Product: Detour [VHS] (1945)
Rating: 5.0
Film Noir Classic and an Edgar G. Ulmer Masterpiece
Detour is one of the all-time great examples of film noir. The use of shadowy black and white cinematography, a star-crossed protagonist, a femme fatale, a cynical voice-over narration and ambiguous morality can almost be used to define the Film Noir Genre. Brought together by legendary director Edgar G. Ulmer in only a few days and on a diminutive budget, Detour's B-Film sets only add to both the film and the genre, a true testament to the mastery of Ulmer.Al Roberts (Tom Neal) makes a series of bad choices that bring him to a very low point in his life. Vera (Ann Savage) plays the quintessential Bad Girl. Their witty repartee and in truth, much of the dialogue throughout is a main attraction of this film. The plot is revealed in flashbacks and continues on uncompromisingly to the conclusion. The characterizations, dialogue, plot and photography all contribute to make this taut, gritty film a must for film noir enthusiasts.