The Palm Beach Story (1942): Cast, Box Office & Plot
The Palm Beach Story is a 1942 romantic comedy directed by Preston Sturges, starring Joel McCrea as Tom Jeffers, Claudette Colbert and Max Wagner. It runs 1 hour 28 minutes and earned $393 worldwide.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 28m (88 min)
- Director
- Preston Sturges
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Paramount Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Palm Beach Story About?
The premise of The Palm Beach Story without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Tom Jeffers, a New York inventor, needs funding for his breakthrough invention. His devoted wife, Gerry, hatches a scheme: she divorces Tom and marries the flamboyant Florida millionaire J.D. Hackensacker III to secure the money, while love and ambition collide across the country.
The Palm Beach Story Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- millionaire
- inventor
- twin
- palm beach florida
- screwball comedy
- money problems
- jealousy
- slapstick comedy
- reference to franklin d. roosevelt
- american south
- broken window
- trapshooting
+38 more Show fewer
- male police officer
- police officer
- airplane pilot
- damsel in distress
- deception
- desperation
- gunfire
- reprisal
- shopping spree
- filthy rich
- turbelance
- schemer
- dejection
- rejection
- humiliation
- remorse
- dismayed damsel
- grief
- manipulation
- gambling
- gambler
- forgiveness
- attitude adjustment
- snitty boy toy
- mass confusion
- farce comedy
- shooting up a train car
- train car detached from the rest of a train
- unzipping a dress
- sturges and demarest
- sturges and mccrea
- wife
- colbert and mccrea
- yachtsman
- one liner
- convertible car
- billionaire
- satire comedy
The Palm Beach Story Cast & Characters
Joel McCrea leads the cast as Tom Jeffers, with Claudette Colbert as Geraldine 'Gerry' Jeffers and Max Wagner as Tom's Best Man (uncredited). Directed by Preston Sturges; 35 actors are credited in all.
- Director Preston Sturges
-
Joel McCrea as Tom Jeffers - Claudette Colbert as Geraldine 'Gerry' Jeffers
- Max Wagner as Tom's Best Man (uncredited)
- Esther Howard as Wife of Wienie King
Also Starring in The Palm Beach Story
· 31 more- Robert Dudley Wienie King
- Bess Flowers Gerry's Maid of Honor/Nightclub Extra (uncredited)
- Dewey Robinson Fifth Member Ale and Quail Club
- Chester Conklin Sixth Member Ale and Quail Club
- William Demarest First Member Ale and Quail Club
- Robert Greig Third Member Ale and Quail Club
- Jack Norton Second Member Ale and Quail Club
- Roscoe Ates Fourth Member Ale and Quail Club
- Sheldon Jett Seventh Member Ale and Quail Club
- Arthur Hoyt Pullman Conductor
- Rudy Vallee John D. Hackensacker III
- Mary Astor The Princess Centimillia
- Sig Arno Toto
- Byron Foulger Jewelry Salesman (uncredited)
- Bert Moorhouse Diner on Train (uncredited)
- J. Farrell MacDonald Officer O'Donnell (uncredited)
Show all 35 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Frank Faylen Taxi Driver (uncredited)
- Robert Warwick Mr. Hinch
- Franklin Pangborn Manager
- Al Bridge Conductor
- Torben Meyer Dr. Kluck
- Jimmy Conlin Mr. Asweld
- Frank Moran Brakeman
- Fred 'Snowflake' Toones Colored Bartender
- Victor Potel Mr. McKeewie
- Joe Gilbert Store Employee (uncredited)
- Charles R. Moore Colored Porter
- Marcelle Corday Elderly Maid (uncredited)
- Arthur Stuart Hull Mr. Osmond
- Edward McNamara Officer in Penn Station (uncredited)
- Harry Rosenthal Orchestra Leader
More from Preston Sturges
More films directed by Preston Sturges, best-rated first: The Lady Eve, The Miracle of Morgan's Creek, The French, They Are a Funny Race and The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend.
The Palm Beach Story Plot Summary
What happens in The Palm Beach Story from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 11 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Tom Jeffers, an inventive but struggling man played by Joel McCrea, and his wife Gerry, portrayed by Claudette Colbert, find themselves in dire financial straits. Despite being married for five years and hoping for Tom’s breakthrough success, they are still waiting for their fortunes to change. Gerry, eager for a lifestyle of greater comfort and luxury, begins to contemplate that their hardships might be alleviated if she leaves Tom and seeks her fortune elsewhere.
Full summary
The whole story of The Palm Beach Story, scene by scene
The Palm Beach Story Box Office
The Palm Beach Story grossed $393 worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$393
- International
- $393
The Palm Beach Story Trailers & Videos
4 videos: 2 trailers and 2 featurettes.
- Trailer The Palm Beach Story ≣ 1942 ≣ Trailer
- Featurette Mick Garris on THE PALM BEACH STORY
- Featurette Three Reasons: The Palm Beach Story
How Well Do You Know The Palm Beach Story?
9 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 9
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
What is the profession of Tom Jeffers in the movie?
Cars in The Palm Beach Story
3 cars on screen, including the 1936 De Soto Airstream and the 1931 Checker Model M.
-
1936 De Soto Airstream Minor role -
1931 Checker Model M Background role -
1941 Chevrolet Special De Luxe Background role
Seen The Palm Beach Story?
Movies Like The Palm Beach Story
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Palm Springs Weekend, Bachelor in Paradise and Fun on a Weekend.
The Palm Beach Story FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office and post-credit scenes of The Palm Beach Story, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Palm Beach Story?
The Palm Beach Story runs 1 hour 28 minutes (88 minutes).
When was The Palm Beach Story released?
The Palm Beach Story was released on August 28, 1942.
Who directed The Palm Beach Story?
The Palm Beach Story was directed by Preston Sturges.
More films by Preston Sturges Who is in the cast of The Palm Beach Story?
The Palm Beach Story stars Joel McCrea as Tom Jeffers, Claudette Colbert as Geraldine 'Gerry' Jeffers and Max Wagner as Tom's Best Man (uncredited), among 35 credited actors.
How much did The Palm Beach Story make at the box office?
The Palm Beach Story grossed $393 worldwide.
Does The Palm Beach Story have a post-credit scene?
No. The Palm Beach Story has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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