Saw this movie for a film class tonight. I was NOT expecting a scene this powerful in such an old Hollywood film, let alone a comedy. The parting of the waves of prisoners and the warden to reveal the preacher at 0:46 is so beautiful it feels like it came out of an art film.
I appreciate your admiration for this scene, but that comment wreaked of ignorant condescension. Stating surprise about the depth of an "older" film is akin to admitting unexpected beauty in old artwork like Michelangelo. We haven't seen real depth in film on a regular basis since the 90's, so..... yah.
I love the part at the beginning of the film where he comments about the heavy symbolism of the scene for the 'woke' 1930's film he wants to make -- (two men fighting as they fall off a moving train) "Don't you see? It symbolizes Labor and Capital destroying each other!" So basically, he predicted "Snowpiercer" ;)
@@paralysisbyanalysis2287 Don’t be mean. She’s a film student. Do you know any teenagers? I commend her for having an open mind. I appreciate her comments.
I first saw this movie on tv when I was about 13. It has stayed with me for over 40 years. The portrayal of the minister and the dignity of the of the african american folks was nothing short of astonishing. Way ahead of it's time for sure.
Also, apparently this scene was so ahead of its time in portraying African-American characters with dignity that it was personally commended by the head of the NAACP at the time that it came out.
Remarkable scene . It could so easily have been a silent classic , just a few years earlier . Preston Sturgess knew a thing or two about directing memorable movies.
My worldview is perfectly expressed in the film “Sullivan’s Travels,” Preston Sturges’ 1942 masterpiece, it’s the story of a successful Hollywood director who sets out to make a serious, socially relevant drama, “O Brother Where Art Thou?” in the midst of the Great Depression, but instead learns the hard way that “There’s a lot to be said for making people laugh. Did you know that’s all some people have? It isn’t much, but it’s better than nothing in this cockeyed caravan.” Here, the apotheosis of the redemptive power of art is correctly represented by none other than Goofy starring in Playful Pluto (1934) wherein Pluto swallows a flashlight and gets stuck on a piece of flypaper. Grr! I concur.
Agreed. Great scene. For those of you interested in movies as space of freedom check the screening in the French Catholic Public School of Louis Malle´s "Au revoir les enfants". It ends in an American image brought in a brilliant and sensitive manner as reflected in the eyes of the Jewish and persecuted kid.
Thanks for the suggestion. One of the best value added comments. "Space of freedom" is an interesting way of putting this. I was thinking of Woody Allen watching the Marx brothers in his film to deal with reprieve from the existential questions. (Maybe "Stardust Memories" and another one too? ) And now I am reminded of "Cinema Paradiso."
Production Companies: Warner Bros. (current owner) EMKA Group (current owner) Paramount Pictures (Distributor and Presentation) Paul Jones Productions (production)
Probably one electrical connection for the whole building, so of course the projector would be hogging it. Wired lighting fixtures would be a luxury in the 1930's.
Budget. The black church probably only had one wired connection, and gas lamps were less expensive, or at least, the cost of replacing them and wiring up the entire church would have been prohibitive.
I have never seen this movie. I really don't even know what it's about. I don't get the significance of this scene and why everybody thinks it's so great. My guess is this because both black and white people are laughing at it together?
Sully has made comedies all his life but one day wanted to start making political or moral movies instead, dismissing comedies as unimportant. It wasn't until he was thrown in jail that he realized how spoiled he was, and how valuable comedies are in uniting and uplifting the human spirit even in the lowest conditions. That's why this scene is so powerful.
This scene was seared into my brain when I first saw the film. A contender for the best in cinematic history.
My favorite scene in the movie, and of many movies.
It stucked in my mind and heart forever
Me too !!
Saw this movie for a film class tonight. I was NOT expecting a scene this powerful in such an old Hollywood film, let alone a comedy. The parting of the waves of prisoners and the warden to reveal the preacher at 0:46 is so beautiful it feels like it came out of an art film.
I appreciate your admiration for this scene, but that comment wreaked of ignorant condescension. Stating surprise about the depth of an "older" film is akin to admitting unexpected beauty in old artwork like Michelangelo.
We haven't seen real depth in film on a regular basis since the 90's, so..... yah.
