ApleasingSturges;couldhavebeenbetter

ThismovieissupposedtobeamongthebestfromSturges,whichIfoundhardtounderstand.(1)Therichandpowerfulareportrayedtobeteddy-bear-cuteeccentrics,which,evenasacomicconceit,ishardtoswallow.(2)Sturgessfamousblendofmelodramaandscrewballcomedyisabitunbalancedformytaste:toomuchmelodrama,andtoolittleirony.(3)ItlacksthedarkerundertoneinotherSurgesgreats,suchasquot;LadyEvequot;orquot;MiracleatMorgansCreekquot;.Inthosebetterfilms,Sturgesmanagedtokeeptragedyloominginthebackground,andkeepitclosetoourfollowingoftheplot.Althoughtheheroinesarealwayssavedbythebell,butjustbarely,andSturgesmadesurewenottakethehappyendingstooseriously.Weareentertainedbythecomedy,calmedbythehappyending,yetneverlostsightofthequot;realnessquot;oftragicturnofeventsinquot;reallifequot;.Nothere.Infact,eventhelightinginquot;PalmBeachStoryquot;conspirestoemphasizethemelodramaattheexpenseofpoignancy.Itissoftandhazy,inthequot;make-the-prima-donna-look-goodquot;traditionofcameraworks,andlacksthehigh-definitionsharpnessinotherSturges.Itisasifthecameraagreedwiththedirectorandshyawayfromaharderlookatlife.Ironically,thispersistenceinmerry-go-aroundmakesthefilmlessfunny,notmore.