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Product Description
Touch of Evil begins with one of the most brilliant sequences in the history of cinema; and ends with one of the most brilliant final scenes ever committed to celluloid. In between unfurls a picture whose moral, sexual, racial, and aesthetic attitudes remain so radical as to cross borders established not only in 1958, but in the present age also. Yet, Touch of Evil has taken many forms. The film as released in 1958 was certainly compromised from Orson Welles' vision, but a brilliant and lengthy memo written by Welles to studio heads in 1957 - taking issue with a studio rough-cut had some influence on a subsequent preview version shown to test audiences (and rediscovered in the mid-1970s) as well as the 1958 theatrical version. Forty years later, in 1998, Universal produced a reconstructed version of the film that takes into meticulous account the totality of Welles' memo, and ostensibly represents the version of the film that most closely adheres to his original wishes.
Charlton Heston portrays Mike Vargas, the Mexican chief of narcotics who sets out to uncover the facts surrounding a car bomb that has killed a wealthy American businessman on the US side of the border. As Vargas investigates, his newly-wed wife Susie (Janet Leigh, two years before Hitchcock's Psycho) is kidnapped by a gang out to exact vengeance for the prosecution of the brother of their leader (Akim Tamiroff). Meanwhile, Vargas' enquiries become progressively more obfuscated by the American cop Hank Quinlan (played by Welles himself, in one of the most imposing and unforgettable screen performances of his career), a besotted incarnation of corruption who alternately conspires with Susie's captors and seeks solace in the brothel of the Gypsy madame (Marlene Dietrich) who comforted him in bygone times.
Welles' final studio-system picture has at last become secure in its status as one of the greatest films ever made. It remains a testament to the genius of Welles - a film of Shakespearean richness, inexhaustible.
LIMITED EDITION 2 x BLU-RAY ONLY
Charlton Heston portrays Mike Vargas, the Mexican chief of narcotics who sets out to uncover the facts surrounding a car bomb that has killed a wealthy American businessman on the US side of the border. As Vargas investigates, his newly-wed wife Susie (Janet Leigh, two years before Hitchcock's Psycho) is kidnapped by a gang out to exact vengeance for the prosecution of the brother of their leader (Akim Tamiroff). Meanwhile, Vargas' enquiries become progressively more obfuscated by the American cop Hank Quinlan (played by Welles himself, in one of the most imposing and unforgettable screen performances of his career), a besotted incarnation of corruption who alternately conspires with Susie's captors and seeks solace in the brothel of the Gypsy madame (Marlene Dietrich) who comforted him in bygone times.
Welles' final studio-system picture has at last become secure in its status as one of the greatest films ever made. It remains a testament to the genius of Welles - a film of Shakespearean richness, inexhaustible.
LIMITED EDITION 2 x BLU-RAY ONLY
- New high-definition masters of five variants of the film: the 1958 Theatrical Version in both 1.37:1 and 1.85:1, the 1958 Preview Version in 1.85:1, and the 1998 Reconstructed Version in 1.37:1 and 1.85:1
- O4 x audio commentaries, featuring: restoration producer Rick Schmidlin; actors Charlton Heston & Janet Leigh, with Schmidlin; critic F. X. Feeney; and Welles scholars James Naremore & Jonathan Rosenbaum
- The original theatrical trailer, which includes alternate footage
- Bringing Evil to Life + Evil Lost and Found two video pieces [21:00 + 18:00]
- Optional English SDH subtitles on all versions of the film
- A 56-page booklet featuring essays by Orson Welles, François Truffaut, André Bazin, and Terry Comito; interview excerpts with Welles; a timeline of the film s history; and extensive notes on the film s versions and ratios
Product Description
United Kingdom released, Blu-Ray/Region B DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), English ( Dolby DTS-HD Master Audio ), English ( Subtitles ), SPECIAL FEATURES: 2-DVD Set, Alternative Footage, Black & White, Booklet, Commentary, Interactive Menu, Remastered, Scene Access, Trailer(s), SYNOPSIS: Mexico's chief narcotics officer, Mike Vargas, is in a border town on a quick honeymoon with his American wife. Soon he must testify against Grandi, a drug lord whose brother and sons are tracking him, hoping to scare his wife and back him off the case. When a car bomb kills a rich U.S. developer, Vargas embroils himself in the investigation, putting his wife in harm's way. After Vargas catches local legendary U.S. cop, Hank Quinlan, planting evidence against a Mexican national suspected in the bombing, Quinlan joins forces with the Grandi family to impugn Vargas's character. Local political lackeys, a hard-edged whore, pachucos, and a nervous motel clerk also figure in the plot. Three versions of Welles' film: the 1998 reconstruction (in both 1.37:1 and 1.85:1 aspect ratios) the 1958 preview version rediscovered in the mid-1970s (in 1.85:1) and the 1958 theatrical version (in both 1.37:1 and 1.85:1). Original theatrical trailer for the film A host of other extras to be announced nearer the release date A lavish, illustrated, 56-page book containing the words of Orson Welles - and much more. ...Touch of Evil - 2-Disc Set (Blu-Ray)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase
Unlike my predecessor, I am just thankful for this presentation. Nothing released previously is able to compare.
