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Detour(2018)

1h 6m
- Crime
- Drama

Release Date: Nov 30, 2018 | Limited

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.

Releases

Original Release | Nov 30, 2018

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Box Office

Results

Opening Weekend US & Canada:
$5,127
Total US & Canada:
$16,172
Total Worldwide:
$16,172

Director & Top Cast

Edgar G. Ulmer
Director

Tom Neal
Al Roberts

Ann Savage
Vera

Claudia Drake
Sue Harvey

Edmund MacDonald
Charles J. Haskell Jr.

Tim Ryan
Nevada Diner Proprietor

Esther Howard

Diner Waitress

Pat Gleason

Joe

Don Brodie

Used Car Salesman

Roger Clark

Cop

Eddie Hall

Tony - Used-Car Lot Mechanic Inspecting Car

Harry Mayo

Nightclub Patron

Harry Strang

California Border Patrolman

Technical Specifications

Aspect Ratio: 1.37 : 1

Other Details

Country of Origin: United States

Language: English

Showtimes

Your Location or

(U.S. Only)

Summaries

Plot Summary

Edgar G. Ulmer's Detour begins in a diner somewhere in the middle of nowhere as Al Roberts (Tom Neal) ruminates in voice over about his life and what has led him to this place in time. He's got a tale to tell, and there's a reason because it has taught Al something about fate. His experiences have left Al irascible, and he argues sullenly with the waitress, the diner manager, and a trucker who drops a nickel in a jukebox and plays the song that Al and his girlfriend called their song. Al's problem becomes more apparent as he explains the events that have brought him here. In flashback, he talks about his relationship with his singer girlfriend Sue (Claudia Drake) as he accompanied her on piano in a New York club. When she leaves for fame and fortune in Los Angeles, Al is lonely and decides to hitchhike to the coast to be with her. He accepts a ride from good-time-Charlie Charles Haskell Jr. (Edmund MacDonald). During their drive Haskell tells Al a little about himself, relating a story about deep scratches he has on his hand that he received when he picked up a woman who shunned his advances. When Haskell suffers an attack and dies, Roberts, fearing that he will be accused of murder takes on the man's identity and begins driving the car himself. At a gas station, Al picks up Vera (Ann Savage), who blurts out, "Where did you leave his body?" It turns out that Vera had accepted a ride from Haskell earlier and she is the one who has given him the scratches on his hand. Threatening to summon the police, Vera forces Al to pose as Haskell in order to collect an inheritance from the man's millionaire father. During their time together Vera causes another problem to befall Al and fate to intervene.

Storyline

In flashback, New York nightclub pianist Al Roberts hitchhikes to Hollywood to join his girl Sue. On a rainy night, the sleazy gambler he's riding with mysteriously dies; afraid of the police, Roberts takes the man's identity. But thanks to a blackmailing dame, Roberts' every move plunges him deeper into trouble. — Rod Crawford <puffinus@u.washington.edu> While in a highway restaurant, the bitter pianist Al Roberts listens to a song and recalls his recent past. In New York, he played piano in a dump nightclub where his beloved girlfriend Sue Harvey was the singer. Sue decides to move to Los Angeles, expecting to have an opportunity in the cinema industry. She is not very successful, and Al decides to travel to L.A. to meet her. Without money, he hitchhikes and meets Charles Haskell Jr., who is heading directly to Los Angeles. When Charles unexpectedly dies, Al decides to assume his identity since the police would never believe the truth about his death. In a gas station, he gives a lift to Vera, a woman who knew Charles and blackmails Al with tragic consequences. — Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil After his girlfriend Sue leaves New York to advance her career in Hollywood, piano player Al Roberts decides to join her. Not having much money, he decides to hitchhike across the country. In Arizona, he gets a ride from Charles Haskell, a gambler and a bookie who happens to be headed to L.A. himself. When Haskell dies of natural causes, Al decides to take his identity. His bigger mistake is giving a ride to another hitchhiker, Vera, a pretty tough cookie who had previously encountered the real Haskell when he gave her a ride. She draws him into a crazy scheme. — garykmcd Al Roberts is hitchhiking across the US when he gets a lift that will take him exactly where he wants to go. When the driver dies Roberts is convinced the police will think it was murder and pin it on him. He dumps the man's body, takes his car and money and assumes his identity. He assumes it will be a temporary thing as he will soon be at his destination but fate has other plans. — grantss 2 more All