6 Best William Demarest Movies

By Vlad Zakh · July 7, 2026

William Demarest brought gruff, wisecracking energy to Hollywood comedies and became a key member of director Preston Sturges’s stock company. Sullivan’s Travels, The Lady Eve, The Palm Beach Story and Christmas in July are Sturges classics, It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World races strangers for buried treasure, and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington rounds out the list.

It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963)

TMDB ★ 7.0

A group of strangers race across the country to find a fortune buried under a big W.

Directed by Stanley Kramer · 3h 12m · Rated G

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Palm Beach Story (1942)

TMDB ★ 7.0

Claudette Colbert plays a woman who leaves her struggling husband to pursue a wealthy new suitor, hoping to help him financially.

Directed by Preston Sturges · 1h 28m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Stream: YouTube TV · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Sullivan's Travels (1941)

TMDB ★ 7.4

A successful film director poses as a homeless drifter to research a serious social drama.

Directed by Preston Sturges · 1h 31m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Stream: YouTube TV · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Lady Eve (1941)

TMDB ★ 7.3

A con artist falls for the wealthy, naive heir she set out to swindle aboard an ocean liner.

Directed by Preston Sturges · 1h 37m

Where to watch

Stream: YouTube TV · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Christmas in July (1940)

TMDB ★ 7.0

A hopeful office worker believes he has won a lucrative slogan contest and spends wildly before the truth comes out.

Directed by Preston Sturges · 1h 07m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

IMDb ★ 8.1 RT 85% Metacritic 73

A naive, idealistic new senator battles entrenched political corruption in Washington.

Directed by Frank Capra · 2h 10m · Rated NR

Won 1 Oscar8 wins & 12 nominations

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.

6 Best William Demarest Movies

It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963)

The Palm Beach Story (1942)

Sullivan's Travels (1941)

The Lady Eve (1941)

Christmas in July (1940)

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

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