Detour (1945)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Edgar G. Ulmer

Writers:

Martin Goldsmith (screenplay)
Martin Goldsmith (original story)

Release Date:

30 November 1945 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Film-Noir | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

He went searching for love... but Fate forced a DETOUR to Revelry... Violence... Mystery!

Plot:

Chance events trap hitch-hiker Al Roberts in a tightening net of film noir trouble.

Plot Keywords:

Police | Pianist | Hitchhiking | Murder | Pick Up

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Tom Neal	...	Al Roberts
Ann Savage	...	Vera
Claudia Drake	...	Sue Harvey
Edmund MacDonald	...	Charles Haskell Jr
Tim Ryan	...	Nevada Diner Proprietor
Esther Howard	...	Holly, Diner Waitress
Pat Gleason	...	Joe, Trucker at Diner

Runtime:

67 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Australia:M (DVD rating) | UK:A (1946) | UK:U (1992) | Australia:PG (DVD rating) | USA:Approved (PCA #11048) | Australia:G

Company:

Producers Releasing Corporation

Trivia:

The budget PRC gave director Edgar G. Ulmer for this film was so small that the 1941 Lincoln Continental V-12 convertible driven by Charles Haskell was actually Ulmer's personal car.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: After Al strangles Vera, a shot of Vera hanging off the bed clearly shows her long eye lashes fluttering.

Quotes:

Vera: Boy-o boy! Sure feels good to be clean again!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Harry Monument (2004)

Soundtrack:

I'M ALWAYS CHASING RAINBOWS

An Almost Flawless Jewel

When I got my first VCR in 1985, the two movies I immediately rented were "Baby Doll" and "Detour." I have revisited the former many times but it's been 20 years since I saw "Detour." I like it even better.

It moves in a seamless manner. The narrator is drawn as we watch into further and further degradation.

The movie has a beautiful look. I'm sure it's a cliché to note this but it resembles a Hopper painting. It also bears the trademarks of Edgar Ulmer's movies: Literate dialogue and classical movie, no matter how low the budget.

Tom Neal is a mournful, appealing protagonist. He's weak, not really bad. Ann Savage, of course, is terrifying as Vera, the hitchhiker from everyone's worst nightmare.

Al's descent from blonde soubrette Sue to consumptive, murderous Vera is terrifying. Yet, though it passes by us quickly, it is fully believable.

"Detour" is a true work of art.