The Palm Beach Story

Movie

1942

1h 28m

English

Comedy, Romance

User Score:

7.4

Critic Score:

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A New York inventor, Tom Jeffers, needs cash to develop his big idea, so his adoring wife, Gerry (Geraldine), decides to raise it by divorcing him and marrying an eccentric Florida millionaire, J. D. Hackensacker III.

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The Palm Beach Story

Movie

1942

1h 28m

English

Comedy, Romance

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Watch on Prime Video

WATCHMODE

7.4

IMDB

CRITIC SCORE

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Cast

Full Cast & Crew

Claudette Colbert

Geraldine 'Gerry' Jeffers

Joel McCrea

Tom Jeffers

Mary Astor

The Princess Centimillia

Rudy Vallee

John D. Hackensacker III

Toto

Mr. Hinch

Mr. Osmond

Dr. Kluck

Mr. Asweld

Mr. McKeewie

First Member Ale and Quail Club

Jack Norton

Second Member Ale and Quail Club

Robert Greig

Third Member Ale and Quail Club

Roscoe Ates

Fourth Member Ale and Quail Club

Dewey Robinson

Fifth Member Ale and Quail Club

Chester Conklin

Sixth Member Ale and Quail Club

Sheldon Jett

Seventh Member Ale and Quail Club

Wienie King

Manager

Pullman Conductor

Conductor

Fred 'Snowflake' Toones

Colored Bartender

Charles R. Moore

Colored Porter

Frank Moran

Brakeman

Harry Rosenthal

Orchestra Leader

Directed By: Preston Sturges

Written By: Preston Sturges (Screenplay)

Featured Comments/Tips

siggi963 says...

2 months ago

I do have a serious problem with this story was it is essentially about making prostitution OK if you want the reach you goals. I am surprised that so many people rate this movie higher than how I see it.

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soonertbone says...

one year ago

Got off to a bad start with me, because both the opening Weenie King scene as well as the gun club scene went on for far too long. But there's serious humor here, along with a great romance story, and it all won me over in the end. When not bogged down by those two scenes, it moves along breezily and I loved it. Sturges has a knack for making comedies that are incredibly sexy and adult and somehow evaded the Code, and here, the "zipping the dress" scenes are really quite something.

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Spiritualized Kaos says...

one year ago

It is a classic American comedy.

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alexlimberg says...

8 months ago

A classic screwball comedy. Solid but far from being hilarious, romantic, educative or sexy. That said, some aspects like the Mid-Atlantic English, the train and historic fashion (and their prices) are awesome. > *"Tipping is un-American."* J.D. Hackensacker III (cf. https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/11/30/457125740/when-tipping-was-considered-deeply-un-american)

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Featured User Reviews

barrymost

5 years ago

A woman leaves her inventor husband, believing that it would be better for him if she were gone. She heads to Palm Beach to get a divorce, and meets kind billionaire John D. Hackensacker the III during crazy train ride there. The energy is bursting in every scene thanks to film's great, seasoned c More

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