Detour (1945)

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

Director:

Edgar G. Ulmer

Writers:

Martin Goldsmith (screenplay), Martin Goldsmith (original story),

Stars:

Tom Neal, Ann Savage, Claudia Drake

1 win.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Tom Neal	...	Al Roberts
Ann Savage	...	Vera
Claudia Drake	...	Sue Harvey
Edmund MacDonald	...	Charles Haskell Jr
Tim Ryan	...	Nevada Diner Proprietor
Esther Howard	...	Diner Waitress
Pat Gleason	...	Joe

Storyline

In flashback, New York nightclub pianist Al Roberts hitchhikes to Hollywood to join his girl Sue. On a rainy night, the sleazy gambler he's riding with mysteriously dies; afraid of the police, Roberts takes the man's identity. But thanks to a blackmailing dame, Roberts' every move plunges him deeper into trouble...

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Plot Keywords:

police | pianist | hitchhiking | flashback | song | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Film-Noir

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 November 1945 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Curva do Destino

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Producers Releasing Corporation (PRC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

67 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Shot quickly in mostly two locations: the hotel room apartment, and the car in front of a rear projection screen on a soundstage at PRC. The actual shooting schedule was 28 days, including a brief location shoot in Lancaster, California for the desert scenes, and backplates for rear projection.

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Goofs

A cigarette appears out of nowhere in Haskell's hand when he tells Roberts that he had not been home since he was 15 years old.

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Quotes

Vera: I'm gonna see that you sell this car so you don't get caught.
Al Roberts: Thanks! Of course, your interest wouldn't be financial, would it? You wouldn't want a small percentage of the profits?
Vera: Well, now that you insist, how can I refuse? 100% will do!
Al Roberts: Fine! I'm relieved! I thought for a moment you were gonna take it all!
Vera: I don't wanna be a hog!

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Connections

Referenced in Ancient Evil 2: Guardian of the Underworld (2005)

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Soundtracks

I'm Always Chasing Rainbows
(uncredited)
Music by Harry Carroll
Lyrics by Joseph McCarthy
Performed by studio orchestra

User Reviews

No budget masterpiece

Al Roberts (Tom Neal) is a depressed NYC piano player whose girlfriend leaves him to try her luck in CA. He follows her by hitchhiking his way. He's picked up by a man who (inexplicably) dies while Al is driving. Naturally Al does everything wrong...like dumping the body and then picking up Vera (Ann Savage) a totally amoral woman. Then things barrel horribly out of control.

You can quibble about plot points (a certain death is highly implausible) but this IS a masterpiece of the genre. It's one of the grimmest film noirs of its time. It was made by a poverty row studio (PRC) on no budget. Actually the lack of budget helps the story--everything appears dark and grim fitting the tone of the story. Also they had an excellent director (Edgar G. Ulmer) and a great script by Martin Goldsmith. Also Neal was very good as Roberts and Savage is exceptional as Vera (there's a scene where she explodes at Roberts in a car which is truly scary). It's also all wrapped up in a tight economical 69 minutes. This has deservedly been a cult movie for many years.

Good luck finding a clear print with good sound.