Detour (1945): A Poverty Row Must See

I may have a new favorite in the film noir genre. Double Indemnity has pretty much been replaced in my heart with Detour, released in 1945.

Some good reasons to like this include: No major character you can really root for, and feel good about yourself afterwards; actors you have never of; the budget.

How low was the budget of this movie? Well, it was shot largely on two sets. A hotel room set and a car shot in front of a screen. Oh, the car belonged to the director. It was made for about 20 grand. I love this movie.

Here is the basic plot-man hitchhikes from NY to Cali to be with the woman he loves. Man gets ride with cad who dumped a woman along the way. Cad dies and leaves a bankroll and car with hitchhiker who decides that cops will not believe that the guy up and died. Man picks up bimbo who was dumped by cad. The two conspire to swindle an inheritance using the identity of said cad. Man accidentally kills floozy and goes on run. Hollywood production code demands that man get nabbed by cops at last minute. Can you beat that with a stick!?

This is the only poverty row studio film to be on the national film registry. So, what gives it that distinction. It cannot be for cinematography, or set design. These are pretty basic in the film. It really can't be for the acting. The acting is pretty ham-fisted and the narration is about as subtle as a flying mallet.

It would have to be because this movie is such a profound example of noir. The hero kind of wants to do the right thing, but seems plagued by an epic flaw to never do the right thing. He constantly makes the choice he should not have.

To tell you the truth, I am almost willing to say that this film should be on the national registry, just because the female lead is played by an actress named Ann Savage. That almost does it for me, right there. It is kind of a road picture, so it is a good example of that also.

I really think that one of the major reasons this film is in the national registry, is because, once you see it, you really cannot get enough. The plot of the movie is a train wreck that you hate yourself for watching.

We also need movies like this for the national registry, because a lot of people in Hollywood, and other places made movies. Not everything was a gritty Warner Brothers drama, or a flashy MGM musical. There were a lot of people who got up every day and made motion pictures. Not everyone was, or should have been This movie is a shot-and-a-beer of American filmmaking at a rundown bar. This movie is not champagne at a fancy night club. If people were lucky, they stumbled into this film at a rundown theater in the 1940. They probably came away with a pretty good yarn. Do see this movie,