Travis Simpkins: Veronica Lake

Friday, February 22, 2019

Sullivan's Travels (1941): Veronica Lake and Joel McCrea

Written and directed by Preston Sturges, Sullivan's Travels (1941) is a satirical masterpiece... it's title being drawn from "Gulliver's Travels" by Jonathan Swift. The story concerns a film director, who has grown tired of directing mindless comedies, and decides to venture out as a hobo and experience life so that he can be equipped to direct a drama. Veronica Lake is beautiful and steals the show in her role. Joel McCrea is great as the protagonist. The film is masterfully composed and is entertaining throughout... a true Classic.

Sullivan's Travels. 1941: Veronica Lake

Friday, January 25, 2019

This Gun For Hire (1942): Veronica Lake

Veronica Lake had it all... and lost it all relatively quickly. She was a major star in the 1940's. One of Hollywood's most gorgeous women, she popularized the "peek-a-boo" hairstyle and thanks to her sultry looks, she became an Icon. Fifteen years later she was suffering from mental illness and alcoholism, broke and working at a Hotel bar. This Gun For Hire (1942), captures Miss Lake at her glorious best, however. It was a major role for her and this film marked the debut of her co-star, Alan Ladd.

Hitman Philip Raven (Alan Ladd) does a job for a man named Willard Gates, killing two blackmailers. Gates screws Raven over and pays him with marked bills. Now Raven is pissed and out to get even with Gates. Meanwhile, Ellen Graham (Veronica Lake) is the nightclub magician girlfriend of the detective out to catch Raven...