Review of “Touch of Evil”

Movie Title:
Touch of Evil

Year: 1958

Writers:
Screenplay by Orson Welles
Based on a novel by "Whit Masterson" (the writing team, Robert Allison Wade and H. Bill Miller)

Lead Actors:
Charlton Heston
Janet Leigh
Orson Welles

Director:
Orson Welles

Plot Summary:

A stark, perverse story of murder, kidnapping, and police corruption in a Mexican border town.

Why I Think This Is A Classic 50s Movie:

Strong acting, outstanding direction, and precise camera work to elevate the tension, mark this film as one of the best films in the 1950s. Moreover, “Touch of Evil” is regarded as one of Welles' strongest films.

The movie has been studied extensively by film scholars, some who have
even called it the last of the great film noirs. Indeed, in addition
to many scholarly papers, there is an entire book only about this
movie: Terry Comito (ed.), “Touch of Evil, Orson Welles, director.”

Though the studio interfered with Welles' original editing, there is
now a version in which Welles' edits are restored by the renown editor
Walter Murch, based on Welles' 58 page memo.

The talented cast&crew is another reason why this is a great movie:

Welles has been voted the greatest film director of all time in numerous polls of industry professionals.

Charlton Heston (as the portag), Janet Leigh, and Orson Welles (as the antag) turn in strong performances.

The cinematographer Russell Metty won an Academy Award for Spartacus (1960).

My Favorite Moment In The Movie:

The very carefully scene of Quinlan (Welles) strangling Grandi (Tamiroff) in the hotel room with Susie Vargas (Leigh) in bed, drugged, is one of my favorites. The lighting and camera work are exceptional, adding to the intrigue and suspense.

My Favorite Dialogue In the Movie:

Janet Leigh has a lot of compelling dialog. For example, Grandi and
his henchman Pancho have lured Susie into his office
with an excuse that he has a message for her husband, Vargas. After a
long tense discussion with veiled threats, there is this:

SUSAN
Mr Grandi! You said you had something for my husband ... Don't
you think it's time you gave it to me?
GRANDI
I think it's time he goes back to Mexico City. That's advice. That's
what I got for him!
PANCHO
Shush --
GRANDI
Good night, Mrs Vargas.
SUSAN
Then the conference is over?
GRANDI
Eh?
SUSAN
I'm free to leave?
GRANDI
Free? Who said you weren't free? Nobody was holding you or keeping you
here, Mrs Vargas. Nobody's even laid a hand on you ... you were just
payin' a visit.


The final scene between Quinlan and Vargas is excellent:

VARGAS
Well, Captain, I'm afraid this is finally something you can't talk your way out of.
QUINLAN
 ...you killed him, Vargas.
VARGAS
Come on, now. Give me my gun back.
QUINLAN
 ...you killed Pete. The bullet is from your gun.
VARGAS
You think anyone would believe that?
QUINLAN
They always believe me. Anyway, they'll never believe I killed him.
VARGAS
The gun?
QUINLAN
You're resisting arrest.
VARGAS
How could you arrest me here? This is my country.
QUINLAN
This is where you're gonna die.



Key Things You Should Look For When Watching This Movie


The film opens with a 3:20 long tracking shot, one of the greatest long takes in cinema history.
Here it is on youtube:

This review was done in the style of the GITS series "Classic movies of the 1950s", but never appeared.