Film

In this warm, open-hearted Sturges satire, a slapstick-comedy director (McCrea) hoping to upgrade his reputation with a Capra-esque social-problem film decides to go undercover as a hobo and get in touch with the people. Finding it difficult to pull himself away from his privileged world, he eventually meets a down-and-out failed actress (Lake) who inspires him with her combination of femme-fatale looks and old-fashioned kindness. Despite its biting critique of industry shallowness, Sullivan’s Travels is steadfastly faithful to the romance of the movies and remains one of Hollywood’s most spirited defenses of cinema as escapism.