Most of the moments of physical comedy in this are not funny and are a little grating. A butler pulled into a swimming pool as he tries to pull someone else out, a chef in chaos in a mobile kitchen ends up with food all over his face, at times these moments feel like they belong in a different film. The cathartic power of laughter is the overwhelming message of the film, so a failure to be funny when it tries, should be a major problem but for several reasons it isn't.
Why Sullivan's Travels is such a great film comes down to a perfect script some unforgettable performances and one of my all time favourite scenes from any film I have ever seen. While the slap-stick falls flat the dialogue on the other hand never does, it crackles with wit and intelligence sidestepping every cliché and expectation. Veronica Lake is lovely and reason alone to watch the film but a very small role performed by Jess Lee Brooks as a kindly preacher is truly wonderful and one that leaves the strongest lasting impression.
The preacher appears in just one short part but its a scene that the films whole premise and emotional beliefs radiate out from. A churches congregation prepare for their 'guests' a gang of convicts who visit for screenings of cartoons in the church. As the congregation sing 'Let my People Go' the convicts seem to be summoned up from the surrounding swamp, they somberly march in and sit in their designated pews at the front of the church. The cartoon show starts up and musters such insanely enthusiastic laughter from all present that it jolts the slightly wooden protagonist towards his epiphany. The whole scene is so totally barmy, so full of heart and so visually striking that I find myself returning to it again and again.
Why Sullivan's Travels is such a great film comes down to a perfect script some unforgettable performances and one of my all time favourite scenes from any film I have ever seen. While the slap-stick falls flat the dialogue on the other hand never does, it crackles with wit and intelligence sidestepping every cliché and expectation. Veronica Lake is lovely and reason alone to watch the film but a very small role performed by Jess Lee Brooks as a kindly preacher is truly wonderful and one that leaves the strongest lasting impression.
The preacher appears in just one short part but its a scene that the films whole premise and emotional beliefs radiate out from. A churches congregation prepare for their 'guests' a gang of convicts who visit for screenings of cartoons in the church. As the congregation sing 'Let my People Go' the convicts seem to be summoned up from the surrounding swamp, they somberly march in and sit in their designated pews at the front of the church. The cartoon show starts up and musters such insanely enthusiastic laughter from all present that it jolts the slightly wooden protagonist towards his epiphany. The whole scene is so totally barmy, so full of heart and so visually striking that I find myself returning to it again and again.
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