This is a little-seen film noir that doesn't quite live up to its hype but comes pretty damn close.Starring that quintessential bad guy, Lawrence Tierney (who was a bad guy in his personal life as well which eventually sank his career)this film is truly deranged. Tierney goes on a killing spree and ties up with an innocent and very gullible salesman, played by Ted North, whoever he was. They go careening up the California coast, picking up a couple of hitchhiking girls on the way and end up in a beach house where they hide from the police. Some more killing takes place and then it ends. Doesn't sound like much, does it? But what makes it a part of noir history is the chilling performance of Tierney. He may have been the toughest looking, meanest guy in B-movie history and he plays it to the hilt. He is the reason to search out this film.

By all accounts, Lawrence Tierney was one mean customer. He got his break in Hollywood playing the titular gangster in 'Dillinger (1945),' and its success saw him typecast as the ultimate bad-guy. In Felix Feist's 'The Devil Thumbs a Ride (1947),' Tierney gives a powerhouse performance as Steve Morgan, a scheming fugitive who hitches a ride with law-abiding salesman Jimmy Ferguson (Ted North). As a short, sharp low-budget thriller, the film has plenty to recommend, any weaknesses early on compensated for by a mounting air of tension that you could cut with a knife. Steve Morgan is a riveting character from the moment he appears on screen. For one, he's not afraid to speak his mind, even insulting the appearance of the gas station attendant's (Glen Vernon) baby daughter. When Morgan propositions a virginal runaway (Nan Leslie), his flattering advances sound more like threats than complements. Only fellow hitchhiker Agnes Smith (Betty Lawford) can rival his hardness, a callous tramp looking out for herself. Given the B-movie budget, the other performances as about as good as one could expect. Ted North is almost too amiable as the main character, constantly appearing smitten by the mere thought of his pretty wife. Betty Lawford is good, playing her role precisely as Claire Trevor might have – incidentally, Tierney would co-star with Trevor that same year in 'Born to Kill (1947).' Harry Shannon's San Diego police chief inhabits the quaint universe of B-movie law enforcement, playing poker between phonecalls and recruiting an enthusiastic boy-scout gas station attendant to come along for the ride. These idiosyncracies come with the territory, I suppose – very few low-budget noirs are without the occasional weak performance or dubious plot turn. More damning is that Steve Morgan is denied an ending that befits his mighty presence, the film cutting to the next scene without allowing his fate to sink in. At least the meagre finances allow greater freedom for risk-taking: certainly, no big-budget studio picture would have delegated the young, innocent beauty to lie face-down in a lagoon.

The Devil Thumbs a Ride is basically just your classic 40's B-movie; it's cheap and there are a lot of things wrong with it, but it's also fast moving and very entertaining, which makes it very easy to forgive all the flaws and just sit back and enjoy the film. It soon becomes clear that the film was made with little budget as it looks very cheap and most of the acting is terrible; but we launch straight into the plot with minimum hanging around and the fact that the film is only an hour long means that there's no filler and the film sticks to the important stuff. The film focuses on a straight up but very naive guy who calls himself Fergie. Fergie is on his way home from a party, and makes a regrettable decision when he decides to pick up a hitchhiker in the form of Steve Morgan. Steve Morgan is a thief turned murderer and on the run from the cops. The pair stops at a gas station where they pick up a couple of broads, but not before Steve manages to insult the plucky young gas station attendant. The quartet continue their trip, and Steve soon realises he has to take steps to conceal his identity.The hitchhiker theme would go on to become one of the staples of the horror/thriller genre with films like The Hitcher being the best of them. I don't know the entire history of the genre; but this film is surely one of the earliest examples. The film does have its fair share of problems, however. The script is at times ridiculous and the plot would have completely fallen apart if three of the central characters had more than a single brain cell between them. The comedy elements are also extremely misplaced in such a dark film (although I guess they are there to relieve the audience somewhat as there weren't a great deal of films darker than this one around in 1947!). I know the thing I'll remember about this film longer than anything else is the central performance from Lawrence Tierney, who is excellent in the lead role. He cuts a truly imposing figure and really does put his supporting cast to shame; in particular Ted North who doesn't manage to convince at all, particularly during his shouting scenes. Still, problems aside; this is a thrilling and very entertaining little thriller that kept my interest for the duration (even if it was only an hour) and even manages a couple of well worked twists at the end. Check this one out if you can!

Ironic, given that TCM's print of "Detour" looks and sounds so awful it borders on unwatchable, this little film plays with crystal clear sound and a perfect picture.While "Devil" does not really approach the genius of "Detour", it is a very engaging story and a fun hour of film. The hitch-hiker is disturbingly without conscience, and his ability to manipulate the actions of both the driver and the other passengers display a rather keen understanding of the sociopathic personality. Just how different life was in the 1940's is immediately made clear by those two dames that get picked up early in the film (this is so unlikely in 21st America that no self-respecting film-maker would ask you to believe it).The pace is taunt, which I like, and there are a few real surprises along the way. Our story is marred only (and BADLY) by a very stupid slapped on ending that may have gotten a chuckle out of contemporary audiences, but will surely illicit only groans from the modern viewer. Still worthwhile, enjoy the ride and don't pick up any strangers!