Touch of Evil

Touch of Evil
Name	Touch of Evil
Director	Orson Welles
Producer	Albert Zugsmith
Writer	Orson Welles, Whit Masterson
Starring	Charlton Heston, Orson Welles, Janet Leigh, Joseph Calleia, Akim Tamiroff
Music	Henry Mancini
Cinematography	Russell Metty
Editing	Aaron Stell, Virgil Vogel
Studio	Universal Pictures
Released	1958

Touch of Evil is a 1958 American film noir directed by Orson Welles, based on the novel Badge of Evil by Whit Masterson. The film stars Charlton Heston as Mike Vargas, a Mexican narcotics officer, and Orson Welles as Hank Quinlan, a corrupt police detective. The movie also features Janet Leigh as Susie Vargas, Joseph Calleia as Pete Menzies, and Akim Tamiroff as Uncle Joe Grandi. The film's score was composed by Henry Mancini, and the cinematography was handled by Russell Metty, who had previously worked with Orson Welles on The Lady from Shanghai.

Plot

The film's plot revolves around the investigation of a car bombing that occurs on the US-Mexico border, near the city of Los Robles. Mike Vargas, a Mexican narcotics officer, teams up with Hank Quinlan, a corrupt police detective from the Los Robles Police Department, to solve the case. As the investigation unfolds, Vargas discovers that Quinlan is involved in a web of corruption and crime, and that he is being aided by Uncle Joe Grandi, a local crime lord. The film's plot is complex and features a non-linear narrative, with multiple twists and turns, similar to other film noir classics like The Big Sleep and The Maltese Falcon. The movie also explores themes of corruption, power, and morality, which are common in the works of Orson Welles, such as Citizen Kane and The Magnificent Ambersons.

Production

The production of the film was marked by controversy and tension between Orson Welles and the studio, Universal Pictures. Welles had been hired to act in the film, but he eventually took over as director, bringing his own unique vision to the project. The film's script was written by Orson Welles and Whit Masterson, based on the novel Badge of Evil. The movie was shot on location in Venice, California, and Los Angeles, with a budget of $900,000. The film's cinematography was handled by Russell Metty, who used a combination of low-angle shots and high-contrast lighting to create a distinctive visual style, similar to the works of Fritz Lang and Billy Wilder. The film's score was composed by Henry Mancini, who had previously worked on The Glenn Miller Story and The Man with the Golden Arm.

Cast

The cast of the film includes Charlton Heston as Mike Vargas, Orson Welles as Hank Quinlan, Janet Leigh as Susie Vargas, Joseph Calleia as Pete Menzies, and Akim Tamiroff as Uncle Joe Grandi. The film also features Marlene Dietrich as Tana, a gypsy fortune teller, and Zsa Zsa Gabor as Marcia Linne, a nightclub owner. The cast is diverse and talented, with many of the actors going on to have successful careers in Hollywood, including Charlton Heston, who appeared in Ben-Hur and The Ten Commandments, and Janet Leigh, who appeared in Psycho and The Manchurian Candidate.

Reception

The film received mixed reviews upon its initial release, with some critics praising its unique visual style and complex plot, while others found it confusing and difficult to follow. The film was not a commercial success, and it was eventually re-edited by the studio, Universal Pictures, without Orson Welles' input. Despite this, the film has developed a cult following over the years, and it is now widely regarded as a classic of the film noir genre, alongside other films like Double Indemnity and The Big Sleep. The film has been praised by critics such as Roger Ebert and Pauline Kael, who have noted its influence on later film noir classics like Chinatown and L.A. Confidential.

Themes

The film explores a number of themes, including corruption, power, and morality. The character of Hank Quinlan is a classic example of a corrupt police detective, who uses his power to exploit and manipulate those around him. The film also explores the theme of racism, particularly in the character of Mike Vargas, who is a Mexican narcotics officer working in the United States. The film's use of mise-en-scène and cinematography also adds to its themes, creating a sense of tension and unease that permeates the entire film, similar to the works of Alfred Hitchcock and Stanley Kubrick. The film's themes are also reflected in the works of other film noir directors, such as Fritz Lang and Billy Wilder.

Legacy

The film's legacy is significant, and it has influenced a number of other film noir classics, including Chinatown and L.A. Confidential. The film's use of non-linear narrative and complex plot has also influenced a number of other films, including The Usual Suspects and Memento. The film has been recognized as a classic by the Library of Congress, and it has been selected for preservation in the National Film Registry. The film's influence can also be seen in the works of other directors, such as Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola, who have cited Orson Welles as a major influence. The film's legacy is a testament to the enduring power of film noir, and its ability to continue to influence and inspire filmmakers to this day, including Quentin Tarantino and The Coen brothers.

Category:Film noir