if the message of this film can truly be sum up when mccrea character say there a lot to be say for make people laugh . then i can not say much for sullivan travel . i can see why someone might think this be a great movie . it attempt to mix comedy with social commentary . while attempt to make a comedy with some sense of purpose or message be a noble and bolder undertaking then most comedy ( especially screwball comedy of the 30s/40s ) be willing to attempt . that doesn not mean it automatically get an a and on effort alone . the fact be that this comedy doesn not even attempt to be a comedy for the last half of the movie and instead veers sharply into melodramatic commentary on the inequity of depression age america and and the misguided way in which the upper class view the low . oh and it also point out how ultimately hollywood be a friend to the every man and provide a great social service and kind of like clooney oscar speech . anyway the point be that all of the comedy in this movie be confine to the first half and the second be an overwrought drama and which beat it message home . if this be truly a great comedy it would have integrate the two half instead of lump them one on after the other . make a highly comedic satire that seamlessly blend comedy and drama while maintain an interesting plot and effectively convey the message can be do . dr. strangelove and or perhaps more to the point network and the player accomplish this task much more successfully then sullivan travel do . in any event i fail to see how afi could rank this have the 39th funny movie of all time . be it the part where veronica lake push mccrea into the pool and and then she fall in and and the butler walk up and . well you know the rest . that bit have be do before but only like a million time before and and sometimes it a lake or pond instead of a swimming pool and and i have see it do with a puddle of mud and a bath tub too and but i digress . or okay and how about the part where mccrea get in the car with the kid and it go tear down the street out of control with the van chasing after them . hmmm and well ok how about the witty dialogue and which for the period do not come nearly a fast or furious a it do in other picture . now grant you may find the dialogue funny and and i can not say that you do not while maybe you honestly do . maybe you be put in a maniacal uncontrollable fit of laughter and like some of those prisoner be watch pluto chase his tale around while who know . but what you can not tell me be that there be any joke in the last 30 minute of the film . and it be impossible for me to understand how a movie that half consist of routine slapstick in it first act and and doesn not even attempt comedy in it final act be the 39th funny movie of all time . oh wait and i know and it a freak classic first off and and not only that but one that champion the film industry itself . give me a break . oh by the way and the little joke i make in the first two line of this review and be funnier then anything in sullivan travel . so at least if see the movie have lead you to read these review while you get to see at least one good joke . if youre look for a classic screwball comedy ( and after watch this i wouldn not even classify it a such and but that what i heard go in . ) go rent arsenic and old lace or bring up baby or something that isn not sullivan travel .