Sullivan's Travels (1941)

Director:

Preston Sturges

Writer:

Preston Sturges (written by)

Release Date:

December 1941 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

A Happy-Go Lucky Hitch-Hiker on the Highway to happiness! He wanted to see the world . . . but wound up in Lover's Lane!

Plot:

A director of escapist films goes on the road as a hobo to learn about Life...which gives him a rude awakening.

Plot Keywords:

Director | Hobo | Actress | Poverty | On The Road

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Joel McCrea	...	John Lloyd Sullivan
Veronica Lake	...	The Girl
Robert Warwick	...	Mr. LeBrand
William Demarest	...	Mr. Jones
Franklin Pangborn	...	Mr. Casalsis
Porter Hall	...	Mr. Hadrian
Byron Foulger	...	Johnny Valdelle
Margaret Hayes	...	Secretary
Robert Greig	...	Burroughs - Sullivan's Butler
Eric Blore	...	Sullivan's Valet
Torben Meyer	...	The Doctor
Victor Potel	...	Cameraman
Richard Webb	...	Radio Man
Charles R. Moore	...	Colored Chef (as Charles Moore)
Almira Sessions	...	Ursula Kornheiser
Esther Howard	...	Miz Zeffie Kornheiser
Frank Moran	...	Tough Chauffeur
Georges Renavent	...	Old Tramp
Harry Rosenthal	...	The Trombenick
Al Bridge	...	Jake - 'The Mister' (as Alan Bridge)
Jimmy Conlin	...	Trusty
Jan Buckingham	...	Mrs. Sullivan
Robert Winkler	...	Bud
Chick Collins	...	Capital - Tramp on Train
Jimmie Dundee	...	Labor - Tramp on Train
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
George Anderson	...	Sullivan's Ex-Manager (uncredited)
Myrtle Anderson	...	Churchgoer (uncredited)
Elizabeth Ashley	...	Churchgoer (uncredited)
Roscoe Ates	...	Hollywood Diner Counterman (uncredited)
Ruth Bias	...	Churchgoer (uncredited)
Ted Billings	...	Tramp in Soup Kitchen (uncredited)
Billy Bletcher	...	Entertainer in Hospital (uncredited)
Monte Blue	...	Policeman in Slums (uncredited)
Grace Boone	...	Churchgoer (uncredited)
Ed Brady	...	Hobo Hopping Train (uncredited)
Arie Lee Branche	...	Churchgoer (uncredited)
William Broadus	...	Churchgoer (uncredited)
Jess Lee Brooks	...	Church Preacher Showing Movie (uncredited)
Anita Brown	...	Churchgoer (uncredited)
Ruth Byers	...	Churchgoer (uncredited)
Matilda Caldwell	...	Churchgoer (uncredited)
Mark Carnahan	...	Churchgoer (uncredited)
Chester Conklin	...	Old Bum (uncredited)
Laurence Criner	...	Churchgoer (uncredited)
Gladys Davis	...	Churchgoer (uncredited)
James Davis	...	Churchgoer (uncredited)
Edgar Dearing	...	Motorcycle Cop (uncredited)
Joan Douglas	...	Churchgoer (uncredited)
A. Downs	...	Churchgoer (uncredited)
Frances Driver	...	Churchgoer (uncredited)
Robert Dudley	...	One-Legged Hobo (uncredited)
LeRoy Edwards	...	Churchgoer (uncredited)
Fay Fifer	...	Churchgoer (uncredited)
Elizabeth Gray	...	Churchgoer (uncredited)
Kit Guard	...	Convict (uncredited)
Jester Hairston	...	Charlie - Church Projectionist (uncredited)
Chuck Hamilton	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Inez Hatchett	...	Churchgoer (uncredited)
Edward Hearn	...	Policeman at Beverly Hills Station (uncredited)
Arthur Hoyt	...	Preacher at Revival Mission (uncredited)
Sheldon Jett	...	Man in Bathhouse / Studio Executive (uncredited)
Payne B. Johnson	...	Boy (uncredited)
Bob Kortman	...	Convict Watching Movie in Church (uncredited)
Pearl Lancaster	...	Churchgoer (uncredited)
Cora Lang	...	Churchgoer (uncredited)
Perc Launders	...	Rail Yard Bull (uncredited)
J. Farrell MacDonald	...	Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
Pat McKee	...	Tramp at Revival Meeting (uncredited)
Esther Michelson	...	Woman on 'Poor Street' (uncredited)
Ray Milland	...	Near-collision man on studio street (uncredited)
Frank Mills	...	Drunk Eating in Theater (uncredited)
Howard M. Mitchell	...	Railroad Clerk (uncredited)
Bert Moorhouse	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Paul Newlan	...	Truck Driver (uncredited)
Artie Overstreet	...	Churchgoer (uncredited)
Emory Parnell	...	Rail Yard Bull (uncredited)
War Perkins	...	Churchgoer (uncredited)
Lon Poff	...	Convict Watching Movie in Church (uncredited)
Gus Reed	...	Mission Cook (uncredited)
Mary Reed	...	Churchgoer (uncredited)
Cyril Ring	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Willard Robertson	...	Judge (uncredited)
Dewey Robinson	...	Charlie - Sheriff (uncredited)
Sheila Sheldon	...	Child on 'Poor Street' (uncredited)
Irving Smith	...	Churchgoer (uncredited)
Preston Sturges	...	Studio Director (uncredited)
Madame Sul-Te-Wan	...	Church Harmonium Player (uncredited)
Julius Tannen	...	Public Defender (uncredited)
Lillian Taylor	...	Churchgoer (uncredited)
Henry 'Hot Shot' Thomas	...	Churchgoer (uncredited)
Maggie Thomas	...	Churchgoer (uncredited)
Harry Tyler	...	Railroad Information Clerk (uncredited)
Notable Vines	...	Churchgoer (uncredited)
Cheryl Walker	...	Veronica Lake's Double (uncredited)
Pat West	...	Las Vegas Diner Counterman (uncredited)
Jack Winslow	...	Churchgoer (uncredited)
Bill Wolfe	...	Toothless Man at Revival Meeting (uncredited)

