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:

In the airplane scene, the author of the book "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?" is shown to be "Sinclair Beckstein", an amalgamation of the names of authors Upton Sinclair, Sinclair Lewis, and John Steinbeck.

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:

John L. Sullivan:There's a lot to be said for making people laugh. Did you know that that's all some people have? It isn't much, but it's better than nothing in this cockeyed caravan.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Wanderlust (2006) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Let My People Go

A Journey of Discovery

When it comes right down to it, what you `think' you want isn't necessarily what you `really' want, nor is it likely to be anything you need. But finding the answer is up to the individual, a prospect that's explored in the satirical `Sullivan's Travels,' directed by Preston Sturges. Movie director John L. Sullivan (Joel McCrea) has made a career of churning out one successful comedy after another, yet he remains unfulfilled. He longs to do a `serious' film, one with meaning, a drama that will leave his mark on the industry and the world. And he has a property that he thinks is perfect, a screenplay entitled `O Brother, Where Art Thou?' The studio he works for, however, balks at the idea; Sullivan's comedies are not only good, they're a cash cow for the studio, so why fool with success?

Sullivan is adamant, though, and determined to make his film he strikes a bargain with the studio and gets the green light. But once he's given the go-ahead, he wants to do it right-- and he realizes that to make a truly meaningful film, he must first experience himself the hardships of life he will be examining in `O Brother.' So with only a dime in his pockets, he sets out on the road to find out what `life' is really all about. And before it's over, he will get all he's looking for and more, in an odyssey that will be unforgettable for Sullivan, and for the audience, as well.

Filled with pathos and poignancy, Sturges' film is an insightful sojourn across the territory of the human condition. It'll make you laugh and it'll make you cry, as along with Sullivan you come face to face with some hard truths about reality. And Sullivan's eventual epiphany regarding his personal wants and needs may be your own, as well, because this is a film with a definite message that is honest and undeniable. A lesson in life delivered subtly and sensitively by Sturges, who makes it entertaining and thought provoking at the same time. It's refreshing, in fact, t discover a film that delivers such an impact without having to resort to any kind of sensationalism, relying instead on the inherent humanity of the story, which Sturges conveys masterfully. With exceptions, of course, it's a sensibility few of today's directors seem to possess. Some notable exceptions would be Ang Lee with `The Ice Storm,' Kenneth Lonergan's `You Can Count On Me' and Tom DiCillo's `Box of Moonlight.' All are films that, like `Sullivan,' are journeys of discovery, profound in sentiment without being overly sentimental. There are more, to be sure, but they seem too few and far between.

One of the elements that makes this film so engaging is its colorful cast of characters, and the actors it employs to bring it to life, beginning with it's star, McCrea, who hits his stride as Sullivan with facility. He credibly reflects Sullivan's ideals and principles with a look, as well as an attitude, that makes it work quite naturally. You can believe this is a man with, perhaps not a naive, but certainly a rather guarded perception of life in the real world. Which is not to say he lacks insight or wisdom; it's merely one of the basic truths this film points out-- that people live within parameters of their own design, established through personal experience and frame of reference. And that's the John Sullivan McCrea presents here, with a portrayal that is honest and incisive.

Veronica Lake was one of the hottest actresses around in 1942 when this film was made, and as the girl who becomes a part of Sullivan's journey, she lends considerable charm and a bit of mystique to the film. It's a fairly straightforward role that benefits from her sparkle and personality; a notable performance that adds a touch of humor and some class to the proceedings, without being particularly exceptional. But watching her, it's easy to understand the attention she received, especially after draping her long blond hair across her eye, peek-a-boo style-- which started a craze that swept the country, while creating an indelible image that ultimately defined her career.

The supporting cast includes Robert Warwick (Mr. Lebrand), William Demarest (Mr. Jones), Franklin Pangborn (Mr. Casalsis), Porter Hall (Mr. Hadrian), Byron Foulger (Mr. Valdelle), Margaret Hayes (Secretary), Robert Greig (Sullivan's Butler) and Eric Blore (Sullivan's Valet). Call it a lesson in life, or a lesson about human nature; however you see it, `Sullivan's Travels' is an experience you're going to remember. Entertaining, enjoyable and enlightening, it's an uplifting appreciation of the way things are, and not necessarily the way you `think' they should be. It's a film that celebrates the comfort to be found in finding your own niche and realizing the importance of whatever it is that you contribute to your world and those around you. It leaves you with a sense of purpose and the understanding that the grass is not always greener on the other side. And it makes your own grass look pretty good in the bargain. It's the magic of the movies. I rate this one 10/10.