- published: 03 Mar 2014
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Detour (1945) is a film noir thriller that stars Tom Neal and Ann Savage.
The film was adapted by Martin Goldsmith and Martin Mooney (uncredited) from Goldsmith's novel of the same name and was directed by Edgar G. Ulmer. The 68-minute film was released by the Producers Releasing Corporation (PRC), one of the so-called "poverty row" film studios in mid-twentieth century Hollywood.
Although made on a small budget with bare sets and straightforward camera work, Detour has gathered much praise through the years and is held in high regard. In 1992, Detour was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
The film has fallen into the public domain and is freely available from online sources. There are also many DVD editions.
Piano player Al (Tom Neal) is bitter about having to work in a New York nightclub. After his girlfriend Sue (Claudia Drake) leaves to seek fame in Hollywood, he decides to join her. With little money, he has to hitchhike his way across the country.
'Detour, there's a muddy road ahead', detour
Paid no mind to what it said
Detour, oh these bitter things I find
Should have read that detour sign
Headed down life's crooked road, lots of things I never knowed
Because of me not knowin', I now pine
Trouble got in the trail, spent the next five years in jail
Should have read that detour sign
'Detour, there's a muddy road ahead', detour
Paid no mind to what it said
Detour, oh these bitter things I find
Should have read that detour sign
When I got right to the place where it said 'About face'
I thought that all my worries were behind
But the farther I go, more sorrow I know
Should have read that detour sign
'Detour, there's a muddy road ahead', detour
Paid no mind to what it said
Detour, oh these bitter things I find
Should have read that detour sign
When I got stuck in the mud all my hopes dropped with a thud
I guess that my heart strings are made of twine
Had no willpower to get from the hole that I'm in yet
Should have read that detour sign
'Detour, there's a muddy road ahead', detour
Paid no mind to what it said
Detour, oh these bitter things I find
Should have read that detour sign
Should have read that detour sign