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1945’s Gritty Noir Thriller Officially Takes Over Free Streaming
The 1945 film noir classic Detour is now available to stream for free on the newly launched platform JustWatch TV, which becomes fully operational this October. This represents a significant opportunity for audiences to experience a film that has endured as a masterclass in resourceful filmmaking despite its minimal budget and production constraints.
The film was directed by Edgar G. Ulmer and shot in just six days on Hollywood's "Poverty Row" during the World War II era. It stars Tom Neal and Anne Savage and follows a down-on-his-luck pianist whose cross-country journey from New York to Los Angeles descends into a deadly web of deception and murder. The film has earned a "Certified Fresh" 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and has been championed by critics including the late Roger Ebert, who praised Ulmer's resourcefulness, and actor Bill Hader, who called its femme fatale "the single most treacherous in movie history."
In short
- Classic 1945 film noir Detour now free on new platform JustWatch TV.
- 98% Rotten Tomatoes score; made in six days on minimal budget.
- Exemplary low-budget filmmaking praised by Ebert and contemporary filmmakers.
Explained simply
Detour is a 1945 film noir, a genre known for its dark, cynical storytelling and shadowy visual style. The film has become regarded as a masterpiece of resourceful filmmaking, shot in just six days on a shoestring budget during the Second World War.
The film follows a down-on-his-luck pianist whose cross-country journey from New York to Los Angeles becomes entangled in deception and murder. Directed by Edgar G. Ulmer and starring Tom Neal and Anne Savage, it captures a man being pulled deeper into dark circumstances.
Detour has been championed by critics for decades and maintains a 98 per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Late film critic Roger Ebert praised Ulmer's resourcefulness, whilst actor Bill Hader has called its femme fatale "the single most treacherous in movie history".