Tom Neal in the lead. His life was as interesting as the character he portrayed: he graduated from Harvard Law, was a superior boxer, and later in life killed his wife, shooting her head off from behind with a .45 caliber handgun (he served six years). Earlier, Neal had beaten Franchot Tone to a pulp, breaking a cheekbone, smashing his nose, and giving him a concussion as they fought over a woman.
In "Detour" however, even the real life Neal would have met his match.
A man picks up a hitchhiker and, soon after, the driver dies accidentally. The hitchhiker takes the car and picks up a woman, but she instantly--- in one of those coincidences--- recognizes the car as that of a man she briefly had known. A deadly game of blackmail ensues. The femme fatale coldly is played by the striking Ann Savage (what a perfect stage name!).
This is a no-frills noir film that wastes no time in extraneous scenes or character development: we see the characters' most brutal, raw emotions exposed and then we see them scratched and ripped to pieces.
A violent, ugly, and utterly fascinating film.
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:
Topic - "Detour:" rated as highly as any in the noir genre, this one boasts - tinear 16:45:17 02/19/08 (11)
- Edgar G. Ulmer - The Duke 12:55:43 02/20/08 (1)
- I just saw "Detour" for the second time and I found it to be MUCH - tinear 13:36:28 02/20/08 (0)
- A throroughly modern romance... - Harmonia 20:41:23 02/19/08 (1)
- Here's a terrific thread from a few year's back which - tinear 01:01:13 02/20/08 (0)
- "...art shouldn't debase humanity." - SF tech 20:17:03 02/19/08 (6)
- RE: "...art shouldn't debase humanity." - grinagog 01:08:49 02/20/08 (0)
- And you base your opinions about my beliefs exactly on... what? nt - tinear 00:54:14 02/20/08 (2)
- I was just referring to your commentary below... - SF tech 12:31:02 02/20/08 (1)
- RE: I was just referring to your commentary below... - tinear 13:38:14 02/20/08 (0)
- especially as... - dave c 21:23:08 02/19/08 (1)
- all hail the debauched art form... (nt) - SF tech 22:39:12 02/19/08 (0)