I love the part at the beginning of the film where he comments about the heavy symbolism of the scene for the 'woke' 1930's film he wants to make -- (two men fighting as they fall off a moving train) "Don't you see? It symbolizes Labor and Capital destroying each other!"
So basically, he predicted "Snowpiercer" ;)
@@paralysisbyanalysis2287
Don’t be mean. She’s a film student. Do you know any teenagers? I commend her for having an open mind. I appreciate her comments.
A classic movie about why comedy and escapism is just as important as drama.
The world needs more comedy than ever before.
I first saw this movie on tv when I was about 13. It has stayed with me for over 40 years. The portrayal of the minister and the dignity of the of the african american folks was nothing short of astonishing. Way ahead of it's time for sure.
Joel was great in this...he and Strunges made you feel for Sullivan.
Preston was a genius...a true master director...most of his movies were blockbusters.😊
Preston was a genius...a true master director....the fact that most of his films were blockbusters proves it.
Saw this with my dad as a kid. What a great movie.
Also, apparently this scene was so ahead of its time in portraying African-American characters with dignity that it was personally commended by the head of the NAACP at the time that it came out.
Thank you I've been searching for this movie for almost 6 years and I've finally found the scene that I remember.
It's a perfect film scene. So powerful. A scene I think Ill always remember for the rest of my life.
BTW, along with the Odyssey, this movie was a huge influence on the Cohen Brothers' Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?
Cinematically, this is an act of a God.
Remarkable scene .
It could so easily have been a silent classic , just a few years earlier .
Preston Sturgess knew a thing or two about directing memorable movies.
Epic. My favorite scene. Surprised there hasn't been a remake.
Like Goofy, Pluto was also a master of comedic timing.
My worldview is perfectly expressed in the film “Sullivan’s Travels,” Preston Sturges’ 1942 masterpiece, it’s the story of a successful Hollywood director who sets out to make a serious, socially relevant drama, “O Brother Where Art Thou?” in the midst of the Great Depression, but instead learns the hard way that “There’s a lot to be said for making people laugh. Did you know that’s all some people have? It isn’t much, but it’s better than nothing in this cockeyed caravan.” Here, the apotheosis of the redemptive power of art is correctly represented by none other than Goofy starring in Playful Pluto (1934) wherein Pluto swallows a flashlight and gets stuck on a piece of flypaper. Grr! I concur.
Agreed. Great scene. For those of you interested in movies as space of freedom check the screening in the French Catholic Public School of Louis Malle´s "Au revoir les enfants". It ends in an American image brought in a brilliant and sensitive manner as reflected in the eyes of the Jewish and persecuted kid.
Thanks for the suggestion. One of the best value added comments. "Space of freedom" is an interesting way of putting this. I was thinking of Woody Allen watching the Marx brothers in his film to deal with reprieve from the existential questions. (Maybe "Stardust Memories" and another one too? ) And now I am reminded of "Cinema Paradiso."
Boy, what people think is funny has certainly changed over the decades.
Such a poignant moment. The Simplicity and warmth of animation.
@MewEcks Same :)
Production Companies:
Warner Bros. (current owner)
EMKA Group (current owner)
Paramount Pictures (Distributor and Presentation)
Paul Jones Productions (production)
This girl looking today Mickey Mouse
@Savci008 EqD -> Jacob Minkoff's blog
How come they have kerosene lamps for illumination in the church, when the film projector must have to have electricity?
Shut up! That's why!
Probably one electrical connection for the whole building, so of course the projector would be hogging it.
Wired lighting fixtures would be a luxury in the 1930's.
For dramatic effect 👍
Budget. The black church probably only had one wired connection, and gas lamps were less expensive, or at least, the cost of replacing them and wiring up the entire church would have been prohibitive.
I would be more concerned with the nitrate film in the projector
I have never seen this movie. I really don't even know what it's about. I don't get the significance of this scene and why everybody thinks it's so great. My guess is this because both black and white people are laughing at it together?
Sully has made comedies all his life but one day wanted to start making political or moral movies instead, dismissing comedies as unimportant. It wasn't until he was thrown in jail that he realized how spoiled he was, and how valuable comedies are in uniting and uplifting the human spirit even in the lowest conditions. That's why this scene is so powerful.
@@zackwyvern2582 thank you
heres an idea, watch the movie!
I needed that I'll laugh again .shelters!🦨this is jail right now those women are outside outselling each other .why!?justWhy!?