A Few Words About A few words about...™ Sullivan's Travels -- in Blu-ray (1 Viewer)

Both luck and technology are on our side with Criterion's new Blu-ray of Preston Sturges' 1941 Sullivan's Travels, one of the most beloved films of the era. Criterion almost seems to be underplaying their comments, when they refer to it in their liner notes as a "comedy masterpiece," and "among the finest Hollywood satires."

I mention the comments above, as while most distributors overstate, Criterion gets it just right.

Scanned from a surviving nitrate fine grain master (many of the original nitrate Paramount negatives were junked after the deal with Universal), we're fortunate that the source appears to have been well-struck from the original, and has gone through requisite digital handling to create a magnificent Blu-ray.

Sullivan's Travels is one of those films which no serious cinema collection can do without.

Beautiful black and white, with proper grain structure, resolution, black levels.  And clean.

Image - 5

Audio - 5

Pass / Fail - Pass

Very Highly Recommended

RAH

Great news on a great film! I cannot wait to get this in my collection.

I have the Arrow version, which is apparently the same as the Criterion - it's lovely.

On the way!

Robert Harris said:

Both luck and technology are on our side with Criterion's new Blu-ray of Preston Sturges' 1941 Sullivan's Travels, one of the most beloved films of the era. Criterion almost seems to be underplaying their comments, when they refer to it in their liner notes as a "comedy masterpiece," and "among the finest Hollywood satires."


I mention the comments above, as while most distributors overstate, Criterion gets it just right.


Scanned from a surviving nitrate fine grain master (many of the original nitrate Paramount negatives were junked after the deal with Universal), we're fortunate that the source appears to have been well-struck from the original, and has gone through requisite digital handling to create a magnificent Blu-ray.


Sullivan's Travels is one of those films which no serious cinema collection can do without.


Beautiful black and white, with proper grain structure, resolution, black levels. And clean.


Image - 5


Audio - 5


Pass / Fail - Pass


Very Highly Recommended


RAH

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JUNKEDTHE fine grain masters? I shudder to think what has been lost. The National Film Registry needs to get more active tracking down and preserving lost films. Unconscionable.

ljgranberry said:

JUNKEDTHE fine grain masters? I shudder to think what has been lost. The National Film Registry needs to get more active tracking down and preserving lost films. Unconscionable.

Click to expand...

The FGM survives. The OCN is apparently gone. Nothing the NFR can do, unless they create a time machine.


Be nice to have the Sternberg films back.


RAH

Robert Harris said:

The FGM survives. The OCN is apparently gone. Nothing the NFR can do, unless they create a time machine.


Be nice to have the Sternberg films back.


RAH

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Thank God they at least have the masters (well, HOPEFULLY they have them for the Paramount films). BTW Mr. Harris - any chance Universal and Paramount will get on the ball and at least start licensing to a third party like Twilight Time? Way too many classics still left unreleased.

Would like to see the Paramount Marx Bros films in a better condition when i hope one day they will be released again. This is a great Sturges film and wish Criterion will release more from him.

Thanks for the recommendation, Mr. Harris - just ordered from your link.

Robert Harris is simply the best.

Robert Harris said:

Sullivan's Travels is one of those films which no serious cinema collection can do without.


RAH

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I couldn't agree more. It's one of those that gets better every time you see it. Thanks for the great review, I pre-ordered mine the day it was announced on HTF. Can't wait.

Hopefully Criterion will release Christmas in July on blu ray. There is such a sweetness to the opening scene on the rooftop with Dick Powell and Ellen Drew.

Would love to see these Sturges films released on blu by Criterion:
THE GREAT MCGINTY
CHRISTMAS IN JULY
THE LADY EVE
HAIL THE CONQUERING HERO
THE MIRACLE OF MORGAN'S CREEK
UNFAITHFULLY YOURS
THE SIN OF HAROLD DIDDLEBOCK

For completion's sake, we also need THE GREAT MOMENT; and MAD WEDNESDAY, the alternate version of Harold Diddlebock. I've seen all of Sturges' movies, and even these last two, which suffered from studio interference, are still worth seeing.

Unfortunately I am not familiar with this film, as it goes for so many films of that era.

But I'm going to change that.

ljgranberry said:

Would love to see these Sturges films released on blu by Criterion:
THE GREAT MCGINTY
CHRISTMAS IN JULY
THE LADY EVE
HAIL THE CONQUERING HERO
THE MIRACLE OF MORGAN'S CREEK
UNFAITHFULLY YOURS
THE SIN OF HAROLD DIDDLEBOCK

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"The Beautiful Blonde From Bashful Bend", Sturges' only colour movie, was available on VHS and in a Fox laserdisc Betty Grable two-fer with "The Farmer Takes A Wife". I've never heard of a DVD. It has a bad reputation as a Preston Sturges film, but it's not that bad as a Betty Grable feature. It might make a worthy Blu-Ray double feature with "The Sin Of Harold Diddlebock/Mad Wednesday" as a sort of "tying up the loose ends" package, not that I'd want to give Criterion any ideas.

David, thanks for reminding me about The Beautiful Blonde... Had forgotten about it! Also forgot about The French, They Are a Funny Race.

The Beautiful Blonde From Bashful Bend is available through Fox Cinema Archives. One of their better looking releases.

The laserdisc was very colourful. I'll have to spring for that DVD.