Monday, 30 June 2008:

Film / video presentation, option 1: film listed in classic and contemporary films that qualify as tragedies: Jarrod Goergen

Summary

The movie Detour was directed by Edgar. G. Ulmer and was released in 1945.

The movie follows a man named Al Roberts throughout his journey across the United States. After his girlfriend decides to move from New York to Hollywood to try her luck in the film and show business, Mr. Roberts decides he can no longer bear to be away from her and travels across the country to join her in Hollywood. However, he has to hitchhike since he has no car and barely has any money.

After having much trouble finding people who are willing to pick him up, he finally does get picked up by a man named Mr. Haskell, but this man mysteriously dies in the car while Mr. Roberts is driving. Mr. Roberts then dumps the body and takes the car and continues his journey. Later on down the road, he picks up a woman named Vera, who is a highly important person in the downfall of Mr. Roberts. Since she rode with Mr. Haskell earlier, she knows that the car is not Mr. Roberts’ and accuses him of murdering Mr. Haskell even though he did not really kill Mr. Haskell.

In order to stay out of trouble, Mr. Roberts does what she says, and becomes her prisoner in a way because she threatens to turn him in to the police if he does not do what she says.

He later kills her accidentally in a hotel room by strangling her with a phone cord, and after being on the run for a short time is arrested by the police.

Things to look for in the film clips

-The “Tragic Downfall” of Mr. Roberts

-The phenomenon of being trapped within one’s fate; inescapability from tragic events

-The suppression of spectacle

Questions

-Was it possible at any time for Mr. Roberts to escape his fate?

-How important is Vera in the “Tragic Downfall” of Mr. Roberts? Does she resemble any of the other women we have seen in other works so far? If so, who?

-Are there any other characteristics of Tragedy present in the film clips?

Dr. White's film noir terminology:

"Femme Fatale"

What impact on male characterization?