Screwball Sundays: THE PALM BEACH STORY

Schedule

Sat Apr 27 2024 at 06:00 pm

Location

2300 E Baristo Rd,Palm Springs,92262,US | Palm Springs, CA

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Welcome to Season 2 of Screwball Sundays! Join us for hilarious screwball comedies of Hollywood's golden age.
Screwball Sundays are back!
Join the hilarity as we present another season filled with the wacky plots, witty dialogue, and zany characters of the great screwball comedies of Hollywood’s golden age. Featuring live introductions, Q&As with the Film Society of Screwball Comedy, and special appearances by world renowned authors and film scholars including the legendary Molly Haskell, our screenings promise to be intellectually engaging and thoroughly entertaining!
This year, see them all and save with an All Access Pass!
Saturday, April 27 at 6pm
THE PALM BEACH STORY (1942) Preston Sturges
Starring Claudette Colbert and Joel McCrea
Directed by the legendary Preson Sturges, The Palm Beach Story is a rollercoaster ride of wacky dialogue, eccentric characters, and unexpected twists. Joel McCrea and Claudette Colbert play Tom and Gerry, a married New York couple who, having hit a rough financial patch, agree to separate. Soon they find themselves thrust back together after Gerry heads to Florida and begins to romance a wealthy playboy (Rudy Vallee) with a divorced sister (Mary Astor) who sets her sights on Tom. The film's free-wheeling, inventive storyline showcases the height of Sturge's unparalleled storytelling prowess. The Palm Beach Story showcases Sturges's mastery of physical comedy and sharp repartee, delivering a perfect blend of wit and absurdity.
Legendary film critic, historian and author Molly Haskell will be speaking and signing books at the screenings of The Palm Beach Story starring Claudette Colbert on April 27, and Designfor Living starring Gary Cooper on April 28.
Ms. Haskell is the author of six books. From Reverence To Rape, the Treatment of Women in the Movies is cited as one of the most influential books in film history. She has written for The New York Times, The Guardian UK, Esquire, The Nation, Town and Country, The New York Observer, The New York Review of Books, The Village Voice, New York Magazine, and Vogue. She has served as associate Professor of Film at Barnard, and as Adjunct Professor of Film at Columbia University.
Ms. Haskell’s appearance is sponsored by the Film Society of Screwball Comedy, which is dedicated to the art, science, and preservation of screwball comedy. FSOSC has vast database of screwball comedy film information and resources, including books, that are available for enthusiasts. For more information, visit FSOSC.org.

