“The Palm Beach Story” is my favorite Sturges because of its multi-faceted plot, relentless giddiness and Mary Astor — my Role Model. She’s a version of Stuges’ mother Mary Desti who as he said “dragged me through every goddamned museum in Europe” and put him in her pal Isadora Duncan’s dance class. The thought of litte Preston in a pseudo-Grecian tunic is too delightful for words. She’s also responsible for giving Isadora the scarf that spelled her doom (caught in the wheels of a Buggati it strangled the legendary cultural poseur.
Both the “weenie King” and the “Ale and Quail Club” speak well of Sturges’ fondness for old men who still have a lot of life in them. As for Rudy Vallee he’s as delightful tallying up the expenses for Colbert’s new wardrobe (he just loves write figures down) as he is singing “Goodnight Sweetheart” to her. All’s well that end’s well for all except perhaps “Toto” (Astor’s perpetual suitor who seems more a domestic animal than a person)
And now here’s Rudy with a song used to great effect in both “Bonnie and Clyde” and “My Own Private Idaho”
My favourite aspect of Sturges’ childhood is when she was a “scarlet woman” to Aleister Crowley, the celebrated sorcerer, and little Preston and the “wickedest man in England” hated one another. I envisage a Dennis-the-Menace (US version) antipathy, pranks, etc…
It was a few decades before I finally grasped that the title sequence was not only a miniature parody romantic comedy, but also a setup for the closing gag.
The Ale and Quail Club inspires a game: List fictional clubs and such, particularly those portrayed in movies. To wit:
Sons of the Desert
Mystic Knights of the Sea
Delta Delta Delta
The Diogenes Club
Junior Woodchucks
The Owls’ Club
Zorro’s Fighting Legion
Drones Club
Cobalt Club
The Amateur Mendicant Society
The He-Man Women Haters Club
American Eagle Squadron
Conrad Birdie Fan Club
Sons of Knute
The Blue Blazers
Wa-Tan-Ye Girls
Popeye’s Cartoon Club
Orphan Annie’s Secret Society
The Baker Street Irregulars
World Aquanaut Security Patrol
International Rescue
Rescue Aid Society
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
The Jets
The Sharks
The Ratz (led by Eric Von Zipper)
United Network Command for Law and Enforcement
SPECTRE
Control
Kaos
Z.O.W.I.E.
Beagle Boys Inc.
Audible Boy Bird Watchers Society
Junior Thunder Riders
The Funny Company
Combined Miniature Deterrent Force
New Ashmoleon Marching Society and Students Conservatory Band
Sturges had observed the effect Vallee had on audiences. Whenever he appeared they laughed. Even when he was playing a straight, dramatic role. ESPECIALLY when he was playing a straight dramatic role. The studio bosses were in an uproar over Sturges’ suggestion and even threatened to pull the plug completely, but PS was steadfast, insisting that they would thank him and that a new star was about to appear in the firmament. If what I mean by ‘new’ is ‘old, out of favour and annoying.’ Anyhoo, Sturges’ hunch proved to be correct, several execs had to eat their hats, and John D Hackensacker The Third is one of the great comedic inventions of all time.
If you haven’t seen “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”, check it out. Rudy Vallee reprises his Broadway performance as a sort of Hackensacker Redux, a corporate CEO who still sports 1920s golf togs and sings a literally old-school college fight song. While his songs referenced his crooner days, his character was decidedly respectable old money.
shadowplay 
November 20, 2019 at 2:38 pm
“The Palm Beach Story” is my favorite Sturges because of its multi-faceted plot, relentless giddiness and Mary Astor — my Role Model. She’s a version of Stuges’ mother Mary Desti who as he said “dragged me through every goddamned museum in Europe” and put him in her pal Isadora Duncan’s dance class. The thought of litte Preston in a pseudo-Grecian tunic is too delightful for words. She’s also responsible for giving Isadora the scarf that spelled her doom (caught in the wheels of a Buggati it strangled the legendary cultural poseur.