Directed by
Preston Sturges

Writing credits
Preston Sturges		(written by)

Produced by
Paul Jones	....	associate producer
Buddy G. DeSylva	....	executive producer (uncredited)
Preston Sturges	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Charles Bradshaw
Leo Shuken

Cinematography by
John F. Seitz		(as John Seitz)

Film Editing by
Stuart Gilmore

Casting by
Robert Mayo		(uncredited)

Art Direction by
Hans Dreier
A. Earl Hedrick		(as Earl Hedrick)

Costume Design by
Edith Head

Makeup Department
Wally Westmore	....	makeup artist
Hal Lierley	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Merle Reeves	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Leonora Sabine	....	hair stylist supervisor (uncredited)

Production Management
Joseph C. Youngerman	....	unit manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Barton Adams	....	second assistant director (uncredited)
Anthony Mann	....	assistant director (uncredited)
Hollingsworth Morse	....	first assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Robert Goodstein	....	second props (uncredited)
Oscar Law	....	first props (uncredited)
Ray Moyer	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
Harry D. Mills	....	sound recordist (as Harry Mills)
Walter Oberst	....	sound recordist
Wallace Nogle	....	stage engineer (uncredited)
Grant Rymal	....	sound recordist (uncredited)
George Ziegler	....	boom operator (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Farciot Edouart	....	process photography

Stunts
Wesley Hopper	....	stunt double: Joel McCrea (uncredited)
Allen Pomeroy	....	stunt double (uncredited)
John Sinclair	....	stunt double (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Francis Burgess	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Earl Crowell	....	gaffer (uncredited)
Walter McCloud	....	company grip (uncredited)
Talmadge Morrison	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Otto Pierce	....	second camera operator (uncredited)
James Tait	....	electrician (uncredited)
George Ziegler	....	mike grip (uncredited)

Animation Department
Norman Ferguson	....	animator: "Playful Pluto" (uncredited)
Dick Lundy	....	animator: "Playful Pluto" (uncredited)

Casting Department
Bill Greenwald	....	casting assistant (uncredited)
Bert McKay	....	casting assistant (uncredited)
Alice Thomas	....	casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Clayton Brackett	....	wardrobe: men (uncredited)
Hazel Hegarty	....	wardrobe: women (uncredited)
Eugene Joseff	....	costume jeweller (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Chandler House	....	assistant cutter (uncredited)

Music Department
Sigmund Krumgold	....	musical director
Gerard Carbonara	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
John Leipold	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Joseph J. Lilley	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Albert Hay Malotte	....	composer: cartoon music (uncredited)
Ernst Toch	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Victor Young	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)

