Sullivan's Travels
A 1941 film by Preston Sturges about a Hollywood director who is pigeonholed in comedy but desires the chance to adapt O Brother, Where Art Thou?, a socially relevant book he admires. The only way he can make his desire a reality is to gain experience in poverty, so he sets out with 10 cents in his pocket to experience the real America. Unfortunately, studio bigwigs fear for their favorite director's safety, and they cushion him every step of the way.
A landmark satire of Hollywood. Not appreciated when it was first released, it manages to captivate audiences decades later with roller-coaster storytelling and with cleverness on an epic scale. "The Girl" is Veronica Lake's most memorable role, placing her in the big leagues with Katherine Hepburn and Grace Kelly. The Coen Brothers often steal ideas from Sullivan's Travels for their similarly funny masterworks.