Review of Sullivan's Travels (1941) by Paul V — 13 Feb 2009

I canâ??t think of too many films that are as willing to lampoon how disconnected from real life Hollywood truly is. The premise of the story, about a Hollywood filmmaker who decides to live among the impoverished in order to make a powerful drama about their plight, is a really different kind of idea from many of the films at the time, and this film is also one of the best examinations of the film industry as well, and it even goes so far as to reference actual films and filmmakers, adding to its grounded setting among many of the screwball antics.

And the filmâ??s overall message of how comedy and laughter enables the down-trodden to have a brief reprieve from their troubles and fears, is a beautiful one.