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This is what classic film noir is made of. Darkness, murder, mystery, shadows, and suspense. Orson Welles mastery of camera angles, high and low, the careful use of lighting on his charcters, are in full display. The opening scene gets you already involved in the characters. Orson Welles is superb as Hank Quinlan. Eveyrthing about him is crooked in the way he walks and the way he cocks his head to one side. Marlene Dietrich is mesmerizing to watch. Those eyes and those cheekbones get you in an instant. She has a small role but her portrayal of a gypsy practically jumps out of the screen. The movie keeps you wondering who is going to do what to whom. If there is only one film noir movie to watch, this is it.
From the beginning which starts with a fiery car crash, this film noir classic thunders onto the screen with the grace of a freight train slowly grinding it's way across buckling asphalt and concrete. The heavy atmosphere present in the film is created by the larger-than-life skills of Director and star Orson Welles. Welles plays a corrupt border-town who teeters his way through drug smuggling, murder and kidnapping investigations with little evidence but a strong nose for what he feels is the truth. Throughout the film, Welles' character, Sheriff Hank Quinlan abuses his powers of authority with the command of a well trained boxer in the ring. As the film progresses, Quinlan tumbles into a drunken spree, where he goes on to exact a deadly form of border justice on anyone who gets in his way. Welles is joined by co-star Charlton Heston, who plays the Mexican Detective Mike Vargas. Janet Leigh has a role in the film as well, playing Vargas' newlywed wife. She stays in a border hotel room that's managed by a very young-looking Dennis Hopper. The film is striking not just for it's incredible acting (Orson Welles actually appears to be really getting drunker as he stumbles to the film's final conclusion), but it's cinematography as well. "Touch Of Evil" is be a "must-see" movie for anyone who enjoys suspenseful plots and intriguing character studies. It's release date of 1958 places "Touch Of Evil" at a time when Heston's and Welles' careers were still extremely vital--Don't miss a chance to see these two powerhouses ignite the screen in two very different ways.Read full review
Welles worked wonders with a small budget. However, at times you are reminded of 1950s Universal Sci-Fi films due to the stark qualities of the drab and undecorated sets (all location, but still way under the top), and some rather jarring voice overdubs (found in all later Welles' films). The "recut" version is not that big a difference, save for the opening sequence. Heston is pure ham, of course, but Leigh is quite good. So what makes this such a gem? Welles. Period. It's almost impossible to take your eyes off him. You miss him when he's not in a scene. Like W.C. Fields, he was, when left to his own devices, one of the few film actors that surprised his audience with every line. Always more than needed, perhaps, but never boring. No matter what Jean-Luc and Frankie Truffles had to say, the film is not of genius, but the man was. You will enjoy the ride.Read full review
Considered a film noir classic by most of the scholars of filmography. "Touch of Evil" is a striking example of the genre. It's a raw, violent, crime pot-boiler of a movie. It's worth a look or two but I have to confess that I have never been a Wells movie fan. I thought "Citizen Cane" was a bit boring. I can't give this one a bad mark because it does not deserve one. It's just me.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
This is a very well-made film that is a must-see for Orson Welles fans & film students. It will also appeal if you like Alfred Hitchcock and noir. Janet Leigh, famous for her shower scene in PSYCHO, has another creepy motel experience here. The first half is intentionally confusing; pay close attention so you can follow the double-crossing and framing. Modern viewers may be put off by Charlton Heston playing a Mexican, but the only real problem is his make-up, which is much darker than the many legitimate Mexicans in the cast and thus looks phony.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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