Review of Sullivan's Travels (1941) by Alec B — 01 Jan 2014

A successful but frustrated Hollywood comedy director during the Great Depression, decides to set off across America dressed as a hobo and with only ten cents in his pockets to research the hard life of the poor for his next feature which is to be a heavy themed drama.

One of the best Preston Sturges comedies and one of the most influential cinematic comedies off all time. Its brash contrast between the dream like reality of Hollywood and the harsh reality of the streets is striking and is tastefully conveyed by the witty and intelligent script, but the film works even better when taken as a tribute to the concept of comedy features as a way of indispensable escapism.

Charming, delightful and a times grippingly suspenseful, it's easy to see why this film has so many strong supporters.