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Sullivan's Travels
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Sullivan's Travels

1941
Romance, Comedy
1h 30m
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Avg Percentile 69.01% from 1237 total ratings

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(1237)
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Rated 06 Oct 2020
90
83rd
Sturges made a great looking picture; especially with masterful montages indebted to the silent film era. And his vaudevillian jokes & dialogue go great with screwball comedy tone--especially in Lake's performance. However, the story tries too hard to balance both conservative ideology (obedience to authority) and liberal principles (empathy for the underdog). In the end, that means the message isn't flawlessly cohesive or cerebral. But, given the heartwarming ending, maybe that's the point?
Rated 11 Aug 2008
65
76th
From today's perspective the ending message looks really weird. Yeah after my travels I found out that lower segment of society is in serious misery that we the rich folk can not understand, so let's keep them sedated, back to pumping pheromones into their hard laboring bodies.
Rated 13 Jun 2009
76
57th
While it produced nothing even closely resembling a laugh, chuckle, or smile in me, it was eventful enough to keep the attention. I can't say that I was overly entertained, and really can't understand why anyone would see this as any better than luke-warm.
Rated 04 Apr 2008
93
98th
A great and unique mix of comedy and drama. Sturges manages to make all the commentary on society he wants without being inauthentic or melodramatic. The film is continually self referential and it only enhances both the comedy and the points it's trying to make about both movies and society. A few plot points are imperfect but they're brief and fit well with the overall tone of the film. The cast is great and it's hard not to love Lake and McCrea.
Rated 19 Nov 2008
4
35th
Not particularly funny or engaging in any way. Overrated by nearly everyone and I can't figure out why. LOOK THEY ALL FELL IN THE POOL - HILARIOUS. Also, movies are the only escape for poor people? Great message! Ewww.
Rated 09 Jan 2010
74
75th
A difficult-to-criticize film. The premise is interesting, but Sullivan doesn't seem to take it that seriously--of course, the film is almost a lecture about how it's okay not to be serious. The film doesn't take its own premise seriously either, until it suddenly does with a couple of shockingly violent incidents. Still, the leads are charming and the dialogue is nice and snappy. The humor tends to be over the top, but it's quite funny sometimes.
Rated 02 Feb 2008
90
86th
Part screwball romance, part committed social commentary, without any moralizing or sermonizing; the trademark Sturges lightness of touch very much in evidence. Probably his best movie.
Rated 20 Jun 2009
75
68th
Sullivan's Travels is a very interesting film. The plot is easily the best part. It is extremely well written, and the performances are great. The humour, sadly, was not humourous. It is standard slapstick (falling in a pool, getting hit in the face), but Sullivan's adventure is one I won't forget any time soon.
Rated 09 Sep 2009
86
75th
Sullivan's Travels is often said to be one of the best black-and-white comedies and it is. It's not a laugh-out-loud kind of comedy (few slapstick moments) but the story is what was worth seeing this. Joel McCrea is an underrated actor and Veronica Lake is stunningly beautiful, the supporting cast is superb and Sullivan's Travels is an overlooked comedy and doesn't get enough recognition.
Rated 09 Oct 2009
2
21st
My first impressions weren't positive, but I owe it another viewing.
Rated 04 Dec 2009
100
93rd
Marvellously sustained tragi-comedy which ranges from pratfalls to the chain gang and never loses its grip or balance.
Rated 05 Jan 2010
100
99th
A funny and yet profound movie. The way it shifts tone two thirds of the way through is unprecedented--and completely successful. One of our best American films.
Rated 24 Jul 2010
90
84th
I like the rapid fire wit, the screwball relief, the sudden sharp turns into darkness. The film is constantly contrasting glossy Hollywood with depression era reality. What I loved the most is Veronica Lake. She doesn't get to coast on her golden looks. She delivers every droll line perfectly and radiates a weary charisma that makes you wanna hold her. She's kind of a loser and that's beautiful.
Rated 17 Jul 2011
60
62nd
Quite a portion of Sturges’s intelligence is on display here, but not so much of his wit. The decision to drop the comedy in the third act in favour of second-rate melodramatics not only largely backfires, but results in thematic confusion. There are some remarkable elements here, such as the performance of “Let My People Go”, but, overall, there is just too much hokiness and not enough hilarity. The messages being delivered by Sturges are fine, but the delivery is disappointingly heavy-handed.
Rated 12 Oct 2011
4
70th
The shift in tone is rather jarring and awkwardly handled, but so ballsy for what is ostensibly a light comedy that I nonetheless dig it. It's also a nice wake-up call for Sullivan and audiences alike, who were prepared to experience poverty superficially and are forced to deal with something much harsher. I'll admit that the picture-show scene in the church is rather over-the-top and, at best, misguided. It'd be nice if the movie followed through, instead of ending up right where you'd expect.
