Plot: A hitchhiker takes on a dead man's identity only to face blackmail by an unscrupulous woman.
Directed by: Edgar G. Ulmer
Written by: Martin Goldsmith and Martin Mooney
Cinematography by: Benjamin H. Kline
Studio: PRC
Runtime: 1 hour 18 minutes
Sir Anthony Hopkins left an indelible mark in the pantheon of film’s most memorable characters, particularly evil ones. His turn as Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs is second to none. Impressively, he is only on screen for 24 minutes and 52 seconds of the films 118-minute runtime. The cadence in his voice, the menace in his eyes, and the acute dialogue make audiences remember Hannibal Lecter as a living, breathing villain, not Hopkins merely playing one. 46 years prior to the release of The Silence of the Lambs, a B movie titled Detour was made. Its runtime is 67 minutes, and the villain of this film noir is on screen for about 31 of those minutes. Ann Savage, playing the role of Vera, delivers a deliciously devilish turn as a psychotic hitchhiker, one that is on par with some of the best villains in American film history.
The film opens up in a small diner; a man named Al Roberts is slumping with a five o’clock shadow and enough sadness in his eyes to fill an ocean. In flashbacks, Al tells the story of his hitchhiking from New York to California. He once had a job as a jazz pianist where he was in love with a singer at the club where he played. She moves to Los Angeles and he soon follows. In his travels, he is picked up by a man named Haskell. In the course of their trek, Al accidentally kills Haskell (although, can we believe this unreliable narrator?) But before Haskell dies, he shows the pink puffy scars left on his hand by a harpy of a woman, a woman he picked up hitchhiking before he met Al. In true noir fashion, Al Roberts drives the car West and picks up none other than the evil woman responsible for the scars: Vera.
Vera’s no dummy and instantly recognizes Al is driving Haskell’s car. For the rest of the film, Al and Vera plot what to do with the car and Al’s new assumed identity. Tom Neal as Al is great in this role. His demeanor and narration show he is begging for a sympathetic ear. The way he tells it, he’s just a guy who tripped on a foot fate stuck out. Ann Savage as Vera is the real star. Her acidic delivery of dastardly dialogue cuts deep. She is straight from Hell and bares no humanity (watch the trailer for a taste of what I am talking about). The somewhat off-kilter look of the film (a result from its financial limitations, as well as director Edgar G. Ulmer’s dark vision) play perfectly with the tenacity of Vera and the pitiful Al.
There is nothing like film noir when it is done right. Odds were against Detour, and sure, you can nit pick some of the technical aspects. But a lot of its quirks work in its favor. Limitations, whether they are financial or with censorship, often make creators think outside of the box and get inventive. This film is a fine example of such a feat. Detour was made on a very low budget by poverty-row studio Producers Releasing Corporation (PRC). Despite its limited resources, the film is a masterclass in the creativity and resourcefulness of its director, Edgar G. Ulmer, and his team.
Ulmer employed low-angle shots, exaggerated shadows, and stark lighting to create a moody and atmospheric ambiance. The film is gritty and claustrophobic, adding to its sense of unease and despair.
Sadly, Tom Neal’s personal life bore resemblance to a film noir. Tom Neal started dating Barbara Payton. Once she met Franchot Tone (remember him from Phantom Lady?), she ditched Tom and went steady with Mr. Tone. Neal reportedly beat Tone pretty bad. And after 53 days Payton left Tone and went back to Neal. But it gets worse.
After beating Tone to a pulp, Neal was largely blacklisted in Hollywood. This led to sporadic behavior from Neal. Once he realized his acting career was over, he and Payton split up. Neal moved to Palm Springs and worked as a gardener. He married a woman named Gail Bennett. On April 2nd, 1965, Bennett’s body was found in their home in Palm Springs. Bennett's body was on the couch. She was found with a gunshot wound in the back of her head. Neal wasn’t home when police arrived, but he later confessed. He served six years for involunatary manslaughter, and was released in 1971. He died the following year of heart failure.
According to Neal, her death was accidental. They were separated when she died. Neal had gone to their home to see if they could reconcile. In his words, Bennett held a gun to his head. In a struggle, the gun went off, accidentally killing Bennett.
But let’s not end on that note! The exact history of Detour has been inconsistently reported. Some reports say it was made for $25,000, while others suggest $100,000. Ulmer said the movie was shot in one week, while other reports cite the schedule as being 28 days long. Regardless of how quickly or cheaply Detour came into being, it is a film worthy of your time. The nightmarish journey of Al is one not easily forgotten by viewers. In fact, Detour was the first “B” movie chosen by the Library of Congress for its National Film Registry. It’s available on multiple streaming services due to the fact that this film fell into the Public Domain (of course it did). Do yourself a favor and check it out. And be wary of hitchhiking!
Favorite line:
Al Roberts: I keep trying to forget what happened, and wonder what my life might have been if that car of Haskell's hadn't stopped. But one thing I don't have to wonder about, I know. Someday a car will stop to pick me up that I never thumbed. Yes. Fate, or some mysterious force, can put the finger on you or me for no good reason at all.
Smoking: 🚬 🚬 🚬 🚬 out of 🚬 🚬 🚬 🚬
Fedoras: 🕵️ 🕵️ 🕵️ 🕵️ out of 🕵️ 🕵️ 🕵️ 🕵️
Femme Fatale: 💃 💃 💃 💃 out of 💃 💃 💃 💃
Trivia:
According to Ann Savage, she and Tom Neal did not get along during filming. Savage stated that Neal embarrassed her on the set by putting his tongue in her ear. She retaliated by slapping his face as hard as she could. After that incident, they did not speak to each other except when filming scenes.
Was the first "B" movie chosen by the Library of Congress for its National Film Registry, in 1992.
German filmmaker Wim Wenders called Ann Savage's performance as Vera "30 years ahead of its time."
Links of interest:
Here are some comments of Detour from Eddie Mueller
Here’s a link to purchase the Blu-Ray.
Here’s a list of 10 Most Dangerous Femmes Fatale (sadly, doesn’t have Vera on there!)
And here’s a list of the 10 Best Pulp Noir films
