Past Film/Video | Series & Festivals

Detour

(Edgar G. Ulmer, 1945)
Introduced by John Polito, Founder and Chief Engineer, Audio Mechanics

A woman in a black blouse stands next to a man in a wide-brimmed hat

One of the greatest examples of film noir, the low-budget Detour follows a hard-edged piano player (Tom Neal) who plans to hitchhike from New York to Los Angeles to reunite with his girlfriend. In Arizona, he grabs a ride with a gambler, setting in motion a nightmarish series of events that leads him to Vera (Ann Savage), the femme fatale to end all femme fatales. Prior to the screening, John Polito will present the intriguing story behind the complex restoration of Detour’s sound. (67 mins., 2K DCP)

More about the expert

John Polito is the founder and chief engineer of Audio Mechanics. Since 1991, the company has been one of the most sought-after providers of audio design, preservation, restoration, and enhancement services for film studios, music labels, and archives. He’s supervised the sound restoration for such films as Alfred Hitchcock’s Rebecca (1940), George Romero’s Night of the Living Dead (1968), and Ridley Scott’s Alien (1979), among many others.

A woman in a black blouse stands next to a man in a wide-brimmed hat

Detour, image courtesy of Janus Films

Two men in tuxedos stand in the doorway of a mansion

Detour, image courtesy of Janus Films

A man in a suit and hats stands unhappily next to a woman in a white sweater

Detour, image courtesy of Janus Films

Restored by Academy Film Archive and The Film Foundation in collaboration with Cinémathèque Royale de Belgique; The Museum of Modern Art, New York; and Cinémathèque Française. With the support of George Lucas Family Foundation.

SEASON SUPPORT FOR FILM/VIDEO
Rohauer Collection Foundation

SUPPORT FOR THE FILM/VIDEO STUDIO PROGRAM
Institute of Museum and Library Services
National Endowment for the Arts

GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR THE WEXNER CENTER
Greater Columbus Arts Council
Ohio Arts Council
The Columbus Foundation
Nationwide Foundation 

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Past Film/Video

Detour