MovieChat Forums > Detour (1946) Discussion > Simply put

Simply put

posted 19 years ago by t0rrance
7 replies | jump to latest

This is one of the best examples of amazing Film Noir. Lang knew what he was doing and fought for this story to hold true. While the Femme Fetal is not seductive sexually she is nonetheless demanding and relentless in her quest to ruin Al’s life. This film completely deals with fate and if you watch it keep in mind the original ending . . . when he gets picked up by the cops in the very end Fritz Lang originally wanted it to end with him walking down the rode, but the film sensors wouldn’t allow him to have a character get away with murder on two accounts. By the way my favorite part has to be when he tries to break the phone cord and chokes Vera to death, simply amazing!

[–] pillfeast 19 years ago

I've always thought the phone cord thing was a little off. If it's plugged into the wall on his side of the door, why not just pull it out of the wall? Yet another example of Roberts's exceptionally poor decision-making faculties. He just *beep* up from the word go.

I just ignore the cop car at the end, it's clear that Roberts is doomed to wander for the rest of his life wearing his over-bearing conscience like a cheap suit.

Back off man, I'm a scientist.

[–] t0rrance 19 years ago

well im sure that would be true, if in fact the jack was on his side, but saldly it is not.
you may want to check the film again because it is definitely on her side as is seen when he opens up the door and finds her on the bed choked to death. there is distincly a shot of the box in which it is plugged into.

[–] collin-reid 19 years ago

Didn't Edgar Ulmer direct this movie and wanted to keep it real. Fritz made a lot of noirs but he worked with the majors. Edgar was stuck in poverty row.

I agree with t0rrance, it easy to ignore the cop car as it done so half-hearted or it just simply shows his fear of being picked up.

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] liscarkat (16621) 3 years ago

"Detour" was directed by Edgar Ulmer. Fritz Lang was not involved.

[–] jdforyou1983 (1470) 3 years ago

This is a top tier Film Noir

[–] Ace_Spade (9367) 3 years ago

It's excellent, yeah. I admired it's sound design (they clearly paid attention to a lot of the detail effects to make the environment more real), as well as it's brevity (70 minutes!) that was maintained without sacrificing the punch.

Plus, the script is gangbusters. It's just crackling with that great noir snappy patter. It might not be "realistic", but it's real in the world they create, and it's a delight to hear.

Kinda tragic to read about Neal's ironic real-life parallels to his shady leading man. The actor was convicted of manslaughter later on...