THE PALM BEACH STORY/AUSTIN FILM SOCIETY

Moving along in this Essential Cinema series about re-marriages we saw this film made in 1942  directed by Preston Sturges.  We laughed our heads off in response to brilliant dialogue and perfect delivery by Claudette Colbert and Joel McCrea.  The wardrobe for Ms. Colbert is breathtaking, the sets are lavish and tasteful and once again we're surrounded by the antics of the top one percenters.  Characters like the Wienie King (a rich generous hard of hearing sausage magnate from Texas) and a foreign nonsense speaking gigolo will have you laughing non-stop.  While taking the train to Palm Beach for a quickie divorce Ms. Colbert is surrounded by rich businessmen with their hunting dogs and their frat house antics.  She meets Rudy Vallee a real charmer on the train who falls for her with heart and soul (he's quite cute) and subsequently his sister, a playgirl in Palm Beach fabulously played by Marty Astor.    There is a good trick ending that had us laughing and not minding it's "happily ever after" conclusion. Abe and I loved, loved, loved this film.  Well curated and introduced by Kimberly Jones with helpful notes.