Electric Politics | A Memorable What's-It

A Memorable What's-It

Sullivan's Travels poster A lot of women don't like Veronica Lake. She can be the epitome of smart and sexy glamour, so that could be jealousy, but Lake also had a troubled life, after multiple divorces and financial ruin dying a sort of alcoholic vagrant with serious mental health issues. Some star. So feminine dislike could also stem from a sort of intuitive fear. But she knocks my socks off. I don't know anybody who doesn't like Joel McCrae. Sullivan's Travels (1941) puts them together in an engaging romp but it's extraordinarily difficult to say what exactly the movie means. It starts as a fluffy comedy, it turns into a comedy-drama, then into a fairly dark drama-drama, then back into a comedy. Writer director Preston Sturges has a definite message — social inequality is wrong — but his way of getting at it is... shall we say, 'original.' Sturges also has the movie poking fun at itself and, rather gently, at the audience. One is forced to wonder, nevertheless, whether Sturges had had a sharper, perhaps even malevolent intent. It's a disturbing, memorable experience. Four out of five stars.

Posted by George Kenney on May 14, 2010 1:28 AM

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Hi, George.

What a wonderful and fun movie. So many special moments: just about any footage of Lake; William Demarest as Sullivan's "keeper"; the scene between the two butlers ("Always reading books, sir."); the truly terrifying scenes of the lost McCrea on the chain-gang. But as you pointed out. . .

What is the movie saying? It seems to wind up saying that one's talent should know its place, should not try to break the bonds of "professionalism" for humanist or ideological reasons. (Certainly advice Woody Allen should have followed. The further that guy journeyed from his comedic talent, the thinner and more sterile his movies got. How is it possible for someone with complete film making freedom — and no American since Welles has had the freedom Allen has had — to make the same movie about New York City in 2010 that he made in 1985? Incredible.)

Sturges, imho, is far more talented than Allen in every way. But, his movies are compromised. Take "Hail the Conquering Hero". Made in '44, it's a non-stop collection of anti-Marine jokes, yet Sturges ends the film with that queasy shot of Eddie Bracken blowing a kiss to the departing Marines, saying "Semper Fi" as he blows the kiss.

Oh, well. Sturges is still great. :-)

Posted by: EJK | May 14, 2010 4:05 PM



Home FAQ Contact Archive EP Store EP Alerts © 2012 ElectricPolitics	A Memorable What's-It A lot of women don't like Veronica Lake. She can be the epitome of smart and sexy glamour, so that could be jealousy, but Lake also had a troubled life, after multiple divorces and financial ruin dying a sort of alcoholic vagrant with serious mental health issues. Some star. So feminine dislike could also stem from a sort of intuitive fear. But she knocks my socks off. I don't know anybody who doesn't like Joel McCrae. Sullivan's Travels (1941) puts them together in an engaging romp but it's extraordinarily difficult to say what exactly the movie means. It starts as a fluffy comedy, it turns into a comedy-drama, then into a fairly dark drama-drama, then back into a comedy. Writer director Preston Sturges has a definite message — social inequality is wrong — but his way of getting at it is... shall we say, 'original.' Sturges also has the movie poking fun at itself and, rather gently, at the audience. One is forced to wonder, nevertheless, whether Sturges had had a sharper, perhaps even malevolent intent. It's a disturbing, memorable experience. Four out of five stars. Posted by George Kenney on May 14, 2010 1:28 AM « Mr. Obama's Katrina \| Main \| Word Power » Share this post: Comments Hi, George. What a wonderful and fun movie. So many special moments: just about any footage of Lake; William Demarest as Sullivan's "keeper"; the scene between the two butlers ("Always reading books, sir."); the truly terrifying scenes of the lost McCrea on the chain-gang. But as you pointed out. . . What is the movie saying? It seems to wind up saying that one's talent should know its place, should not try to break the bonds of "professionalism" for humanist or ideological reasons. (Certainly advice Woody Allen should have followed. The further that guy journeyed from his comedic talent, the thinner and more sterile his movies got. How is it possible for someone with complete film making freedom — and no American since Welles has had the freedom Allen has had — to make the same movie about New York City in 2010 that he made in 1985? Incredible.) Sturges, imho, is far more talented than Allen in every way. But, his movies are compromised. Take "Hail the Conquering Hero". Made in '44, it's a non-stop collection of anti-Marine jokes, yet Sturges ends the film with that queasy shot of Eddie Bracken blowing a kiss to the departing Marines, saying "Semper Fi" as he blows the kiss. Oh, well. Sturges is still great. :-) Posted by: EJK \| May 14, 2010 4:05 PM Leave a comment Name Email Address URL Remember personal info? Comments (You may use HTML tags for style)

A Memorable What's-It

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