Haven't seen Detour or Badlands or Lost in America? You'll soon be able to catch up on these and other classic road movies. Each Friday night this November, TCM is showing great road movies — hosted by Bill Hader — part of its "Friday Night Spotlight" feature.
While film critics may not consider road movies a separate genre (every genre has its own kind of road movie, from the violent Kalifornia to the slapstick comedy, It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World), they do consider them a uniquely American cinematic invention, even if ancient Greece holds the title to the first road narrative.
Road movie narratives lure audiences with the most base of desires — the freedom of movement, the temptations of escape and discovery — and then ratchet up the drama (or comedy) with the perils of rootlessness. Does the road lead to enlightenment, tragedy or nothingness? Maybe all three? What's your favorite road film of all time?
TCM's road movies start this Friday 11/7 at 8:00 pm EST.