Coming Soon
March 3 - ARSENIC AND OLD LACE (1944) Frank Capra
Starring Cary Grant and Priscilla Lane
SPECIAL GUEST: Author and Film Historian Steven C. Smith
Writer and notorious marriage detractor Mortimer Brewster (Cary Grant) falls for girl-next-door Elaine Harper (Priscilla Lane), and they tie the knot on Halloween. When the newlyweds return to their respective family homes to deliver the news, Brewster finds a corpse hidden in a window seat. With his eccentric aunts (Josephine Hull, Jean Adair), disturbed uncle (John Alexander), and homicidal brother (Raymond Massey), he starts to realize that his family is even crazier than he thought.
March 17 - THE AWFUL TRUTH (1937) Leo McCarey
Starring Irene Dunne and Cary Grant
Jerry (Cary Grant) and Lucy (Irene Dunne) are a married couple who doubt each other's fidelity: Jerry suspects Lucy and her music teacher (Alexander D'Arcy) of spending an evening together, and Lucy is convinced Jerry lied about a business trip. When the jealous pair file for divorce, both rush into new relationships, but quickly realize their love never died. The soon-to-be-divorced husband and wife then both scramble to spoil each other's chances for newfound romance.
March 31 - HARVEY (1950) Henry Koster
Starring James Stewart and Josephine Hull
Elwood P. Dowd (James Stewart) is a wealthy drunk who starts having visions of a giant rabbit named Harvey. Elwood lives with his sister Veta (Josephine Hull) and her daughter (Victoria Horne), and Veta worries that Elwood has gone insane. In the process of trying to have him committed, Veta admits that she occasionally sees Harvey herself. The director of the mental home, Dr. Chumley (Cecil Kellaway), tries to reconcile his duty to help Elwood with his own growing experiences with Harvey.
April 7 - SULLIVAN’S TRAVELS (1941) Preston Sturges
Starring Veronica Lake and Joel McCrea
Successful movie director John L. Sullivan (Joel McCrea), convinced he won't be able to film his ambitious masterpiece until he has suffered, dons a hobo disguise and sets off on a journey, aiming to "know trouble" first-hand. When all he finds is a train ride back to Hollywood and a beautiful blonde companion (Veronica Lake), he redoubles his efforts, managing to land himself in more trouble than he bargained for when he loses his memory and ends up a prisoner on a chain gang.
April 14 - AFTER THE THIN MAN (1936) W.S Van Dyke
Starring William Powell and Myrna Loy
SPECIAL GUEST: Author of Becoming Nick and Nora , Rob Kozlowski
Recently returned home from vacation, private detective Nick Charles (William Powell) and his socialite wife, Nora (Myrna Loy), are back on the case when Nora's cousin, Selma (Elissa Landi), reports her husband Robert (Alan Marshal) missing. As the duo search for the disreputable Robert, Selma's friend David Graham (James Stewart), who secretly pines for her, aids the investigation. When the three begin to unravel Robert's secret life, the missing persons case turns into one of murder.
April 27 - THE PALM BEACH STORY (1942) Preston Sturges
Starring Claudette Colbert and Joel McCrea
*Saturday 6pm Screening with Reception*
SPECIAL GUEST: Author and Film Critic Molly Haskell
This screwball comedy finds married couple Tom (Joel McCrea) and Gerry Jeffers (Claudette Colbert) in a strained relationship, largely due to financial difficulties. Gerry decides to leave Tom, a struggling architect, and head to Palm Beach in order to marry a wealthy man who could fund Tom's projects. When Tom follows Gerry, they cross paths with the quirky millionaire John D. Hackensacker III (Rudy Vallee) and his chatty, husband-seeking sister, Princess Centimillia (Mary Astor).
April 28 - DESIGN FOR LIVING (1933) Ernest Lubitsch
Starring Miriam Hopkins, Gary Cooper, and Frederic March
SPECIAL GUEST: Author and Film Critic Molly Haskell
Painter George (Gary Cooper) and playwright Thomas (Fredric March) are two Americans sharing a Paris apartment. They're also rivals for the affection of commercial artist Gilda (Miriam Hopkins). When the plucky Gilda moves in, with the express understanding that there will be no funny business, the rivalry between George and Thomas heats up even further. Then Thomas heads to London when one of his plays is being produced there, leaving George free to make his move.
May 5 - HOLIDAY (1938) George Cukor
Starring Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn
Johnny (Cary Grant) seems like a solid match for Julia (Doris Nolan), the socialite daughter of Edward Seton (Henry Kolker). Assured that Johnny is a worthy suitor, Edward approves of the pairing. But, as Johnny's wanderlust surfaces -- he is more interested in traveling than in business -- Edward starts to have doubts. Johnny also begins to wonder if he might not be a better match for Linda (Katharine Hepburn), Julia's outspoken younger sister, with whom he has much more in common.
May 19 - TWENTIETH CENTURY (1934) Howard Hawks
Starring Carole Lombard and John Barrymore
When down-on-his-luck Broadway impresario Oscar Jaffe (John Barrymore) meets his discovery and former flame, Lily Garland (Carole Lombard), on the glamorous 20th Century Limited train between Chicago and New York, he uses every scheme at his disposal to win the movie star back both professionally and romantically. However, Lily, along with her new beau, George (Ralph Forbes), and Jaffe's rival producer, Max Jacobs (Charles Levison), who hired Lily to star in his latest play, have other plans.
May 26 - TROUBLE IN PARADISE (1934) Ernest Lubitsch
Starring Miriam Hopkins and Kay Francis
Thief Gaston Monescu (Herbert Marshall) and pickpocket Lily (Miriam Hopkins) are partners in crime and love. Working for perfume company executive Mariette Colet (Kay Francis), the two crooks decide to combine their criminal talents to rob their employer. Under the alias of Monsieur Laval, Gaston uses his position as Mariette's personal secretary to become closer to her. However, he takes things too far when he actually falls in love with Mariette, and has to choose between her and Lily.
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Where is it happening?

2300 E Baristo Rd,Palm Springs,92262,US, United States

Event Location & Nearby Stays:

Palm Springs Cultural Center

Host or Publisher Palm Springs Cultural Center

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