Of course, the aspect ratio PQ will be discussed until the end of days but - wth - you can choose.
I also prefer the 4:3 presentation but especially the sound is in my opinion very, very good.
Just watch the opening scene and be sure, that Welles would have chosen a HD-7.1 presentation if that would have been possible in 1958.
A masterpiece + a perfect blu ray release, considering PQ, SQ and the good stuff.
Of course, the aspect ratio PQ will be discussed until the end of days but - wth - you can choose.
I also prefer the 4:3 presentation but especially the sound is in my opinion very, very good.
Just watch the opening scene and be sure, that Welles would have chosen a HD-7.1 presentation if that would have been possible in 1958.
A masterpiece + a perfect blu ray release, considering PQ, SQ and the good stuff.
14 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase
Gotta say I am glad to see this classic in HD. All THREE versions (five, if you count the different aspect ratios) have finally seen the blu ray format. Was excited watching these, but was a bit let down by the high contrast in the picture. The grays look almost white! Some shadow detail, but not much. The Universal Anniversary DVD had a much "darker" picture that really made this film noir classic look good. The detail on the blu rays are really good (looks like very little DNR was used), but the image doesn't "Wow" me like some other blu rays of films from the '50s. Although watching the full-frame versions, the image looked better. In this case, smaller the picture...the better.
The prints are seriously clean from scratches and dirt. Each version is from different sources, of course.
The theatrical cut is presented in your choice of 1.37 or 1.85 aspect ratio. The same with the 1998 restored version (which looks best in 1.37 ratio). The preview version is presented only in 1.85. The hefty booklet that comes with it explains about the different aspect ratios. I love widescreen movies, but these work better in the square format without the top and bottom being masked off. It's your choice.
I just wished they would have given us different options for the audio. I am a firm believer that mono needs to be confined to the center channel speaker in a surround sound set up. The only option for English is 2 channel and it is spread wide across the front speakers where, to me, becomes annoying.
The special features seem to be retreads from different prior DVD releases (at least the Universal ones here in the states) but are still exciting to watch along with this exciting masterpiece.
This is the best, so far, this classic has looked because of the 1080p resolution (DVD will never compare to blu ray). Just wished it was darker and looked more film noirish.
All in all, get this "limited edition" on blu ray! And fall in love with this classic all over again.
Eureka did wonders with this masterpiece!
The prints are seriously clean from scratches and dirt. Each version is from different sources, of course.
The theatrical cut is presented in your choice of 1.37 or 1.85 aspect ratio. The same with the 1998 restored version (which looks best in 1.37 ratio). The preview version is presented only in 1.85. The hefty booklet that comes with it explains about the different aspect ratios. I love widescreen movies, but these work better in the square format without the top and bottom being masked off. It's your choice.