Rated 30 Aug 2013
83
81st
The film does get more than a little tendentious near the end, but I absolutely love the characterization of the poor and downtrodden as kind, racially integrated, and willing to share what they have... with the occasional bad apple here and there. The metatextuality of Sullivan's peregrinations and the chemistry between McCrea and Lake make the film shine, plus the humor and themes hold up almost perfectly even after over 70 years.
Rated 01 Jul 2017
90
99th
I'm starting to get Preston Sturges now! After finishing Sullivan's Travels (1941) the impressions kept coming at such a rate I had to watch it again! Playful irony of the privilege feeling the poor's pain. All an illusion with a pinch of reality so wonderfully crafted by everyone involved! This is how to combine the ridiculous with the brutal truth.
Rated 25 Jan 2018
80
72nd
That was wonderful. Good times had by all.
Rated 19 May 2020
70
52nd
Veronica Lake is a delight. This features a romance between a 37-year old director and a 19-year old woman. This is one of those things from a bygone era, and thankfully, never happens in Hollywood anymore.
Rated 08 Dec 2006
82
73rd
Very entertaining (if somewhat overrated) comedy, with some good insights. I really hate amnesia as a plot device, though, and Sullivan's little speech at the end is over the top and unnecessary.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
6
70th
So the final message of the movie is that directors should make lighthearted, crowd-pleasing comedies? I can get behind that.
Rated 17 Jan 2008
70
65th
It's fine, enjoyable enough, but actually probably my least favorite of Preston Sturges' mostly brilliant screwballs.
Rated 09 Nov 2008
85
70th
Has a very strong story and a great cast, Joel McCrea and Veronica Lake just exude charm, but the slapstick humor and message are a bit hokey. Aside from that though, I thought it was great and extremely interesting.
Rated 10 Nov 2008
95
87th
I really love Sturges.
Rated 05 Mar 2009
86
74th
Sturges makes this adventure an original, offbeat screen entertainment.
Rated 11 May 2009
93
85th
Terrific Sturges comedy......Veronica Lake is adorable in this. Strongly recommended.
Rated 22 May 2009
84
71st
Comedy's often broad here but there's also some witty dialogue on display as well. Unlike any black & white film (or any Hollyw'd pic) Sturges crafts a comedy(!) about what it means 2 b poor & downtrodden. Ahead of his time w/ scenes of black congregations singing 4 their freedom, the film even sympathizes w/ prisoners & repeatedly wrangles w/ subjects completely unfit 4 comedy (smartly getting serious when it does) & yet somehow it all works. It doesn't age perfectly, but amazing 4 its time.
Rated 02 Aug 2009
75
84th
Funny and sweet romantic comedy, which also seeks to defend these very genre conventions against the idea that their frivolity is a mismatch to our serious world. Veronica Lake is precious in one of her earliest roles. Not all plot turns worked for me though, and I much prefer The Lady Eve, which is more refined and relies less on physical comedy.
Rated 12 Sep 2009
75
67th
solid performances from mccrea, lake and demarest help carry this film, but the winner here is preston sturges' screenplay.
Rated 04 Oct 2010
81
59th
Veronica Lake is exquisitely beautiful :)
Rated 27 Dec 2010
95
93rd
This was a pleasant surprise. Joel McCrea and Veronica Lake are wonderful together. Preston Sturges' direction and screenplay are great. I will be checking out more of his films.
Rated 11 Mar 2011
85
71st
A huge influence on pretty much every serious comedic filmmaker, and perhaps a number of the not-so-serious ones.
Rated 29 May 2011
88
70th
Slightly incoherent, but there's enough genius on display here to make me ignore that.
Rated 04 Jul 2011
65
58th
The attempts at humor are so jarringly unfunny in a dated slapstick sort of way that they really do detract from the film. However, the final act of the film is so tremendously dark and strange compared to the first 70 minutes that I couldn't help but be entranced.
Rated 16 Jul 2011
87
77th
The slapstick comedy bits fall flat at times and there are a few questionable plot conveniences, but for the most part it's pretty funny and intelligent, and the concept is great.
Rated 19 Jul 2011
72
57th
Frighteningly prescient - enough to sometimes blunt the effect of its comedy. So it's a modernist meta-movie - with its own unfunny, hypocritical message - in Classic Hollywood comedy drag. But you should still see it if movies are your game.
