starring Joel McCrea, Veronica Lake
directed and written by Preston Sturges
91 minutes
Movie director John Sullivan goes undercover and pretends to be a hobo. His first attenpts end prematurely. He meets a young woman (Veronica Lake) who insists on hanging out with him and going where he goes, after she finds out who he really is. The head of the film studio is concerned for Sullivan's well being because despite his wacky idea he has made the studio a lot of money. He sends some people to keep an eye on Sullivan.
Sullivan learns about what it is like to be homeless but he naively assumes that he has learned enough. In a moment of vulnerability he is struck down by a hobo who is later hit by a train and who's body is mistaken for Sullivan's. Meanwhile, Sullivan lands himself in prison after he loses his memory and hits an employee of the railroad. In prison Sullivan first fights back but eventually learns some more.
This was my first time watching this movie. I wasn't sure exactly where it was going or what to expect. The story changed direction roughly an hour in when Sullivan temporarily lost his memory and wound up in prison. Briefly it felt like the movie might not have a happy ending.
This is a good movie but I would stop short of saying it is great. There is a fair bit of humor in it but it also has a serious side.
I think this may be the first movie that I have seen in the past 20-30 years that featured or starred Joel McCrea or Veronica Lake. There are a number of of other actors in this movie whom I know from movies or television, most notable among them was William Demarest.
This movie reminds me a bit of a Frank Capra film. It doesn't feel like a copy of one but it feels like Preston Sturges interpretation of what a Capra film like Mr. Deeds Goes to Town could be like if Sturges had written it.
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