The Criterion Collection has announced the upcoming release of two classic Preston Sturges comedies: Sullivan's Travels (1942) and Lady Eve (1941).
In Sullivan's Travels, Joel McCrea plays a movie director who is tired of churning out comedies, so he decides to make a serious, socially responsible film about human suffering called "O Brother, Where Art Thou." After his producers point out that he knows nothing of hardship, he hits the road as a hobo. He finds the lovely Veronica Lake and more trouble than he ever dreamed of.
In Lady Eve, Barbara Stanwyck plays a con artist who sets her sights on wealthy-but-naive Henry Fonda. ("Snakes are my life," he says.) In the process, however, she falls in love. Charles Coburn, Eugene Palette, and William Demerest co-star.
The Criterion Collection's DVDs will include trailers, production stills, and audio commentaries. Sullivan's Travels is slated to also include an episode of American Masters titled "Preston Sturges: The Rise and Fall of an American Dreamer," an interview with Sandy Sturges (Sturges's widow), and an interview of Preston Sturges by Hedda Hopper. In addition, Lady Eve will include a video introduction by Peter Bogdanovich and an hour-long radio adaptation by Lux Radio Theater.
Release date for both DVDs: July 10, 2001.
Web link
The Criterion Collection: www.criterionco.com
ARTICLE DATE: 6/2/01