Rated 22 Jul 2011
80
90th
Nice Movie
Rated 19 Sep 2011
95
97th
"If ever there was a plot needing a twist."
Rated 24 Sep 2011
84
97th
Sturges' masterpiece, this sly paradox of a movie masquerades as a frothy, escapist Hollywood comedy that makes fun of serious social issue movies, yet somehow sneaks in so much earnest social commentary that it manages to be both at once and transcend the differnece. The interplay between McCrea and Lake is lovely and there are plenty of good setpieces. And the emotional punch of the ending is surprising and earned
Rated 10 Jun 2012
93
95th
Absolutely brilliant! What a powerful social comment!
Rated 13 Jul 2012
78
65th
A really fun romantic adventure, although I thought that the "lesson" learned at the end was kinda off-putting.
Rated 19 Aug 2012
70
67th
I really liked the quick, witty dialogue and the two leads worked well together. It wasn't totally brilliant throughout, but it had plenty of great moments.
Rated 30 Nov 2012
14
3rd
Unfuckingbelievable. How could the same guy who made The Lady Eve shit out this abortion in the same year? Am I the only one who spent the full 90 minutes wishing for thermonuclear armageddon?
Rated 22 Jan 2013
95
90th
Absolutely brilliant. The script is both, at times, moving and hilarious. The acting, though stylized, is top-notch. The message is handled a bit heavy-handedly, but overall a wonderful film.
Rated 19 May 2013
85
93rd
Only really marred by an ending that just doesn't quite sit right unless you take a bit of an ironic step back. But I can't find it in myself to really flog a movie that makes such extremely excellent use of "Go Down Moses".
Rated 10 Jan 2014
47
94th
Adored this movie. I was only 15 minutes into this before Sturges became one of my favourite screenwriters.
Rated 12 Jun 2014
78
77th
Slap on a better soundtrack and stick John Goodman in a supporting role = instant Coen Brothers.
Rated 06 Aug 2014
5
70th
preston sturges asks the question: if warren buffett were to generously, magnanimously put aside his wealth, and humbly, selflessly go on the benefit, would he be a working-class hero?
Rated 25 May 2015
73
88th
Preston Sturges both wrote and directed this smart and charming meta-movie that champions escapism movies at the times of hardship. It's the first film by Sturges I watch and I am impressed by both his writing and direction. He alternated serious themes with silent slapstick comedy effortlessly in a way that it illustrates the very idea of the film. The dialogs are fast and funny. Acting is not outstanding, but leads are solid.
Rated 18 Nov 2015
100
92nd
So it's partially a fish-out-of-water comedy, or maybe more of a fish-desperately-trying-to-get-out-of-water comedy. What the film really ends up being about though is the importance of comedies and laughter. How sad films are not the only important ones and that showing the downtrodden how downtrodden they are doesn't help as much as giving them a laugh to make them forget for a moment that they aren't well off. All in all I really loved this film, https://redd.it/2rbds2
Rated 19 Sep 2016
74
84th
I often have trouble getting over certain dated aspects of older films but this one is still really fun.
Rated 09 Feb 2017
83
77th
A fun, clever comedy. The debate over the merits of political art over escapist art is as old as art itself, and will forever continue to be relevent, and while I don't agree with the argument the film makes, it's still told in an entertaining enough way, and with enough dramatic undertones, that it doesn't really matter.
Rated 17 Jun 2018
80
78th
Great characters and a decent plot, but a little over-the-top on the preachy message. Amazing how some of these early movies still work so well years later.
Rated 11 Aug 2018
71
73rd
I thought it was funny Veronica Lake was being credited as the girl. Sullivan had it right when he said the pictures always have a girl. I liked how this film explored the importance of comedy and cinema, with an eye looking out for the social issues plaguing the States. I
Rated 19 Apr 2020
70
75th
It had its funny parts and had a decent message but not everything worked and the film never really recovered from the tonal shift.
Rated 13 Oct 2020
60
51st
It has a good story and it's well made, but it's just not that funny. It's at least enjoyable all the way through, especially since I often don't enjoy these older movies.
Rated 25 Oct 2020
77
52nd
I think the event leading us into the 3rd act is the most brilliant story beat in the film. However, despite the cartoon scene playing as humble and human the first time around, flashing back to it with that ending dumbed down and simplified what felt like a surprisingly bold sequence of events. The superficial comedy works in the earlier parts, and I appreciate it even more in hindsight. The last 20 or so minutes are divisive and will either confirm one's love for it or soften it.
Rated 14 Feb 2021
80
68th
The comedy is a little too broad and farcical at times, and McCrea's too dull and lifeless to really carry the thing. But the third-act turn really works (even if the ending undermines it somewhat, as endings from this era tend to do) and I couldn't help but fall in love with Lake.
