Sullivan’s Travels (1941) Arrow

[skyofcrack]

Zavvi just shipped my Sullivan's Travels.

[RiFiFi1955]

Originally Posted by skyofcrack

Zavvi just shipped my Sullivan's Travels.

Same Here

[cropsy]

me three

[NoirFan]

DVD Beaver have their review up. Looks like a dream release all around.

[skyofcrack]

Looks marvelous. Mine should be here any day now. Can't wait.

[Dan8700]

Looks like one of the best looking classics on the format... fantastic! Also, loving the menu design. ^_^

[Ozu Teapot]

I watched this last night and thought it was great!

This was my first Sturges and I'll be very happy if Arrow go ahead with their proposed box set!

[Olmo]

Originally Posted by NoirFan

DVD Beaver have their review up. Looks like a dream release all around.

'Arrow truly are the Criterion of the UK, our highest recommendation'.

Hoping this is on my welcome mat when i return from graft today. This along with the forthcoming Borowczyk collection & Salvatore Giuliano puts them ahead of the competition for me. (if you look at it that way).

[rybev]

Sullivan's Travels screenshots

[cropsy]

My copy arrived this morning

[rapta]

Picking this up on Tuesday! Looks great

[88thCrazy]

I've decided to get my order in at Zavvi with the 10% discount before Monday - I was planning to wait for the next Arrow sale, but I'd imagine it would only be a saving of a few pounds and it'd be a long wait.

Can't wait to see the wonderful Ms Lake in HD!

[TheDot]

Got mine today. Looks like a great release of a film I've held off buying for a fee years now (Criterion) in hope of a Blu-ray release.

Extras look amazing and the booklet sounds a treat too. Thanks to MichaelB again for giving us a valuable insight in to the production process of these wonderful release that simply arrive in our laps like gifts from cinephile gods above

[rapta]

What's the alternate artwork? Is it the yellow poster like the Criterion DVD?

[Olmo]

Originally Posted by MichaelB

It is indeed the same poster - there were quite a few alternatives, but that one's so iconic that it was the obvious one to go for.

The 'legs' cover art (guessing the original) is by far the superior in my opinion.

However, the newly commissioned art is usually the preferable eg: The Long Goodbye, The Tin Drum, The Conformist and especially Night of the Hunter where the reverse of the Jay Shaw art is appalling; A subservient Winters pleading on her knees to Mitchum's preacher being something of a spoiler to the uninitiated, if anything.

Best of all though, is the Clouzot's Les Diaboliques' sleeve - the more oft shown lilac artists impression of Signoret & Vera the 'missus'. Superb.

[Olmo]

Completely agree with you on the re-designed poster, like a Mad magazine mock-up, which does create a false impression. It did give the (included) documentary makers an ingenious idea for the credits sequence though!

Arrow do seem to be extremely conscious of the importance of the cover art, which is to be applauded. And the availability of a reversible sleeve is an added bonus for the 'purist'...even if the original art is sometimes awful.

[EddieLarkin]

Well, this exceeded all expectations (the film I mean, though of course the image and overall package is lovely too). I was going in almost completely blind, all I knew I was in for was a comedy. I got so much more; this is one of the best films about filmmaking ever made. Roll on the Sturges Box Set!

[Yami]

Originally Posted by EddieLarkin

Well, this exceeded all expectations (the film I mean, though of course the image* and overall package is lovely too). I was going in almost completely blind, all I knew I was in for was a comedy. I got so much more; this is one of the best films about filmmaking ever made. Roll on the Sturges Box Set!

I couldn't agree more, Eddie! I'd heard a bit about Sturges before, but I was completely blown away. I don't think I've seen a film as funny, as dramatically engaging and as socially conscious outside the oeuvre of Chaplin. The expressionistic shot of the prisoners marching in front of the church as we hear the congregation singing 'Go Down Moses' gave me goosebumps. Roll on the Sturges box set, indeed. I want more!

Is it just me or was one particular sequence influenced by William Wellman's Beggars of Life? Admittedly, that's a bit of an obscure film but take a look:

[Show spoiler]

[EddieLarkin]

That whole sequence, and the earlier montage set entirely to music, made the film for me, despite them obviously being devoid of comedy. Oh and Veronica looking devastated with tears slowly rolling down her face, late in the film. Almost everything else was side splitting hilarity. The juxtaposition is genius.

[EddieLarkin]

I'm sure it wasn't so obscure in 1941. You make a good case. Speaking of influences, in the Kevin Jackson essay he mentions (but doesn't elaborate on) that a direct reference to Sullivan's Travels can be found in 8 1/2; I haven't seen it for years and can't quite remember what scene he might be talking about...