Wed January 29, 2014
The Palm Beach Story, Preston Sturges (U.S., 1942)
SEE EVENT DETAILS
at Pacific Film Archive (PFA) Theater
(see times)
Preston Sturges propels his blazing battle-of-the-sexes, originally titled Is Marriage Necessary?, down the bumpy road from rags to riches. A spry Claudette Colbert abandons her failing architect husband, played by Joel McCrea, because “I’m a milestone around your neck.” Off she goes to seek her fortune, encountering first the train-bound Ale and Quail Club, an antic assembly of Sturges regulars, then John D. Hackensacker (Rudy Vallee), the world’s richest man, and his sister Maud (Mary Astor), a gay divorcée times five. This fairy tale of affluence advances at a frantic pace, cashing in on so much boisterous banter you’d think it would break the bank.
—Steve Seid
• Written by Sturges. Photographed by Victor Milner. With Joel McCrea, Claudette Colbert, Rudy Vallee, Mary Astor. (90 mins, B&W, 35mm, From Universal Pictures)
show less
—Steve Seid
• Written by Sturges. Photographed by Victor Milner. With Joel McCrea, Claudette Colbert, Rudy Vallee, Mary Astor. (90 mins, B&W, 35mm, From Universal Pictures)
Preston Sturges propels his blazing battle-of-the-sexes, originally titled Is Marriage Necessary?, down the bumpy road from rags to riches. A spry Claudette Colbert abandons her failing architect husband, played by Joel McCrea, because “I’m a milestone around your neck.” Off she goes to seek her fortune, encountering first the train-bound Ale and Quail Club, an antic assembly of Sturges regulars, then John D. Hackensacker (Rudy Vallee), the world’s richest man, and his sister Maud (Mary Astor), a gay divorcée times five. This fairy tale of affluence advances at a frantic pace, cashing in on so much boisterous banter you’d think it would break the bank.
—Steve Seid
• Written by Sturges. Photographed by Victor Milner. With Joel McCrea, Claudette Colbert, Rudy Vallee, Mary Astor. (90 mins, B&W, 35mm, From Universal Pictures)
read more
—Steve Seid
• Written by Sturges. Photographed by Victor Milner. With Joel McCrea, Claudette Colbert, Rudy Vallee, Mary Astor. (90 mins, B&W, 35mm, From Universal Pictures)
show less
Date/Times:
Pacific Film Archive (PFA) Theater
2575 Bancroft Way, Berkeley, CA 94720
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