The Dark Horse

Philllip Terry is home after spending the war in the Army -- stateside, as he willingly admits. As he heads downtown to get his old job at the hardware store back, he finds himself running for alderman against his will.

Ths amusing but conventional comedy about political machines (represented by Donald MacBride, Allen Jenkins and Ann Savage) is powered by Miss Savage's sardonic line readings, and Terry's principled-fish-out-of-water performance. He reminds me of Dennis O'Keefe who in the previous couple of years had starred in some terrific farces under the direction of Allan Dwan. It also made me think of HAIL THE CONQUERING HERO, but that was written and directed by Preston Sturges. This one is a pleasant programmer, with Jane Darwell and Edward Gargan to round out the cast.

Oddly, Detour did not immediately propel Ann Savage into a host of similar roles. True, she does figure in the opening scenes of a Fox "B", The Spider (1945), but then went into a second-string, if starring role in this deadly dull and determinedly "B"-grade Universal comedy, which she easily steals from its nominal lack-luster lead, Phillip Terry, although she is all but swamped by the movie's focus on ultra-verbose but painfully unfunny Donald MacBride and his almost equally hapless stooge, Allen Jenkins. Thanks to the incompetence of director Will Jason, even the normally reliable Jane Darwell manages an embarrassingly hammy performance, allowing Edward Gargan, of all people, to walk away with the acting honors (such as they are).

If you are simply curious to catch Ann Savage, or actually delight in witless, garrulous cornball "humor", then this Dark Horse is for you. Otherwise, leave it in the dark where it truly belongs.