Review of Sullivan's Travels (1941) by Blake P — 28 Aug 2013

Perhaps the most iconic role of chic blonde bombshell Veronica Lake ever had, "Sullivan's Travels" is yet another excellent Preston Sturges comedy that stings more than it makes you laugh, which isn't necessarily a bad thing when it comes to a satirical piece like this one.  It may not be as hilarious as Sturges' "other" 1941 film, "The Lady Eve," but "Sullivan's Travels" is a bit more thoughtful, and by the time everything's wrapped up, it raises lots of questions that one wouldn't ordinarily think of.

Joel McCrea, a Sturges favorite, portrays John L. Sullivan, a somewhat successful director that has made a profitable career out of making frothy comedies. But after a screening of his upcoming film, Sullivan decides to put his career on halt and discover the true nature of human tragedy by living it himself. After all, the next film he's planning to direct is "O Brother, Where Art Thou?".

So he picks up some roughed-up clothes, dirties himself, and hits the road, with his staff tailing him in a luxurious van (much to his dislike). He picks up a bitter actress (Lake) who's fed up with the phoniness of the movie industrey, and the attractive twosome go on a penniless journey together; they quickly lean that the "tramp" lifestyle isn't so bad, as long as you're able to get by.

McCrea and Lake are such a smart couple on the screen that it's surprising that behind the screen they loathed each other greatly.

A slinky combination of dry comedy and depression era-esque drama, "Sullivan's Travels" keeps the basic Hollywood formula of "comedy" in mind and, instead of putting up the good-old usual, it almost examines it.  And it isn't at all subtle, considering the main character of the film is sick of comedies, and wants to see what the darker sides of life can offer.

"Sullivan's Travels" instantly makes you think of the majority of films during wartime, most of them being cute, escapist comedies or Technicolor-laden musical spectacles, with just a few that come to mind about real human tragedy.  But at a time where the nation as a whole NEEDED to escape from all of the hardships of real life, it isn't at all a surprise.  Who would want to see a sad melodrama during a difficult time? In the end, "Sullivan's Travels" is almost a journey discovering why a simple, fluffy laugh is much more enticing than a tear-jerker.

This is discovered later in the film, when Sullivan is sent to a labor camp. The work is largely difficult: the "employees" have to work in the hot sun all-day, hardly with any breaks.  Everyone there is miserable, put frankly.  There's a scene, set around this labor camp, in a church, where all of the workers get the chance to go to "the picture show," as one character puts it.  Along with the churchgoers, the workers get to see a Mickey Mouse cartoon. The cartoon takes them away from their hellish life, gives them a good time, and a warm dose of happiness.

It is such a beautiful scene-- Sturges brilliantly focuses the camera on individual workers' expressions.  Many of their faces are covered in mud and sweat, but their smiles are huge, and their laughs hide their misery.  In that moment, Sullivan discovers why tragedy films aren't attractive to anyone, and just a few minutes, the film ends.  And it couldn't be better.

Sturges' writing and directing is 100% perfect.  This film is so fresh, funny, lovely, touching, and biting that it almost seems surprising that something so feel-good can also be razor sharp.  "Sullivan's Travels" is brilliant.