Sunkist Stars at Palm Springs: A weirdly sunny time capsule

Is it worth your time?

Honestly, only if you have a massive soft spot for 1930s PR stunts or if you really, really need to see what people thought was 'fun' about eighty years ago. If you want a plot, keep walking. This is a glorified vacation video with a budget.

It’s kind of funny how they gathered one winner from every single state just to have them stand around looking polite while famous people do their thing. The sheer logistics of it must have been a nightmare. But on screen? They mostly just serve as glorified extras.

The whole thing feels like it was filmed in about a weekend between fancy lunches. You can tell the stars are just popping in to say hi, wave at a camera, and get back to their actual vacation.

The vibe is... orange

There is so much Sunkist branding. I mean, it’s in the title, but I wasn't prepared for the sheer audacity of it. You’ll leave this movie feeling like you just drank a gallon of juice.

Frances Langford pops up to sing, and it’s actually the only time the movie stops feeling like a boardroom presentation. She’s got this energy that almost saves the segment. Almost.

• Betty Grable looking like she’s trying to figure out which exit is closest.
• The dancing is… well, it’s very 'polite' choreography.
• The desert heat looks real, especially in the close-ups where everyone is squinting.

It’s definitely a different flavor than the gritty drama of Livets karneval or the weird intensity you get in The Pen Vulture. It lacks that sharp, jagged edge. It’s smooth. It’s processed. It’s sunshine in a bottle.

I found myself wondering if any of those contest winners actually got to go on a ride in those fancy cars, or if they were just told to sit there and smile until the director said cut. The smiles look a bit frozen by the thirty-minute mark.

There’s this moment where Jackie Coogan is supposed to be having fun, and he just stares into the middle distance like he’s calculating his taxes. It’s weirdly hypnotic.

If you enjoy stuff that feels like it belongs in a time capsule buried in a backyard, this is it. It’s light, it’s fluffy, and it has zero calories. Don’t expect a deep dive into the industry. Just watch the hats. The hats are top tier.