10 Essential Movies Guillermo Del Toro Demands You See

3. Sullivan's Travels

By far the most unusual film on Guillermo del Toro's list of favourites, insofar as nothing from his own body of work resembles it, Sullivan's Travels represents the apex of Preston Sturges's short-lived but impressive career. As a filmmaker himself del Toro certainly takes a great deal of pleasure watching Joe McRea taking on the role of a film director struggling to make a socially responsible movie, striking a balance between cinema as "art" and "entertainment". It's a rare thing to pull off, as del Toro acknowledges: "Many have attempted to mine the same field as Sturges, and all have failed." The rapid fire dialogue and occasional scenes of broad comedy put Sullivan's Travels at least partly into the screwball comedy category, and leaving aside the social commentary del Toro hits the nail on the head when he describes it as "full of mad energy and fireworks." Also recommended: Unfaithfully Yours