Sullivan's Travels

Absurd slapstick, clever wit, and playful romance all in one!Preston Sturges’ romantic comedy-drama Sullivan’s Travels (1941) is a whirlwind of emotions and laughter. Sturges’ direction is fascinating and engaging as he opens Sullivan’s Travels with a rooftop train fight, into witty banter, then proceeds into serious poverty drama, and all manner of other scenarios. Stuart Gilmore’s editing keeps Sullivan’s Travels down a sleek 91 minutes of all laughs and tears with quick cuts around all the action straight to the humor. Preston Sturges’ writing is quite clever and sincere as he openly mocks how Hollywood wants to be seen as artistic and trying to change society, while allowing for the reality of audiences preferring the simple pleasure brought by comedies and laughing collectively. Sturges concludes that the catharsis of viewers laughing together during comedies is greater in the immediate nature of moviegoing compared to pretentious and depressing dramas for the simple fact that people like to see comedies more. The comedic relief from comedies is an escapist fantasy to deliver viewers from their low wages, poor jobs, and scarce lifestyles. But, Sullivan’s Travels proves that getting the viewer to laugh is as significant as a drama making the audience cry in despair.John F. Seitz’ cinematography looks great for all the different wide shots needed to capture a blistering car chase to homeless people standing in line at the food banks in order to survive. Seitz captures it all. Charles Bradshaw and Leo Shuken’s score is perky for all the silly comedy, ravishing for the romance, and heartfelt during the serious moments of reflection. Wally Westmore’s make-up delivers one ethereal beauty for Veronica Lake’s face to gritty mud on Joel McCrea’s hobo look. Edith Head’s costumes for Veronica Lake are dazzling with diamonds and flowing robes. Head’s style is immaculate and makes the already gorgeous Lake all the more dreamy and memorable.Veronica Lake is stunning from the first moment she appears on screen. Lake steals the entire film with her fearless line delivery, sultry personality, mysterious persona, playful flirting, fun actions, and hilarious sense of humor. Veronica Lake could not possibly have been a bore as she lights up the screen with more than her iconic peek-a-boo haircut, but also her bubbly whimsy and endearing wit. I adored Veronica Lake in Sullivan’s Travels.Look, Joel McCrea is funny, charming, and lively in Sullivan’s Travels as he goes from absurd slapstick, ridiculous banter about the importance of movies, to tender romance with Lake, then to heartfelt empathy for the poor. However, see Sullivan’s Travels for Veronica Lake’s daring forwardness, unforgettable charisma, classic beauty, and sweet charm.

The Criterion Collection released this sublime comedy/drama masterpiece written and directed by Preston Sturges starring Joel McCrea as Hollywood director John L. Sullivan who wants to stop directing fluff comedies and instead direct serious social dramas, and sets out on the road as a bum with 10 cents in his pocket to research the idea, meeting an unemployed, equally poor woman(played by the gorgeous Veronica Lake) then later getting much more of real world hardship than he ever imagined...Looking splendid in HD, a definite upgrade from the 7-film Preston Sturges DVD set from 2006, now including an audio commentary from filmmakers Noah Baumbach, Kenneth Bowser, Christopher Guest, and Michael McKean., an episode of the PBS series "American Masters" about Sturges, and interview with his (now) late wife Sandy, and audio excerpts of him, as well as a brief video essay from critic David Cairns.

Dvd arrived quickly and in great condition. Thanks BetterWorldBooks. Criterion collection, full screen, 91 min., B&W, English subtitles, lots of special features. Still after 80 years, a movie that makes you think...about others, especially poor people. It's ashamed this (and others) aren't in widescreen and color. Most people, especially young people won't bother watching an old B&W film...even a good one. This movie, as we old folks say, is a hoot. Probably not "politically correct" now days. Laughs and action abound

I saw this on the AFI top 100 movie list, and I had seen it years ago but didn't remember much about it. I'm glad that I rewatched it. It's an excellent comedy with a lot of clever ideas and good dialogue. It's also got a lot of heart and likable characters. It's the source of the Coen Brother's movie "O Brother Where Art Thou", which I had forgotten. It sits in loosely the meta genre of films about the Hollywood industry, and it works well in this case. There's a bit of a twist ending, which is great. Veronica Lake is under-used but she still manages to shine a bit. A+

A truly enjoyable movie that is both poignant and funny - I would say a must see!

Sullivan's Travels is a film that belongs on every movie lovers list.