In Hollywood, the spoiled director of humdrum movies, John Lloyd Sullivan (Joel McCrea),was born in silver spoon but is very successful with his superficial comedies. Out of the blue, he tells to his producer Mr. LeBrand (Robert Warwick) that he wants to make serious dramas, like "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" and he will live like a tramp on the streets to learn the sorrows of great part of the population. He wears cheap clothes and tries to blend with poor people but he always returns to Hollywood protected by the safety team hired by the studio.

One day, he goes to a dinner with a coin and a blonde girl (Veronica Lake) offers bacon and eggs to him. Soon he learns that the girl is a failed actress that had never a chance in Hollywood and is returning home hitchhiking without any money. Sullivan decides to retribute her kindness giving a ride to her in his car but they are arrested by the police. When they are released, the girl decides to join Sullivan in his quest to learn about poverty. When Sullivan is satisfied, he is robbed and dumped unconscious in a train. He awakes in the countryside where there is an incident and he is arrested and sentenced to a labor camp, where he leans the importance of comedy in the miserable lives of destitute people.

"Sullivan's Travels" is a delightful movie by Preston Sturges with a satire of Hollywood lifestyle and the importance of comedy in the life of people, a relief for a couple of minutes for those that do not have other sort of entertainment. Joel McCrea is very funny in the role of a naive director trying to find how the poor people live. His chemistry with the gorgeous Veronika Lake is perfect and this was the first time that I noted that this lovely actress was only 1.51 m height. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Contrastes Humanos" ("Human Contrasts")

I think all film junkies have a few films they hate that nearly everyone loves. So, while "Sullivan't Travels" is considered a classic and has an extremely high rating of 8.1, when I last saw it I was terribly disappointed and didn't understand all the hoopla about the film. That was years ago and I decided to do something I rarely do...see the film again to see if perhaps my original IMDb review (which I have since deleted) was right or wrong. Here is what I think of the film on a second viewing....

The first thing that really stood out in my mind when I watched the film was Preston Sturgis' casting for the movie. Veronica Lake was very popular in Alan Ladd pictures because he was a very short man...and she was a rather tiny actress. Yet, in spite of this (or, most likely because of this),Sturgis paired her with one of the largest leading men of his day. The 15 inch difference in height was NOT typical at all of Hollywood...but more typical of real life and I can only assume the famed writer/director deliberately was resisting traditional casting decisions since the movie is a critical look at Hollywood and its clichés. I appreciated this more the second time viewing the picture.

The story finds the famous Hollywood director, John L. Sullivan (Joel McCrea) in a funk. While he's successful in his career, he also worries that his films lack a connection to the common man and might not be representing real life. This is a reasonable concern-- especially since most films of the preceding decade portrayed very rich, happy and fashionable folks...all during the Great Depression!! So, Sullivan decides to try living incognito-- traveling the country dressed like a hobo to see the other side of America. Along the way, he meets an adorable lady (Veronica Lake) and they decide to go slumming together. The problem is that no matter how bad life is living in the gutter, they can always elect to return home to comfort and a good meal...and Sullivan finds out the hard way what it's like NOT to be able to just go home when he's tired of slumming it.

Overall, I was MUCH more positive to the film the second time around. Now I am not saying I loved the movie but I did love much of it. Like many Sturgis pictures, the dialog was the best part...and it was snappy and enjoyable. My reservations for not giving it a higher score are that the story seems, at least today, a bit contrived. Also, the Mickey Mouse cartoon segment STILL seems way overdone (NOTHING is that funny)...my biggest complaint the first time. But on balance, the good far outweighs the bad and I am glad I decided to give it another try. I still think it's a bit overrated but an excellent film nonetheless.

Love film of all genres and all decades, have held so many pre-1970s films in high regard while loving an equal number of films 1970s onwards too. Every film and television series/programme seen is watched and reviewed with no bias for or against the genre, director or any of the actors ever intended (hope it hasn't come across that way, as people usually good can be bad and those not usually highly thought of by me can occasionally be tolerable).

When Preston Sturges was in his prime (1940-1944, with 'The Great McGinty', 'Christmas in July', 'The Lady Eve', 'Sullivan's Treavels', 'The Palm Beach Story', 'The Miracle of Morgan's Creek' and 'Hail the Conquering Hero') it made for one of the best golden years/prime periods for any director in my view, where five or more very good to masterpieces in a row were made close to each other. Of those seven films mentioned, the top two for me are 'The Lady Eve' and especially 'Sullivan's Travels'. 'Sullivan's Travels' being one of the finest examples of balancing and winningly combining satire with human drama, for me it is one of the funniest and cleverest films there is while also being one of the most warm-hearted and most intelligent.

As with his previous films, Sturges' direction is impeccable. It is always accomplished and with a light sophisticated touch that never veers too heavily, which allows the script and actors to shine and get the best out of them. The best he gets out of the actors he does. Joel McCrea was never better than here and the incadescent Veronica Lake's star-making performance is more than up to his level, making for a sparkling well matched pairing. William Demarest is the best in support and did find myself engaging with the characters.

Especially good about 'Sullivan's Travels' is the script. Not many other films have satire this sharp and funny and then that is balanced seamlessly with truly insightful moments that really provoke thought and ones that are very human and poignant. 'Sullivan's Travels' is one film that epitomises a film that entertains while being big in brains and being even bigger in heart, have not seen many of those recently to be honest with you. Not many films made me feel about not taking things for granted and such in the way this film did and the message is well-intended, universal, relevant and makes its point without hammering home. The story goes at a vigorous, but never rushed, pace and both entertains and endears. Parts are intentionally corny, but in an affectionate way and never feeling contrived.

'Sullivan's Travels' is always beautifully filmed and feel the same way about how it complements and loves Lake here than with Barbara Stanwyck in 'The Lady Eve', both actresses in their respective films looked beautiful in their films and the camera clearly loved them.

In conclusion, fantastic film. Films with this blend of genres don't get much better. 10/10 Bethany Cox