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%

Popcornmeter

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

Jan 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

Jun 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

Jun 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

Nov 2, 2024

3/4

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

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Daniel Barnes

Dare Daniel

Oct 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

Sep 6, 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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rex W

@RT11010153 Sep 19, 2026

Movies have come a long way. As bad as this is today, it was considered a classic in 1942. Well, the plot is stupid, the dialogue is stupid, the acting is stiff one minute and then slapstick the next. Only Veronica Lake is worth watching. The whole thing is just extremely dated. How "Sullivan's Travels" still rates 100% on RT is one of humankind's great mysteries.

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Jason G

@RT86337142 Sep 17, 2026

Yup, a great movie. It gets better as it goes on and it must have been somewhat harrowing for audiences at the time

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Bill T

@btreakle Aug 31, 2026

“Sullivan’s Travels “ This film starring McCray and Veronica lake was pretty well done considering the time that it was made in 1941. The film tells the tale of a wealthy man who decides to see the countryside and see how it is to be among the poor. Without giving too much away I thought the film did a really good job of showing the hobo side of life as seen through the eyes of Sullivan. Interesting enough this film was done in 1941 at a time we were at war with Japan. At any rate this film did not disappoint and I thought it had a good lesson to teach each one of us.

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Steven B

@RT77676529 Aug 30, 2026

Very cute and does make comment on the social situation of the times. And Veronica was as beautiful as ever. Besides she can act too.

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David A

@DavidA346 May 24, 2026

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, 2025

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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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

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

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

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

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Sullivan's Travels: Official Clip - Ditching the Entourage

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Sullivan's Travels: Official Clip - Sully Laughs Again

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Sullivan's Travels: Official Clip - Meeting the Girl

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

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

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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)

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