Preston Sturges' The Palm Beach Story (1942) stars Claudette Colbert and Joel McCrea. The film is of the classic screwball comedy kind including outrageous gags, fast dialog and storyline. These qualities are what makes it a screwball comedy but, hidden behind all that are real issues.
Gerry is an antagonist, her conflicting actions are the reason the story ends up in Palm Beach. She up and leaves her husband instead of trying to work something out and it's up to Tom to be the hero and get her back. Tom chases her across the country to win her back because he loves her, and she loves him even though she ignores these feelings.
I think the message of the film has a lot to do with love and what people go through for the ones the love. The film is convincing with this message and I think it was meant to be. Screwball comedies are always about two people who should clearly be together but aren't for whatever reason. And in the end, they always end up together, as they ought to.
Gerry is an antagonist, her conflicting actions are the reason the story ends up in Palm Beach. She up and leaves her husband instead of trying to work something out and it's up to Tom to be the hero and get her back. Tom chases her across the country to win her back because he loves her, and she loves him even though she ignores these feelings.
I think the message of the film has a lot to do with love and what people go through for the ones the love. The film is convincing with this message and I think it was meant to be. Screwball comedies are always about two people who should clearly be together but aren't for whatever reason. And in the end, they always end up together, as they ought to.