Detour

Edgar G. Ulmer-directed "B" masterpiece "based on a novel story idea.... Uniformly good performances and some equally good direction and dialog keep the meller moving..." "Theme is the buffeting that man gets from the fates." New York pianist hitchhikes west to join aspiring actress girlfriend, gets ride with gambler who dies naturally en route. Pianist panics, takes his car, identity and money and drives on, only to pick up woman hitchhiker who turns out to have previously hitchhiked with the gambler, and realizes that the pianist is not who he is pretending to be. She blackmails the pianist and is accidently strangled by him. "Outstanding camera work... score, revolving around some Chopin themes, aids in backing up the film's grim mood." (Variety, January 23, 1946)