Sullivan's Travels

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Sullivan's Travels

1942

1h 31m

Comedy

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100%

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43 Reviews

89%

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5,000+ Ratings

Successful movie director John L. Sullivan (Joel McCrea), convinced he won't be able to film his ambitious masterpiece until he has suffered, dons a hobo disguise and sets off on a journey, aiming to "know trouble" first-hand. When all he finds is a train ride back to Hollywood and a beautiful blonde companion (Veronica Lake), he redoubles his efforts, managing to land himself in more trouble than he bargained for when he loses his memory and ends up a prisoner on a chain gang.

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Critics Consensus

Blending screwball comedy with a socially conscious message, Sullivan's Travels offers delightful proof of writer-director Preston Sturges' ability to provoke serious thought as well as helpless laughter.

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Richard Brody

The New Yorker

01/16/2023

This ingenious plot is brought to life with a remarkable profusion of dialogue: with the characters’ torrential, scintillating verbiage, Sturges seems to leap out from behind the screen to address the viewer directly.

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Variety Staff

Variety

06/27/2007

Sturges' dialog is trenchant, has drive, possesses crispness and gets the laughs where that is desired.

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Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

06/27/2007

A dubious proposition, but in Sturges's hands a charming one, filled out by his unparalleled sense of eccentric character.

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

11/02/2024

3/4

...an erratic yet entertaining piece of work...

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Daniel Barnes

Dare Daniel

10/30/2024

5/5

Sullivan’s Travels offers itself up as a meta-resolution to its own conundrum, deftly blending madcap comedy, non-didactic social commentary, and even "a little sex" in the form of Veronica Lake.

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David Parkinson

Radio Times

09/06/2024

5/5

This classic comedy should leave you in no doubt where Sturges thought a movie's first duty lay, yet it's also one of the few films that manages to strike a winning balance between entertainment and conscience.

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David A

@DavidA346 May 24

We watched this movie on the very high recommendation of Rotten tomatoes which we normally agree with. This movie may have been good in 1941 but frankly I want my 1 1/2 hours back! What a waste of time!!! It was depressing and not funny in the least. Do not waste your time watching this piece of trash!

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Kyle M

@RT77296778 Nov 20

Writer-director Preston Sturges instilled his utter passion towards filmmaking into this thoughtfully ingenious feat that brilliantly balances levity adjacent to ideal realism through a wittily sharp screenplay that underlies the intellectual direction, accumulating to the strong statement at needed to be heard, especially today. (A-)

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George L

@RT47615177 Oct 16

A rare find. This is an intelligent witty film with a conscience that has something to say. The dialogue is funny without being crass, which is unheard of in recent films.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 06/08/2025

Funny in 01 hour and 31 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! All ages admitted!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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john h

@RT11274104 06/05/2025

Smart dialogue, breathtaking cinematography and jovial acting. Preston Sturges creates an unbreakable bond between the audience and John L. Sullivan who discovers that the best things are the things that keep us going rather than bring us down.

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Ernie K

@ErnieK 02/12/2025

Intelligent, funny, socially meaningful, well written, and very well acted by the too-often-overlooked Joel McCrea and a bully and sharp Veronica Lake. Give this one a try; timeless message meets comedic genius.

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Preston Sturges

Director

Joel McCrea

John L. Sullivan

Veronica Lake

The Girl

Robert Warwick

Mr. Lebrand

William Demarest

Mr. Jones

Franklin Pangborn

Mr. Casalsis

Sullivan's Travels: Official Clip - I Want to Make a Comedy

1:34

Sullivan's Travels: Official Clip - With a Little Sex In It

2:51

Sullivan's Travels: Official Clip - Sully and the Girl

3:32

Sullivan's Travels: Official Clip - I Killed John L. Sullivan!

2:57

Sullivan's Travels: Official Clip - Ditching the Entourage

2:57

Sullivan's Travels: Official Clip - Sully Laughs Again

2:39

Sullivan's Travels: Official Clip - Meeting the Girl

3:36

Sullivan's Travels: Official Clip - Washed Up Picture Director

2:34

Sullivan's Travels: Official Clip - The Valley of Adversity

2:44

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Synopsis

Successful movie director John L. Sullivan (Joel McCrea), convinced he won't be able to film his ambitious masterpiece until he has suffered, dons a hobo disguise and sets off on a journey, aiming to "know trouble" first-hand. When all he finds is a train ride back to Hollywood and a beautiful blonde companion (Veronica Lake), he redoubles his efforts, managing to land himself in more trouble than he bargained for when he loses his memory and ends up a prisoner on a chain gang.

Director: Preston Sturges
Producer: Preston Sturges
Screenwriter: Preston Sturges
Distributor: Paramount Pictures, Criterion Collection
Production Co: Paramount Pictures
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 28, 1942, Original
Release Date (Streaming): May 6, 2015
Runtime: 1h 31m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: 35mm, Flat (1.37:1)