If asked for a quintessential example of film noir I'd point to Detour. Everything in Al Roberts' life hinged on that fateful day he left his job as a cabaret piano player in New York and started thumbing rides to Los Angeles. The Big Apple just hadn't been the same since his girl Sue left for Los Angeles looking for a break in the movies. If you don't know where you're going any road will take you there, wisdom Al learned too late. Hitch-hiking is not a straight line, it's a circuitous route often with detours and not all detours are related to the road. Tom Neal is totally believable as sad sack Al and Ann Savage is perfect in the role of likeable antagonist Vera. Arguably director Edgar G. Ulmer's magnum opus among an interesting portfolio of  films. If you're a fan of film noir, make a beeline to see Detour.