Detour, screenplay and original story by Martin
Goldsmith
A different
version of this note and thoughts on other books are available at:
- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEVa4_CsRStSBBDo4uJWT8BSWtTTn0N1E
and http://realini.blogspot.ro/
Detour is
considered to be one of the best films ever made.
It is
included on the TIME Magazine list- that has been updated to contain 20 new
entries- of All- TIME 100 Movies:
Tom Neal is
excellent in the main role, that of Al Roberts.
Ann Savage
is Vera and Claudia Drake plays Sue Harvey.
The story
by Martin Goldsmith is simple but that just helps with the overall effect.
Edgar Ulmer
is the director that has a very good eye and has created some powerful scenes.
The film is
black and white, produced in 1945 with very good lighting that concentrates on
the face of the protagonist in many scenes.
Detour is
included in the ten part documentary that explains so much about the subjects,
stars, studios and so much more:
-
American Cinema
-
There are parts dedicated to: The
Studio System, Film Noir, Western, the Stars and more
If I
remember correctly, the ending of this film had to be changed.
The censors
had a crucial role and they stopped films that did not pass their often
retrograde angle on pictures.
Which
reminds me of a scene in Hitchcock, where the famous director is played by
Anthony Hopkins and has problems avoiding the censorship of Psycho.
Speaking of
Alfred Hitchcock, in a classic book about Hollywood, directors, writers, stars
and the making of films, the famous “film author” is mentioned and appreciated
up to a point and then his regress is explained.
That
mesmerizing book is:
-
Adventures in The Screen Trade by
William Goldman
The author
explains that the concept of “films by an author” is wrong and it is foolish to
attribute all the credit to the director.
There are
at least a few other major players that contribute to the success of a movie:
-
Actors, writers, producers, sometimes
the music composer- Chariots of Fire is mentioned as an example…special
effects- Jaws is relevant…so we cannot talk fairly about a one man show when
the subject is movies
The end of
Detour was not convincing for the censors because it did not seem to have a
moral message.
On the
contrary, it looked somewhat ambiguous and the “moral authority” rejected this
idea- if I have this recollection right.
At the
start of the film, we see Al Roberts in a fast food restaurant and he is really
unhappy and aggressive.
He starts
telling his story and throughout the movie he will be the voice of a narrator
that explains much of what happens.
Al Roberts
was a piano player in love with a singer named Vera and they both played in the
same band on the East Coast.
Even if the
singer loves Al- which is a debatable proposition for true love would require a
different attitude- she has some plans of going away.
Unsatisfied
with the way her singing career is stalling, Vera wants to try a different way
to success of the West Coast.
Al is
against the idea, for he wants to marry the woman he loves and besides, he believes
it is next to impossible to make it in Los Angeles.
Vera is
upset that her lover does not believe in her talent- but he does- and moves
away anyway, without a better perspective to begin with.
After a
while, the hero calls the woman he still loves and declares that he is coming,
by train, bus or “magic carpet”.
Only things
happen on the way and the terrible bad luck that this man has is really startling
and his situation becomes impossible.
I will stop
here to avoid any spoilers.
Since the
copyright has expired, this film can be watched legally here:
Niciun comentariu:
Trimiteți un comentariu