Both the “weenie King” and the “Ale and Quail Club” speak well of Sturges’ fondness for old men who still have a lot of life in them. As for Rudy Vallee he’s as delightful tallying up the expenses for Colbert’s new wardrobe (he just loves write figures down) as he is singing “Goodnight Sweetheart” to her. All’s well that end’s well for all except perhaps “Toto” (Astor’s perpetual suitor who seems more a domestic animal than a person)
And now here’s Rudy with a song used to great effect in both “Bonnie and Clyde” and “My Own Private Idaho”
November 20, 2019 at 6:15 pm
My favourite aspect of Sturges’ childhood is when she was a “scarlet woman” to Aleister Crowley, the celebrated sorcerer, and little Preston and the “wickedest man in England” hated one another. I envisage a Dennis-the-Menace (US version) antipathy, pranks, etc…
November 21, 2019 at 3:43 am
The scene where Vallee’s “Goodnight, Sweetheart” serenade sweeps Colbert and McCrea into each other’s arms is worthy of Da Ponte.
November 21, 2019 at 8:54 am
It was a few decades before I finally grasped that the title sequence was not only a miniature parody romantic comedy, but also a setup for the closing gag.
The Ale and Quail Club inspires a game: List fictional clubs and such, particularly those portrayed in movies. To wit:
Sons of the Desert
Mystic Knights of the Sea
Delta Delta Delta
The Diogenes Club
Junior Woodchucks
The Owls’ Club
Zorro’s Fighting Legion
Drones Club
Cobalt Club
The Amateur Mendicant Society
The He-Man Women Haters Club
American Eagle Squadron
Conrad Birdie Fan Club
November 21, 2019 at 12:22 pm
Great list — I’m trying to think of any you’ve missed. Stevenson’s Suicide Club, I guess.
November 21, 2019 at 2:29 pm
Rivette’ s (and Balzac’s) “Les 13”
November 22, 2019 at 11:13 am
Sons of Knute
The Blue Blazers
Wa-Tan-Ye Girls
Popeye’s Cartoon Club
Orphan Annie’s Secret Society
The Baker Street Irregulars
World Aquanaut Security Patrol
International Rescue
Rescue Aid Society
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
The Jets
The Sharks
The Ratz (led by Eric Von Zipper)
United Network Command for Law and Enforcement
SPECTRE
Control
Kaos
Z.O.W.I.E.
Beagle Boys Inc.
Audible Boy Bird Watchers Society
Junior Thunder Riders
The Funny Company
Combined Miniature Deterrent Force
New Ashmoleon Marching Society and Students Conservatory Band
November 22, 2019 at 11:42 am
the Bookhouse Boys
um The Three Amigos?
November 22, 2019 at 12:04 pm
Sturges had observed the effect Vallee had on audiences. Whenever he appeared they laughed. Even when he was playing a straight, dramatic role. ESPECIALLY when he was playing a straight dramatic role. The studio bosses were in an uproar over Sturges’ suggestion and even threatened to pull the plug completely, but PS was steadfast, insisting that they would thank him and that a new star was about to appear in the firmament. If what I mean by ‘new’ is ‘old, out of favour and annoying.’ Anyhoo, Sturges’ hunch proved to be correct, several execs had to eat their hats, and John D Hackensacker The Third is one of the great comedic inventions of all time.
And Cher’s a fan!
November 22, 2019 at 12:28 pm
Sorry! They just bang on about how great Joel McCrea is, which I’m not disputing! Here’s some Rudy to balance things out.
November 22, 2019 at 12:46 pm
Somebody needs to make that Aleister Crowley vs. Little Preston Sturges movie.
November 22, 2019 at 1:08 pm
You and me and about two hundred other people would definitely watch it. Especially to see Crowley get a suction-cup arrow right in the third eye.
November 22, 2019 at 1:45 pm
Those 200 people would constitute the best fictional club EVER. Jeffrey Tambor for Crowley.
November 22, 2019 at 4:24 pm
Hahaha — brilliant casting! Brian Cox would be good too, but he’s not quite as funny.
November 23, 2019 at 1:19 am
Late to the list party —
Friends of I-talian Opera.
November 23, 2019 at 8:42 am
If you haven’t seen “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”, check it out. Rudy Vallee reprises his Broadway performance as a sort of Hackensacker Redux, a corporate CEO who still sports 1920s golf togs and sings a literally old-school college fight song. While his songs referenced his crooner days, his character was decidedly respectable old money.
November 23, 2019 at 10:27 pm
I recomposed The Chiseler’s front page so that you are top-center. Where you belong!
https://chiseler.org/
November 24, 2019 at 2:34 pm
Friends of I-talian Opera is a club that’s fake as well as fictional.
How to Succeed has been on my to-see list for a looong time.
Thanks, Daniel!