Rated 10 Apr 2021
85
90th
while it seems to make a clear-cut argument at the end about depicting the suffering vs just providing escapism, the film itself manages to do both - remarkable film from sturges.
Rated 19 Sep 2021
50
67th
If Tarantino had lived in the 40s, he would have made such a movie.
Rated 29 May 2023
5
73rd
every sturges seems ahead of its time: this one's an amazingly dense, withering "check yo privilege" lecture full of incisive observations (often exclusively visual) about pseudo-liberal hollywood and its humanism fetish. the crux is whether its final act escapes the range of its earlier satire, but i hardly think sturges buys sullivan's simplistic conclusions given what came prior, and his extraction by hollywood for an epiphany and manufactured happy ending struck me as no less satirical.
Rated 14 Apr 2007
0
8th
I hate Preston Sturges. In all likelihood, this is the most contrived movie ever made. Not funny, either
Rated 14 Aug 2007
67
41st
McCrea is great, but doesn't anybody else think Sturges is being a wee bit hypocritical?
Rated 01 Mar 2008
92
87th
# 165
Rated 19 Dec 2008
91
82nd
171
Rated 20 Aug 2009
80
86th
Funny and charming, but there's something about Preston Sturges' films that puts me off.
Rated 13 Jan 2010
94
88th
128
Rated 26 Nov 2011
73
58th
yolculuk, yönetmen, fakirlik (Fakirlikle ilgili film çekmek isteyen yönetmen yapimcilari tarafindan fakirligi bilmemekle suclaninca fakirligi anlamak icin fakirlerin arasina katilir. Aslinda herseyin disardan bakildigi gibi olmadigini anlatan bir film) fena degil, akici...
Rated 30 Nov 2011
93
86th
#136
Rated 05 Jun 2012
100
95th
watched: 2012, 2015, 2020
Rated 26 Nov 2012
47
12th
Its self-parody does more to detract from the movie than enhance it. It seems confused about what it wants to say. Given all the accolade, maybe I'm the one who's confused?
Rated 05 Dec 2013
65
32nd
I feel like although I saw where they were going with this, and the intention was good, but ultimately it's patronizing because the guy is a privileged person playing at suffering. It left a bad taste for me.
Rated 03 Feb 2014
62
35th
This movie has a really great premise at its core, but it's definitely a product of its times, and falls victim to some serious 1940s trappings. The biggest example being the extremely forced romance subplot which adds nothing to the movie and just feels tacked-on.
Rated 02 Jun 2015
95
77th
I knew McCrea was a bum...BUT THIS???!!! Should have bathed in a LAKE instead of a pool. ;)
Rated 09 Nov 2015
89
90th
(TENTATIVE RATING) A director known for his light comedies (Joel McCrea) sets out to see what "real life" is like, but finds escaping his own reality rather difficult. Probably Sturges' masterpiece, and for the most part, it's extremely funny, perceptive, and boasts a fine performance from McCrea and a charming, winning one from Veronica Lake as the girl Sullivan falls in with...and in love with. Hampered a bit by some clumsy bits and the fact that we learn Sullivan's lesson well before he does.
Rated 24 Feb 2016
16
88th
Star Rating: ★★★★1/2
Rated 07 Feb 2017
38
23rd
The romance is scenes of the two leads hanging out together. The acting feels contrived, never natural and the ending is less than spectacular. Didn't find the classic I was expecting.
Rated 12 Mar 2019
91
84th
90.50
Rated 11 Jun 2022
60
31st
Good entertainment spread thin across a badly structured narrative. Well shot and enjoyable to a point, just a bit messy and oddly paced. The plot doesn't really kick into gear until the final act and by that point, you're a bit too tired to care that it's over as soon as it started. The Coen's got the title for O, Brother, Where Art Thou from here and, given the premise, I wonder if it didn't spark Barton Fink as well.
Rated 18 Aug 2022
90
86th
Sullivan's Travels feels surprisingly fresh, despite its time frame and the dialogue is among some of the sharpest and wittiest of films of that era. It's full of nonstop comedy and some understated performances that give the film the perfect mixture.
Rated 02 Nov 2022
81
77th
Not terribly funny most of the time--more clever than laugh out loud funny--but works well as a film. It's a fun high concept premise with some twists and a solid performance from McCrea (and a very good one from Lake, who looks great even dressed as a male hobo with a dirty face.) The solution for getting out of the final jam is clever. The ending might rub some the wrong way, but I wonder if it is in and of itself commentary--that might be overthinking it, though.

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