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Detour

Detour

Drama · Thriller · 1945

The life of Al Roberts, a pianist in a New York nightclub, turns into a nightmare when he decides to hitchhike to Los Angeles to visit his girlfriend.

Movie details

Detour

“He went searching for love… but fate forced a DETOUR to revelry… violence… mystery!”

1945 Drama · Thriller 1h 8m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.2 / 10

Community rating

The life of Al Roberts, a pianist in a New York nightclub, turns into a nightmare when he decides to hitchhike to Los Angeles to visit his girlfriend.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Detour?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Edgar G. Ulmer

Written by

Martin Goldsmith

Tom Neal

Tom Neal

Al Roberts

Ann Savage

Ann Savage

Vera

Claudia Drake

Claudia Drake

Sue Harvey

Edmund MacDonald

Edmund MacDonald

Charles Haskell Jr.

Tim Ryan

Tim Ryan

Diner Owner Gus

Esther Howard

Esther Howard

Hedy

Pat Gleason

Pat Gleason

Joe

Court is in session

Put Detour on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.