IMDb > Sullivan's Travels (1941)
Sullivan's Travels
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Sullivan's Travels (1941) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
8.2/10   8,194 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
No change in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Preston Sturges
Writer:
Preston Sturges (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Sullivan's Travels on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
December 1941 (USA) more
Genre:
Adventure | Comedy | Drama | Romance more
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! more
Plot:
A director of escapist films goes on the road as a hobo to learn about Life...which gives him a rude awakening. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
1 win more
User Comments:
Please put in a good word with Lubitsch! more (91 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)
Joel McCrea ... John L. Lloyd 'Sully' Sullivan

Veronica Lake ... The Girl
Robert Warwick ... Mr. Lebrand
William Demarest ... Mr. Jones
Franklin Pangborn ... Mr. Casalsis
Porter Hall ... Mr. Hadrian
Byron Foulger ... Mr. 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 aka The Panther Woman
Robert Winkler ... Bud
Chick Collins ... Tramp on Train - Capital
Jimmie Dundee ... Tramp on Train - Labor
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
George Anderson ... Sullivan's ex-manager (uncredited)
Myrtle Anderson ... Churchgoer (uncredited)
Elizabeth Ashley ... Churchgoer (uncredited)
Roscoe Ates ... Counterman at Hollywood diner (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 ... Preacher at church showing movies (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 in mud gag (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)
Paul Jones ... Photographs of Dear Joseph (uncredited)
Bob Kortman ... Convict Watching Movie in Church (uncredited)
Pearl Lancaster ... Churchgoer (uncredited)
Cora Lang ... Churchgoer (uncredited)
Perc Launders ... Railyard bull (uncredited)
J. Farrell MacDonald ... Desk sergeant (uncredited)
Pat McKee ... Tramp at Revival Meeting (uncredited)
Esther Michelson ... Woman on 'Poor 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 ... Railroad yard bull (uncredited)
War Perkins ... Churchgoer (uncredited)
Lon Poff ... Chain Gang 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 at work camp) (uncredited)
Sheila Sheldon ... Child on 'Poor Street' (uncredited)
Irving Smith ... Churchgoer (uncredited)
Preston Sturges ... Studio director (uncredited)
Madame Sul-Te-Wan ... Church harmonium payer (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 ... Counterman at Las Vegas diner (uncredited)
Jack Winslow ... Churchgoer (uncredited)
Bill Wolfe ... Toothless man at revival meeting (uncredited)
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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)
 
Stunts
Wesley Hopper .... stunt double: Joel McCrea (uncredited)
Allen Pomeroy .... stunt double (uncredited)
John Sinclair .... stunt double (uncredited)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Farciot Edouart .... process photographer
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)
 
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)
 
Crew verified as complete


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Additional Details

Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
90 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Black and White
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)
Certification:
Australia:PG | South Korea:12 (2004) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:11 (re-release) | Sweden:15 | UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (re-rating) (2000) | USA:Approved (PCA #7382)
Filming Locations:
Bob Hope Airport - 2627 Hollywood Way, Burbank, California, USA more
Company:
Paramount Pictures more

Fun Stuff

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. more
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: When the supposedly unconscious Sullivan is being pulled by a bum who hit him into an empty boxcar, you can see the actor (Joel McRae) push himself along with his foot, apparently because the other man is not strong enough to drag him. more
Quotes:
Policeman at Beverly Hills station: How does the girl fit into the picture?
John L. Sullivan: There's always a girl in the picture. What's the matter, don't you go to the movies?
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Numb3rs: Atomic No. 33 (#4.16)" (2008) more
Soundtrack:
Spring Song more

FAQ

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User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
32 out of 40 people found the following comment useful.
Please put in a good word with Lubitsch!, 7 April 2005
10/10
Author: jotix100 from New York

"Sullivan's Travels" is one of the best films that came out of Hollywood in 1941. Preston Sturges showed he was an original with this story about self-discovery for a man that has a different view of the world. In a way, this is a satire about the movie industry.

Hollywood in the early years, wouldn't touch any project that it deemed non commercial. Which is why when John Sullivan, a successful director of film comedies decides to do a movie based on a serious book, the studio thinks he must be going crazy. Why would this director want to make the movie going public think? It was a preposterous notion then, as well as today, when basically all movies making any points are independently produced. After all, the industry wants everyone to have a great time, be entertained, and not make them think about at all.

John Sullivan gets much more than what he bargained for when he decides to take to the back roads of the country, dressed as a hobo and with only ten cents in his pocket. The first check on reality comes when he meets the kind girl at the road side diner. He is hungry, but what can one get for a dime? This girl, who has had it trying to make a name in the movies, orders ham and eggs for him, no strings attached. If there is a more kindred soul than this young woman who wants nothing in return, we haven't met her yet.

Sully and the girl go back on the road where they witness the reality of America's indigents traveling back and forth in empty cattle cars all over the country in search of jobs, or perhaps a better living. Sullivan ultimately wants to give money anonymously to the poor people he has met, but he meets with disaster and ends up in jail, the victim of circumstantial evidence and he is sent to jail. One night Sully discovers the great mystery about the allure of the pictures: It's the laughter stupid! Sullivan realizes how far off the mark he has been in trying to bring drama to the masses.

Joel McCrea makes a fantastic Sullivan. This under estimated man was a great comedian, as well as an actor that is always believable. The whole reason for watching this movie is Mr. McCrea's performance. His chemistry with the ravishingly beautiful and young Veronica Lake is one of the best things in the film. Both these actors, under Mr. Sturges' direction do their best work on screen. Sturges makes fun at his own expense when the girl asks Sully if he can introduce her to the great Hollywood director, Ernst Lubitsch. Mr. McCrea and Ms. Lake seem to be having a fun time together.

Mr. Sturges always surrounded himself with a group of actors that one sees in his movies. Robert Greig, Eric Blore, William Demarest, and the rest of the cast contribute to make this a winning comedy. The best scene that involves most of these actors happen at the beginning of the film when they are chasing Sullivan in the R.V. and things inside the trailer begin falling all over the place. That was priceless movie making.

Preston Sturges combines a social commentary with comedy in this brilliant film that is a tribute to his genius.

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Recent Posts (updated daily)User
A wonderful film. The only two things I didn't like... SPOILERS phantom_tollbooth
wait... isn't this movie terrible? hjones-10
Easily the best movie that most people have never heard of DigitalMarathon
Did people really laugh that hard at Disney cartoons back then? WHakan
Why didn't Sullivan cover his mouth when sneezing? WEND0921
Remarkable plwblj
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