Some last thoughts on Sullivan's Travels

I wish I would've had more time for this lovely film from Preston Sturges. His dialogue never gets old for me. I can listen to it over and over, and this is true for Sullivan's Travels as well. Sturges goes beyond the defining points of the screwball comedy with this film and kind of changes the rules a bit by parodying, not a romance, but the film industry instead. So, while we don't have a couple we're rooting for, we still have a hero who must open his eyes to see the truth, in this case, that perhaps comedy is his true calling, instead of that drama he thinks he should make.

Looking back, Sturges is good at setting the pace. The film never drags along and in scenes in which you would think might go slow, Sturges uses visual storytelling to its utmost perfection by showing scenes quickly without dialogue and letting the action move the story along. He does this by scattering bits of everyday comedy into serious scenes so as to not burden the moment with a reality that is depressing. The effect is great because you never think he's making light of the stark circumstances of many people, but instead he tries to show the humor in the little things, like the funny way some of the tramps eat.

Tone is another important factor in any film, and Sturges sets it right away. The opening sequence is filled with so much dialogue between Sullivan and the producers that isn't just quick, but funny. It's like nothing you really get to hear, the dead honest remark of making sure that the film has "a little sex in it" is enough to make people laugh even today. And this tone remains constant, even with the more serious depictions of the hard life the tramps lead, Sturges never lets it dwell too much in sober thought because, again, he shows the funny side of hard times, and in a tasteful manner too.

The lead is rightly cast, something I've mentioned before. Joel McCrea brings the right sort of acting style that Sturges is able to use well. There's something about McCrea that he seems to sort of just deliver his lines, but there's never much rise and fall in his voice. And that isn't to say that he doesn't act because he wouldn't have been able to pull Sullivan off. But there's something in the way he acts that is perfect for the Sturges hero, that sort of wide-eyed wonder that Margaret Sullavan pulls off in The Good Fairy. Sullivan isn't naïve like Luisa Ginglebuscher, but he is quite innocent when it comes to knowing anything about trouble. He assumes it's something he can just go and experiment about and that'll be that, but it's not so simple.

The remaining cast is made up of Veronica Lake--a true delight to see here--and pretty much Sturges' stock company. Again, this is mostly Sullivan's story, but when the supporting cast does get on screen they shine brighter that McCrea. This makes it more entertaining to watch, especially when the lead isn't in the picture. It's that bit of comic relief everyone enjoys. Following Sullivan on that caravan or land yacht, the crew works together with ineffable chemistry and synchronization that doesn't just translate to dialogue, but also to physical comedy. They steal the show in the car chase scene with their bit of slapstick that makes that particular scene enjoyable to watch.

I've read somewhere that Sturges sold the first true spec script. I don't think he was the first writer/director, but he most likely did start a trend in which writers started claiming more creative control of their work. And to be honest, I'm glad Sturges made that leap to writer/director. It's obvious by the strong script he wrote that he had a clear image of the film he envisioned. He wasn't simply a writer, he wrote like a director. And perhaps the script is the greatest strength of the film. Without a good script, you just can't make a good film, not even the best director out there could pull it off.

There's more to discover in Sullivan's Travels, and perhaps if I had more time, I would've managed to get more out of it. But I walk away with a deeper appreciation for Sturges, the detail he took in writing his script, the balance between comedy and drama he brings to the film and still manages to make it his own. I am in complete awe of his creative skills, that he can write dialogue so well and at the same time master visual storytelling, it's something you certainly don't see today. Sturges could make you laugh in any way possible, and that's the big takeaway from this film, and rightly so. The reason why Sullivan's Travels is so successful is because he's telling you there's nothing like a comedy film, and Sturges does so through a comedy film, with no pretenses, because it really does make you laugh. If you haven't taken the time to watch it, it's a must-see for any film fan.