I just wished they would have given us different options for the audio. I am a firm believer that mono needs to be confined to the center channel speaker in a surround sound set up. The only option for English is 2 channel and it is spread wide across the front speakers where, to me, becomes annoying.
The special features seem to be retreads from different prior DVD releases (at least the Universal ones here in the states) but are still exciting to watch along with this exciting masterpiece.
This is the best, so far, this classic has looked because of the 1080p resolution (DVD will never compare to blu ray). Just wished it was darker and looked more film noirish.
All in all, get this "limited edition" on blu ray! And fall in love with this classic all over again.
Eureka did wonders with this masterpiece!
20 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray
I had never heard of this title when it popped up on the DVD review site I peruse but after a quick read of what exactly I was seeing I was pretty sure I wanted to see it.
Written, directed by and co-starring Orson Welles (no introduction needed), starring a bizzarely made up to be Mexican Charlton Heston (before Ben Hur) and Janet Leigh (before Psycho) this is more Hitchcock than Hitchcock!!! A cracking film noir, just at the end of the great noir period apparently, the movie opens with a dizzyingly complicated 3 plus minutes tracking shot and ends with a delicious twist in its dark tail.
Its a story of two distinct branches of Law Enforcement dealing with, broadly, cross cultural hatred, terrorism, narcotics, murder, double crossing and intrigue. Wonderfully shot the tale unravels imaginatively under the direction of Welles, who apparently encouraged his co stars to help with dialogue and scripting.
In 1958 the finished film was roughly edited by Welles, who was very happy with the result, but destroyed later by studio execs who thought it better to tamper with the work of a film making genius. Only 50 years later do we now get to see the film as close as possible to how the great man intended it. And it looks great.
With great performances from all the players, especially Welles as tough talking detective Hank Quinlan, a moody atmosphere and a typically unsettling score the film ticks all the boxes and deserves the status of a noir classic.
Also, kudos must go, as always, to the Eureka Masters Of Cinema series as this blu ray edition is simply fantastic. 5 versions of the movie in their proper aspect ratio, 4 commentaries, 2 worthwhile featurettes and an extemely insightful book. Top class.
Written, directed by and co-starring Orson Welles (no introduction needed), starring a bizzarely made up to be Mexican Charlton Heston (before Ben Hur) and Janet Leigh (before Psycho) this is more Hitchcock than Hitchcock!!! A cracking film noir, just at the end of the great noir period apparently, the movie opens with a dizzyingly complicated 3 plus minutes tracking shot and ends with a delicious twist in its dark tail.
Its a story of two distinct branches of Law Enforcement dealing with, broadly, cross cultural hatred, terrorism, narcotics, murder, double crossing and intrigue. Wonderfully shot the tale unravels imaginatively under the direction of Welles, who apparently encouraged his co stars to help with dialogue and scripting.
In 1958 the finished film was roughly edited by Welles, who was very happy with the result, but destroyed later by studio execs who thought it better to tamper with the work of a film making genius. Only 50 years later do we now get to see the film as close as possible to how the great man intended it. And it looks great.
With great performances from all the players, especially Welles as tough talking detective Hank Quinlan, a moody atmosphere and a typically unsettling score the film ticks all the boxes and deserves the status of a noir classic.
Also, kudos must go, as always, to the Eureka Masters Of Cinema series as this blu ray edition is simply fantastic. 5 versions of the movie in their proper aspect ratio, 4 commentaries, 2 worthwhile featurettes and an extemely insightful book. Top class.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Interesting!
Although the plethora of "versions" on this disc may seem a little "over the top" for anyone apart from total devotees, at least we have a decent - if not spectacular - print of... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Adrian Drew
Touch Of Evil On Blu-ray
Touch Of Evil is one of the most haunting and memorable movies ever made. Although spurned by the "intelligentsia" when first released, it was soon recognised by the great unwashed... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Robin
The Most Supreme 'Film Noir' Gets Excellent Treatment for Blu-ray
The work of Orson Welles often gives rise to debate and heated argument (dating back to production, when there was a ferocious scrap between Welles and his financing studio over... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Mr. Laurence Williams
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