''Detour'' is a 1939 novel by
Martin M. Goldsmith. The author adapted his novel into the noted 1945
film noir
Film noir (; ) is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and motivations. The 1940s and 1950s are generally regarded as the "classic period" of American ' ...
of the
same name.
The book, subtitled ''An Extraordinary Tale'', was published by the Macaulay Company. Its plot is similar to the movie to which it was later adapted, except that the main character's name was changed from "Alexander Roth" to "Al Roberts," and erotic passages were removed.
The novel ends with much the same fatalistic line used in the movie: "God or Fate or some mysterious force can put the finger on you or on me for no good reason at all." In the film version of the novel, the reference to God is removed.
The film ''Detour'' has achieved considerable acclaim as a defining movie of the film noir era, despite its low budget. However, the novel, long out of print, did not have the same fate.
1939 American novels
American crime novels
American novels adapted into films
{{1930s-crime-novel-stub