Sullivan's Travels - Criterion Collection

Media:	DVD
Directed by:	Preston Sturges
Starring:	Joel McCrea, Veronica Lake
Release date:	21 August, 2001
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Sullivan's Travels - Criterion Collection

Average rating: Stars

A Funny and Poignant Journey

One of the most under-rated filmmakers in the history of cinema is Preston Sturges. To many, he is unknown or forgotten. But to those that know of the writer turned director, his work is a treasure chest. One of the brightest in that chest is his 1941 offering SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS.

The story is uniquely Hollywood. Sullivan is a top drawer film director looking to make more important films. But when his wish to do a film on poverty is thwarted by "What do you know about poverty?" he does something about it. He attempts to throw off his wealth and easy living and join the less fortunate. His journey is a success but for the surprisingly wrong reasons.

The film itself is a pleasure to watch, playing off several different kinds of films. Once you've got it figured out, it switches from screwball comedy to heavy drama to thriller and back to comedy again. The film even begins with an action adventure aboard a moving train. The result is a genre pretty uniquely belonging to Sturges, with witty dialogue, surprising twists and clever visual composition.

The Criterion DVD itself continues their time honored tradition of turning the film into a film study. Along with a great visual and audio transfer, there is a documentary on Sturges, an interview with him as well as a unique running commentary by Kenneth Bowser, Noah Baumbach, and even Spinal Tap's Christoper Guest and Michael McKean.

I know this film will warrant several viewings in my home. Why not in yours?

Sullivan's Travels - Criterion Collection - Joel McCrea, Veronica Lake

Sullivan's Adventure

Sister #3: I saw this movie on television one rare Saturday afternoon in 1973 when I was home alone. I was 16. It made a big impression on me. I really identified with the John Sullivan character. I wanted to become a hobo - experience another way of life - ride the rails - wear one pair of jeans live on what I was able to find. To me, this would be ultimate freedom. Although I liked the Veronica Lake character and I liked her hair, I didn't identify with her. She wasn't the one having the adventure. She was just going along on Sullivan's adventure. I felt movies were bereft of female adventurers/heroines when I was growing up, much to my regret. When I watch this movie now, I find so much more in it. Like many Preston Sturges movies, it is very clever.

Joel McCrea, Veronica Lake - Sullivan's Travels - Criterion Collection

A revealing journey

Preston Sturges' "Sullivan's Travels" is worthy 1941 comedic adventure starring Joel McCrea and Veronica Lake. McCrea plays successful and wealthy Hollywood film director John L. Sullivan. The sheltered Sullivan known for his screwball comedies has a yen to add authenticity to his work to coincide with the tough economic times felt by many. He plans to dress up as a tramp and without any funds make his way seeing how the more unfortunate other half lives. He never can seem to escape the watchful eyes of his film studio who are concerned for his safety.

Along the way dressed shabbily as a hobo, he encounters Veronica Lake who buys him breakfast at a greasy spoon diner. Lake is an aspiring starlet who has given up her dreams and is headed back home. She joins McCrea on his odyssey and eventually they fall in love.

Having been shown kindness while posing as a tramp, he returns with a fistful of cash to had out to the needy. He gets waylaided from a blow to the head and suffers temporary amnesia. In a case of mistaken identity he is pronounced deceased. Meanwhile due to fantastic circumstances he wind up convicted of assault and incarcerated in a work camp on a chain gang. He finally gets to experience hardship. All's well that ends well. He gets released and learns that comedy is an integral part of man's sometimes dreary existence.

This well played flick, I imagine, was an inspiration for folks coming out of the Depression and on the threshhold of World War 2. The supporting cast was excellent, particularly the actors playing McCrea's valet and butler.