DETOUR

Goldsmith's novel inspired one of the greatest low-budget noir films ever--also titled DETOUR (1945). Narrator Mike Dennis splendidly captures the period lingo, such as: "swell," "feed bag"(to eat), and "shake a leg." When violinist Alex Roth, who's hitchhiking to LA to meet up with his girlfriend, is picked up by wealthy Charles Haskell, Roth feels his luck has finally changed. Dennis makes both men sound brooding; he gives Haskell a threatening edge while Roth sounds as down-and-out as his situation. Since the new friends share an uncanny resemblance, the potential for a double cross adds to the menacing atmosphere, which Dennis effectively plays up. The sudden and ambiguous conclusion will leave listeners reeling! S.G.B. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2015]