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Rating of
4/4
Touch of Evil (restored orig. version) review
Daniel Corleone - wrote on 11/03/2012
The opening sequence alone will keep you glued all throughout while admiring the technical skills of Welles. One of the pioneer thrillers/film noir may come off slow in the beginning and shows some elements that are dated, its influence and impact however is legendary. Newlyweds Miguel "Mike" Vargas (Charlton Heston) and Susie (Janet Leigh), together with Police Chief Pete Gould (Harry Shannon), District Attorney Adair (Ray Collins), police Captain Hank Quinlan (Orson Welles) and Quinlan's longtime partner, Pete Menzies (Joseph Calleia) become involved with a car explosion from a planted bomb.
One of the best soundtracks of its genre with a solid cast, and from the director's efforts. Direction, cinematography and pace were fabulous as always, makes you feel part of the movie. …
Rating of
4/4
"What does it matter what you say about people?"
Arbogast1960 - wrote on 03/27/2008
Considering that it had to be pieced together based upon a Welles memo after Universal chopped it up--and that it contains the seemingly laughable sight of Charlton Heston portraying a Mexican--it's astonishing that this film is even watchable. But it's much more than that. The opening is justly revered, with it's long dolly shot from a henchman's bomb planting through the nightlife of a border town to an exploding car. The performances are marvelous (including Welles, not always the most reliable of actors; Heston, whose bombast works in his favor as the righteous police officer; Leigh, as Heston's frightened but strong wife; and Marlene Dietrich as an enigmatic madam). As usual, Welles' camerawork is wonderful: great canted angles (especially the low angles of his monstrous …
