Detour

There is a little thing called the Bechdel Test.  Some of you may have heard of it.  But for the sake of those who are unaware of this "feminist" phenomenon, I will break it down.

To pass the Bechdel Test a movie must:
1) have at least two named women in it.
2) who talk to each other
3) about something other than a man.

Pretty simple, right?

It is surprising how many films DO NOT pass this test.  None of the films we have watched so far in the semester have passed this test.  No surprise there.  The Bechdel Test does not show whether or not the movie is good (there are plenty of Lifetime Network movies that pass the test that are TERRIBLE), although this test gives a good starting point for the role of women in the film.

There are two women in Detour that are named (Sue and Vera).  These women are used as important plot devices in the film.  Sue- the goal and Vera- the challenge.  The fact that Al has ditched the body of a dead man, robbed him of his wallet and car, and taken on his identity becomes a side note to the femme fatale.  Vera becomes the horrible person standing in the way of Al and his love.  She is attractive and mysterious and all together bat shit crazy.  Although, it is interesting that she is not a murderer. Just sayin'.

Aside from morals (film noir does a good job of taking care of those), Vera is an under-developed character when compared to Al, which is surprising due to the importance she plays in the film.  Sue is also incredibly undeveloped as well.  She is the beautiful blonde with the commendable ambition of becoming a wonderful actress in Hollywood who ends up working hard to pursue her dreams in a tough town, but stays faithful to her beau all the way across the country through telephone conversations and swoons at the idea of him traveling across the country for her. Awww. Not. There is a moment in the beginning of the movie during the scene where Al and Sue are leaving the Break O' Dawn Club that almost tags Sue as a real character.  Sue begins explaining to Al that she is going to L.A. but it turns into her being sappy about how she will miss him so much but that they'll always be together.  Also, he flat says she has no sense and she's totally cool with that.  Pause. Women (as I'm sure we all know) are capable of emotions... But "its cool, call me senseless."  What woman would ever react like that? Come on... Am I right?

Can't a girl have dreams?

In Detour women are confined to certain archetypes or menial workers that are the butt of men's sexual jokes (Hey sister, meet me outside after your shift... insert winky face here).

But hey, it was the 40's...