Review of Sullivan's Travels (1941) by Jess L — 11 Aug 2007

Starring Joel McCrea and Veronica Lake, with director Preston Sturges, Sullivan's Travels is about a highly successful film director (McCrea) who wants to make a movie about the common man and suffering.

However, he usually writes comedies and so he decides to go on the road as a hobo to try and understand the lifestyle. During his adventures he meets a young failed actress (Lake) who is about to leave Hollywood.

Wanting to help her, Sully tells the girl what he is doing and they go off together masquerading as tramps. After taking a short respite, he goes on the road again, this time alone. Through a series of events he finds himself in a chain gang while his friends assume he is dead.

Eventually he is freed but not before learning a valuable lesson. If he wants to relate with the poor he should give them laughter instead of hardship. I found this movie to be an enjoyable light comedy (even though I had never heard of it beforehand).