are, the better. It works even better with Morgan's Creek because those kids are so 'aw shucks' wholesome and naive, it's hilarious to me.

Sullivan's Travels is still overrated to me. I still think it's very good, possibly great, but I just don't buy the message.

I picked this up during the sale and just watched it and found it nearly as funny as Unfaithfully Yours. I honestly don't understand how you could watch that movie and not be rolling around laughing. I saw it in a theater and missed half the lines because everyone was laughing at the other half.

Anyway, Palm Beach Story was absolutely sensational. Making Colbert the lead is obviously the right choice, as she's sympathetic, humorous, and daring. Her character feeds off McCrea perfectly, who, like in Sullivan's Travels, is acting a bit too seriously for his own good. But the zaniness of the rest of the film plays off McCrea much better in this film. In addition, Palm Beach Story seems less concerned with a cohesive message. At times, it feels like we're about to be hit over the head with Colbert realizing that maybe divorce isn't so grand...maybe my husband is a great guy, but it never really happens in an obvious way. The one-liners are sensational throughout, and the ending is absolutely uproariously perfect. I don't understand how one could see a comedy like this as "too silly", but different strokes, I suppose.