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Touch Of Evil [1958]


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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

Considered by many to be the greatest B movie ever made, the original-release version of Orson Welles's film noir masterpiece Touch of Evil was, ironically, never intended as a B movie at all--it merely suffered that fate after it was taken away from writer-director Welles, then reedited and released in 1958 as the second half of a double feature. Time and critical acclaim would eventually elevate the film to classic status (and Welles's original vision was meticulously followed for the film's 1998 restoration), but for four decades this original version stood as a testament to Welles's directorial genius. From its astonishing, miraculously choreographed opening shot (lasting over three minutes) to Marlene Dietrich's classic final line of dialogue, this sordid tale of murder and police corruption is like a valentine for the cinematic medium, with Welles as its love-struck suitor. As the corpulent cop who may be involved in a border-town murder, Welles faces opposition from a narcotics officer (Charlton Heston) whose wife (Janet Leigh) is abducted and held as the pawn in a struggle between Heston's quest for truth and Welles's control of carefully hidden secrets. The twisting plot is wildly entertaining (even though it's harder to follow in this original version), but even greater pleasure is found in the pulpy dialogue and the sheer exuberance of the dazzling directorial style. --Jeff Shannon


Grimy and gritty film noir
Review date: 2008-10-11 Rating: 8 out of 10

Mexican narcotics officer Mike Vargas (Charlton Heston) and his bride (Janet Leigh) have just ended their honeymoon in a border town when they become involved in a murder investigation. Also on the case is a veteran American cop (Orson Wells) who has a habit of winning convictions by planting evidence.

How much you like this movie depends on how much you like the film noir genre. This is a typical hard-bitten crime story filmed mostly at night or in deep shadows in shabby locations with terse dialogue and no-nonsense characters. Heston isn't convincing as a Mexican, but he's dynamic and sincere anyway. Janet Leigh had a broken arm for most of the filming and it's fun to see the ways the cast is hidden. As a star, Wells is bloated and repellant and the villain you love to hate; as the director, he's creative and surprising. Dennis Weaver gives a terrific performance as a very nervous motel employee.

Film noir is not my cup of tea, but I can see that this is a complex and well-made movie that many film-lovers would enjoy.

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Reviews


The Greatest Opening Sequence Ever?
Review date: 2008-07-11 Rating: 8 out of 10

Dark, entertaining, messy, but very rewarding. My favourite Welles. Dietrich, Leigh & Heston on top form too. Sweaty, steamy, dark view of human falibility and complicity. But if it's not for you, this is a must see simply for the opening sequence: a complex, perfectly timed, almost balletic tracking shot as we follow a car through a mexican border town. Sit back and marvel at the genius who had the vision and the audicity to pull it off. Here's you money's worth already - regardless of the delights to follow. If you ever wondered what all the fuss was about with Welles, just invest your pennies in this and enjoy a mini masterclass.

Crazy formatting
Review date: 2007-05-14 Rating: 10 out of 10

The people at Universal should be taken out and shot.
They have screwed up a fantastic and beautifully restored masterpiece by cropping it from it's original 4:3 format to 16:9 for some unknown reason on this DVD

Loses Pace in the Middle but the Clash of Heston and Welles Lifts It
Review date: 2006-11-05 Rating: 8 out of 10

Touch of Evil was proably the last great piece of work from Orson Welles before he slipt into the world of food adverts (and food!). While not measuring up to his supreme masterpiece (if you dont know what I mean then move out from that cave you've been living in since birth) it is a very fine film indeed.

Set on the border between Mexico and the USA, a Mexican, anti narcotics offical (Charlton Heston) clashes with a corupt cop (Welles) clash over a crime. All throughout the film is the threat of that terrible evil - marjuana. This does leave the film a little dated, as whatever your own personal view of drugs (and mine is VERY conservative), marjuana just doesn't seem like a drug that would cause mayhem any more. It is during this middle section of the film that that fifth star gets knocked off. The films main strength is in the acting of Welles and Heston who both dominate the screen whenever they appear and when they appear together it is like a clash of the Titans. The final scene is famous and spectacular.

Touch of Evil has enough flaws to put it behind the best films of both of its stars but enough finer points to make it stand out from its era, if it has dated unkindly. A strong, but not incredible film.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Joseph Calleia
Orson Welles
Akim Tamiroff
Charlton Heston
Janet Leigh

Creators:
Charlton Heston (Primary Contributor)
Janet Leigh (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: Universal Pictures UK
Manufacturer: Universal Pictures UK
EAN: 5050582362831
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Black & White, PAL,
Release date: 2006-04-24
Audience rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 105 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1958
Language: English (Original Language)

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