Sullivan's Travels - Movie Review Example

“Sullivans Travels” “Poverty is not the lack of anything, but a positive plague, virulentin itself, contagious as cholera, with filth, criminality, vice and despair as only a few of its symptoms” (Sturges, n.p.) – these words are proclaimed by person who deals with poor life in reality, and knows about it not hearsay. That is the Burrows, one of the Sullivan’s servants. He claims not to get involved in poverty and shabbiness, what is more obtaining such status purposely, with a special aim. Still, his sir does not pay attention to these words, and makes a clear decision to try a different kind of life, a poor one. “Sullivans Travels” that is created by a director Preston Sturges and producer Paul Jones is considered to the famous and magnificent movie about one man with the proper aim and unlimited possibilities. Sullivan is a rich and successful film maker who is demanded in the Hollywood and respected in reputable circles. This man is handsome and clever, wealthy and prosperous, interesting and funny. He possesses all categories of perfect man, and holds all possibilities to live a worthy life. It should be admitted that Sullivan’s success comes to him because of his hard work and huge endeavors. He has a talent to create films, and his professionalism together with an inspiration help Sullivan to be a big-time and famous person. He makes his fortune by himself that attributes to his sharp mind and creative thinking. Sullivan decidedly has his own proper social position and political views. That is the man who is disturbing by a social situation in the country and worries about its hard conditions. The film itself opens with the stills that aimed to underline difficult social position, and this reinforces by the dialogue: Sullivan: You see? You see the symbolism of it? Capital and labor destroy each other. It teaches a lesson, a moral lesson. It has social significance. Producer: Who wants to see that kind of staff? It gives me creeps (Sturges, n.p.). The matter is that this perspective film director plans to create a film about social devastation and despair. He wants to show people a real crisis time and expose on a public display all reality of lower society strata. Sullivan claims “This picture’s an answer to communism…I want this picture to be a commentary on modern conditions – stark realism – the problems that confront the average man” (Sturges, n.p.). That idea seems to be brilliant for film director, he ignites a strong desire to implement this concept and create such a film. Still, the question of what he, rich movie-maker, knows about poverty makes Sullivan puzzled and confused. He recognizes that he never remains to be poor, so how he is able to show miserable life from the screen. In this very moment another brilliant idea comes to his mind. Sullivan expresses an intention to taste a life of poor vagrant, and try to suffer in hard life conditions when no one can provide a helping hand to him. He goes on to travel with ten cents in his pockets, despite the persuasions not to commit this trip. However, this is considered to be a kind of parody as accompanying group comes with him and follows Sullivan’s way. Our main character cleverly and amusingly gets rid of them, but not for a long time. He meet a lady in café who buys him eggs and bacon, and returns home with her and his group. We should admit that his first voyage remains to be disastrous as an appropriate aim is not achieved. Sullivan makes the second trip with his new friend, a young actress who provides him a helping hand in a café. They have experienced all adventures together. They sleep on a cold floor, steal in the train and eat orts. These two stalwart people attain obstacles together, and survive in a cruel world of starvation and misery. The straightforward goal is gained and Sullivan feels satisfaction of his inner appeal. However, the fate presents him a little surprise. It is his third voyage that is considered to be the hardest and the most realistic one. The matter is that in the last day of his second adventure Sullivan has decided to hand out money to homeless people. One tramp has made a robbery and stoles Sullivan’s money and boots. Because of misunderstanding everyone regards our film director as a dead person. Still, he finds himself in a prison, and has an ideal chance to fell destitute and violate life. While experiencing such life he has understood that he does not want to subsist in such way, and the reality of misery is horrifying and heinous. Of course, Sullivan is able to get out from this hell, because of his clever mind and mother wit, but he has realized the reality of poverty for all his life. As a result he concludes not to make this tragic and hardly social film. “Sullivan’s Travels” is regarded as a comedy and appeared in a parody way for people to laugh, but recognize a solemn and serious problem that is hidden inside. World in the film arise as a huge box with no way out. People here regarded as a herd that looks for ways of survival. Everyone attains his own fate that can play with him/her, and wraps the circumstances in an unpredictable perspective. The comedy plays a significant role here. Characters obtain comic situations in the film; moreover the main moral is that laughing and comedy help to endure various hurdles and undergo difficulties. As Sullivan argues “Theres a lot to be said for making people laugh. Did you know that thats all some people have? It isnt much, but its better than nothing in this cockeyed caravan” (Sturges, n.p.). The main idea is to show people the importance of ability to smile in any harass situation. This concept is successfully underpinned by different elements of film thinking that are aroused through the movie. The performance of images, sounds, colors, focus, perspective and speed remains to be admirable and it predetermines the general picture together with creating appropriate mood and atmosphere. The film shoots in the black and white colors that seem magnificent and appealing. “There are some nice sharp edges, a great contrast between the light and dark elements and once again an old black and white shines” (Doidge, n.p.). In addition, a good level of filmic grain hold the original looks alive and realistic. A play with colors and shadows is amazing, and underpins the contrast between wealth and poverty. People in abundance appear in light colors while poorness is depicted in the dark and obscure tones. Sound represents monotone music that sounds “expectedly small and bit pitchy but it’s all clear enough” (Doidge, n.p.). The sound interaction underlies important moment and helps to concentrate attention on essential images of the film. Generally sound backing creates a warm and cozy atmosphere relevant to the film. Movement in the movie is rather fast with suspension on considerable moments significant for the understanding of the picture. Camera work obtains various techniques to show the momentous scenes and details. Focus of the film is concentrated mostly on foreground, and centers its attention on main characters and their proceedings. All in all, we should admit that this story is amazing and curious. “Sullivan’s Travels” shows the paradoxical and contemporary view on the world. The eternal wisdom is laid inside this story, and people are to recognize it easily. Living with smile is the main veracity that is to be proclaimed. The central character accepts this true only after hard obstacles. The fate commits a play with Sullivan as he also has an intention to play with his life. Social interference together with interesting and clever hero makes this film famous and valuable. Comic concept with the tragic implementations reflects the curious world perception that is successfully accepted by the public. Reference List: Sturges, Preston. “Sullivan’s Travels. Script.” 1941. Web. Doidge, Marcus. “Sullivan’s Travels. Review.” 2014. Web. Retrieved From: http://www.dvdactive.com/reviews/dvd/sullivans-travels.html Read More