Touch of Evil

directed by Orson Welles
Category: "Suspense"
Year of Release:1958
Date Added:10/19/2024
Date Watched:10/19/2024
Description:Mike Vargas (Charlton Heston) is a Mexican policeman on his honeymoon in a border town with his American bride Susan (Janet Leigh). After his honeymoon, Vargas is due to prosecute a member of the drug-dealing Grandi family. When a wealthy American is blown up in his car on the border, Mike gets involved in the investigation with American captain Hank Quinlan (Orson Welles). Quinlan decides the murderer is the man's son-in-law and soon produces evidence to prove it. But Vargas knows Quinlan planted the evidence and sets out to prove it. Quinlan, worried about his reputation, works with Joe Grandi to get back at Vargas. They trap Susan in her hotel and shoot her up with some drug. Then Quinlan kills Grandi and frames Susan for the murder. Quinlan's partner, Menzies, reluctantly decides to work with Vargas to clear Susan and find evidence against Quinlan. He mics up and talks Quinlan into a confession. Quinlan kills him with Vargas' gun, and is about to kill Vargas for resisting arrest when Menzies, just before he dies, kills Quinlan. There's enough on the tape to clear Vargas and Susan and prove Quinlan (now dead) was guilty.
My Rating:5

Reviews for Touch of Evil

Review - Touch of Evil

Typical Welles, complete with bizarre camera angles, weird lighting, and characters talking over each other. It's all supposed to be artistic and brilliant, but it's often just annoying — an it hides the fact that the movie itself made little sense. Susan was in peril throughout the movie but seemed to be totally unaware of it — constantly putting herself in dangerous situations and dressing provocatively while she did it. Vargas seemed much more concerned about proving Quinlan was corrupt than he was with protecting his new bride — on their honeymoon no less. Other official characters wandered in and out of the movie with no explanation of who they were or why they were there. Marlene Dietrich played a madame who cared for Quinlan even though he was an ugly, dirty, fat, corrupt, drunk slob. The whole thing was a trip through Orson Welle's ego, and it wasn't very good.

Reviewed by Roger on 2024-10-19 11:57:08

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