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Sullivan's Travels

Play trailer Poster for Sullivan's Travels 1942 1h 31m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 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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Sullivan's Travels

Sullivan's Travels

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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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Critics Reviews

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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. Go to Full Review
Variety Staff Variety 06/27/2007
Sturges' dialog is trenchant, has drive, possesses crispness and gets the laughs where that is desired. Go to Full Review
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. Go to Full Review
David Nusair Reel Film Reviews 11/02/2024
3/4
...an erratic yet entertaining piece of work... Go to Full Review
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. Go to Full Review
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. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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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! See more 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-) See more 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. See more Stephen C @bob25009 Jun 8 Funny in 01 hour and 31 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! All ages admitted!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more john h @RT11274104 Jun 5 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. See more 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. See more Read all reviews
Sullivan's Travels

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Sullivan's Travels

Sullivan's Travels: Official Clip - I Want to Make a Comedy Sullivan's Travels: Official Clip - I Want to Make a Comedy 1:34 Sullivan's Travels: Official Clip - With a Little Sex In It Sullivan's Travels: Official Clip - With a Little Sex In It 2:51 Sullivan's Travels: Official Clip - Sully and the Girl Sullivan's Travels: Official Clip - Sully and the Girl 3:32 Sullivan's Travels: Official Clip - I Killed John L. Sullivan! Sullivan's Travels: Official Clip - I Killed John L. Sullivan! 2:57 Sullivan's Travels: Official Clip - Ditching the Entourage Sullivan's Travels: Official Clip - Ditching the Entourage 2:57 Sullivan's Travels: Official Clip - Sully Laughs Again Sullivan's Travels: Official Clip - Sully Laughs Again 2:39 Sullivan's Travels: Official Clip - Meeting the Girl Sullivan's Travels: Official Clip - Meeting the Girl 3:36 Sullivan's Travels: Official Clip - Washed Up Picture Director Sullivan's Travels: Official Clip - Washed Up Picture Director 2:34 Sullivan's Travels: Official Clip - The Valley of Adversity Sullivan's Travels: Official Clip - The Valley of Adversity 2:44 View more videos
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Movie Info

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)