Other crew
Ernst Laemmle	....	assistant writer
Teet Carle	....	publicist (uncredited)
Nesta Charles	....	script clerk (uncredited)
Walt Disney	....	producer: "Playful Pluto" (uncredited)
Burt Gillett	....	director: "Playful Pluto" (uncredited)
Edwin Gillette	....	secretary: Mr. Sturges (uncredited)
Norman Lacey	....	location manager (uncredited)
Marie Morris	....	secretary (uncredited)
Isabelle Sullivan	....	script assistant (uncredited)
Cheryl Walker	....	double: Veronica Lake (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Paramount Pictures

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1941) (USA) (theatrical)
• MCA/Universal Pictures (1958) (USA) (TV)
• Criterion Collection, The (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Paramount-Films (1943) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Criterion Collection, The (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1973) (Finland) (TV) (as MTV1)
• Universum Film (UFA) (2008) (Germany) (DVD)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1963) (1995) (1996) (Finland) (TV)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

90 min | West Germany:85 min (TV premiere)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Sweden:11 (re-release) | Sweden:15 | UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (re-rating) (2000) | USA:Approved (PCA #7382) | Australia:PG | South Korea:12 (2004) | USA:TV-G (TV rating) | USA:Not Rated

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Not only was 'Veronica Lake' pregnant during the making of this movie, she was between six and eight months pregnant. Production took place from June 12 to July 22 1941, and her daughter Elaine Detlie was born on August 21, 1941. The only other people involved in the production who knew of her condition were the costume designer, Edith Head, and Louise Sturges, wife of Preston. Miss Head designed costumes to hide the condition. Miss Lake was afraid that she would not be allowed to make the movie if her advanced state of pregnancy was revealed, owing to the physical demands of the role.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Sullivan and the "frail" jump off the train, each lose their hat. However, in the next shot, when both are on the ground the "girl's" hat is on her head

Quotes:

Burrows:You see, sir, rich people and theorists - who are usually rich people - think of poverty in the negative, as the lack of riches - as disease might be called the lack of health. But it isn't, sir. Poverty is not the lack of anything, but a positive plague, virulent in itself, contagious as cholera, with filth, criminality, vice and despair as only a few of its symptoms. It is to be stayed away from, even for purposes of study. It is to be shunned.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Incredible Melting Man (#8.4)" (1996)

Soundtrack:

Let My People Go

Laughter, A Precious Commodity In This Cockeyed Caravan

Sullivan's Travels is a twofer for me, it's my favorite Preston Sturges film and my favorite Joel McCrea one. It's an anti-message film, loaded with humor, with a most sublime message indeed.

Joel McCrea plays director John Sullivan who's tired of making silly comedies and musicals for his studio. He wants to make films of social significance with a message about the troubles in today's world.

Problem is that he doesn't know anything about poverty and unemployment, he's a rich kid who's been to boarding school. So off he sets, several times it turns out, to discover how the other half lives.

That last time he sets out is a bit unplanned and through a combination of circumstances he winds up on a prison chain gang in some southern state. He learns some really profound lessons from that experience.

But that's the serious side of Sullivan's Travels. Before that the film has some really gut splitting funny moments like McCrea learning about the speed of a whippet tank, being accused of stealing his own car. But my favorite is when he falls in the clutches of spinsters Elmira Sessions and Esther Howard. McCrea sets out to learn about poverty and deprivation and the two sisters see him as the answer to some poverty and deprivation they've been suffering for some time. Maybe the chain gang didn't look so bad.

Veronica Lake in her memoirs said that one of the films she enjoyed most was Sullivan's Travels where she plays an disillusioned Hollywood hopeful who befriends the tramp McCrea without knowing who he really is. The following year Lake would be paired with Alan Ladd who was closer to her height. She said McCrea was a kind and decent man and wonderful to work with. The disparity of their height was the source of some amusement and some problems for Preston Sturges. Lake was a tiny thing, it was why she was teamed with Alan Ladd, and McCrea was well over six feet tall. Check the shots of them together, very rarely will you see them standing side by side.

Sturges used a lot of his regular company of players. My two favorites in the supporting cast are Robert Grieg and Edward Blore who are McCrea's butler and valet. Both turn out to be wise men in their warnings to their boss about this folly he is undertaking.

It's been said that Sullivan's Travels is supposed to be the anti-Frank Capra film about messages. I'm not sure Capra saw it that way. If you look at the portion of the film when Sullivan falls into this unfamiliar universe of the chain gang, it's very similar to what George Bailey was experiencing in that parallel universe he was sent to in It's A Wonderful Life. I think Sturges and Capra would find a lot of common ground in the messages of It's A Wonderful Life and Sullivan's Travels.