18 Comments
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Brandon's avatar

That scene in the car when he first picks her up - there is a moment when she just snaps her eyes open in a single frame and starts looking at him. Easily one of my favorite moments in noir.

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Carol Saint Martin's avatar

Mine too!!

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tomtom50's avatar

Me too. Amazing performance.

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Nick Richards's avatar

Vera is a piece of work that has to be seen to be believed. I urge anyone who hasn’t seen Detour to do so.

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Carol Saint Martin's avatar

She really is!

It's such a great movie. So underrated, though it has enjoyed a cult classic status for a few decades now.

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tomtom50's avatar

Vera is going to bed, puts her hand on Al's shoulder, and for a millisecond shows something like human need. He turns away, and she instantly re-hardens.

I rewound and watched it twice. Phenomenal acting.

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Gerald Coleman's avatar

Watched this recently with a group of friends. Discussion turned to Vera as a kind on monster, beautiful and ugly at turns. There was an excellent introduction and afterword by Eddie Muller.

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Carol Saint Martin's avatar

That's a great way of putting in!

Love Eddie Muller, btw. I wrote an article for a noir magazine of his, years ago!

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Karl Straub's avatar

Every time i see a still from that film, i can hear her say, “Roberts!”

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Carol Saint Martin's avatar

Haha!

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David Perlmutter's avatar

Ulmer's filmography is extremely diverse and deep. Starting out in Germany at UFA and then coming to America making films which ranged from good-budgeted studio films to barely funded stuff like this one. I doubt his odyssey is matched by too many other directors.

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Carol Saint Martin's avatar

A very impressing career indeed.

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Erik J. Kreffel's avatar

Love DETOUR and enjoyed your take on it.

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Carol Saint Martin's avatar

Thank you! :D

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Mike noonan's avatar

Welcome

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Mike noonan's avatar

Great post Carol. Your love of film noir and this film is definitely sensed in this post.

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Carol Saint Martin's avatar

Thank you! :D

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Mike noonan's avatar

Welcome

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