In the 1945 film Detour, a song on a jukebox sparks a memory as our weary protagonist, Al Roberts (Tom Neal), hitchhikes through America and stops at a Nevada diner. There, he hears the love song “I Can’t Believe That You’re in Love with Me” from 1926, which triggers memories that reveal how he ended up there and serves as the film's narrative.
Did you ever want to forget anything? Did you ever want to cut away a piece of your memory or blot it out? You can’t you know. No matter how hard you try. You can change the scenery. But sooner or later you’ll get a whiff of perfume, or somebody will say a certain phrase, or maybe hum something — then you’re licked again! 'I can't believe that you're in love with me.' I used to love that song once. - Detour (1945)
Here are additional instances of jukeboxes featured in Film noir.
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99 River Street (1953)
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A Touch of Evil (1958)
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Fallen Angel (1945)
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The Asphalt Jungle (1950) |
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Pushover (1954) |
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Dark Passage (1947) |
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Sleep, My Love (1948)
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Phantom Lady (1944)
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