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Touch of Evil (1958) (Masters of Cinema) [Blu-ray]

Charlton Heston , Janet Leigh , Orson Welles    Suitable for 12 years and over   Blu-ray
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
Price: £12.75 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
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Frequently Bought Together

Touch of Evil (1958) (Masters of Cinema) [Blu-ray] + Double Indemnity [Masters of Cinema] (Ltd Edition Blu-ray Steelbook) [1944] + Lifeboat [Masters of Cinema] (Ltd Edition Dual Format Steelbook) [Blu-ray] [1944]
Price For All Three: £36.73

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Product details

  • Actors: Charlton Heston, Janet Leigh, Marlene Dietrich, Orson Welles
  • Directors: Orson Welles
  • Format: Blu-ray
  • Language: English
  • Subtitles: English
  • Region: Region B/2 (Read more about DVD/Blu-ray formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9 - 1.85:1
  • Number of discs: 2
  • Classification: 12
  • Studio: Eureka Entertainment
  • DVD Release Date: 14 Nov 2011
  • Run Time: 111 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B005DDIUYM
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 5,371 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)

Reviews

From Amazon.co.uk

Considered by many to be the greatest B movie ever made, the original-release version of Orson Welles' film noir masterpiece Touch of Evil was, ironically, never intended as a B movie at all--it merely suffered that fate after it was taken away from writer-director Welles, then reedited and released in 1958 as the second half of a double feature. Time and critical acclaim would eventually elevate the film to classic status (and Welles' original vision was meticulously followed for the film's 1998 restoration), but for four decades this original version stood as a testament to Welles' directorial genius. From its astonishing, miraculously choreographed opening shot (lasting over three minutes) to Marlene Dietrich's classic final line of dialogue, this sordid tale of murder and police corruption is like a valentine for the cinematic medium, with Welles as its love-struck suitor. As the corpulent cop who may be involved in a border-town murder, Welles faces opposition from a narcotics officer (Charlton Heston) whose wife (Janet Leigh) is abducted and held as the pawn in a struggle between Heston's quest for truth and Welles' control of carefully hidden secrets. The twisting plot is wildly entertaining (even though it's harder to follow in this original version), but even greater pleasure is found in the pulpy dialogue and the sheer exuberance of the dazzling directorial style. --Jeff Shannon

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)


Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars "He was a good detective, and a lousy cop" 11 Nov 2003
Format:DVD
The greatest "B movie" of all time.

What started out as a contractual obligation of Orson Welles grew into the creation of a finely directed and competently acted masterpiece of cinema history. Adapted from the book "Badge of Evil" this is a story of police corruption along the Mexican border. This film has everything! The opening sequence illuminates the flawless cinematography (this is the five minute tracking of the car), superb acting (Of course, Orson Welles and Charlton Heston are in the picture) and genre defining one liners that have become cinema history (the final word from Marlene Dietrich - need I say anymore?). This is film noir at its most bewitching. Savour every second from one of the greatest films from cinema's golden age.

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36 of 37 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars a dark and twisted thriller 6 Jan 2005
Format:DVD
A wild, quirky ride of corruption and intrigue, this noir thriller is brilliantly acted by Orson Welles and Charlton Heston, where Welles, as an American sleazy police chief investigating a murder in a Mexican border town, tangles with Heston, as his counterpart in the town. Welles was originally just slated to act in this film, but at the insistence of Heston, he was also made director.
The critical and box office response was poor however, and so disappointing to Welles, that he never made another film in Hollywood.

The cast is terrific: Janet Leigh plays Heston's naïve bride, and Akim Tamiroff one of the town's major bad guys. It also has a number of interesting cameos (though if you blink you might miss some of them), including Joseph Cotton, Keenan Wynn, Dennis Weaver, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Mercedes McCambridge, and best of all, Marlene Dietrich, who looks up from her tarot cards to tell Welles "your future is all used up".
Russell Metty's cinematography is unique and innovative, and Henry Mancini's jazz score outstanding.

Peculiar and bizarre, this film needs more than one viewing to fully appreciate, and to sort out its complex plot of many crooked paths. Welles also wrote the script, and it is spoken in a realistic manner, with dialogue overlapping, and people talking at once.
Heston thankfully does not have accented English, but instead looks handsome with dark makeup and a mustache, on the other hand, Welles has a speech pattern that fits his seedy character, as he slurs and sputters through his words.
This is a stupendous, one-of-a-kind piece of filmmaking, now acknowledged as a classic noir.
DVD extras include Welles' memo, theatrical trailer, production notes, cast and filmmakers. The film has been beautifully restored, and total running time is 1 hour and 51 minutes.

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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars The Greatest Opening Sequence Ever? 11 July 2008
By Mr. G. C. Stone VINE™ VOICE
Format:DVD
Dark, entertaining, messy, but very rewarding. My favourite Welles. Dietrich, Leigh & Heston on top form too. Sweaty, steamy, dark view of human falibility and complicity. But if it's not for you, this is a must see simply for the opening sequence: a complex, perfectly timed, almost balletic tracking shot as we follow a car through a mexican border town. Sit back and marvel at the genius who had the vision and the audicity to pull it off. Here's you money's worth already - regardless of the delights to follow. If you ever wondered what all the fuss was about with Welles, just invest your pennies in this and enjoy a mini masterclass.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the all-time greats
Hugely atmospheric Welles noir with superb performances from the maestro himself as a corrupt cop and Marlene Dietrich as a one-time siren now oozing faded glory.
Published 27 days ago by Mr. Donald Thomson
4.0 out of 5 stars A sinister dark thriller
This is a very underated film by Orsen Welles the acting is superb. the police inspector played by orsen welles
is so strong a character ,full of corruption and predjudice... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mr. Aa James
5.0 out of 5 stars A classic worth watching again.
I was just thinking of certain shots from this film (doh, I do that, remember Ministry of Fear? Fritz Lang film based on Graham Greene's excellent novel) and decided to see if it... Read more
Published 1 month ago by J. Swanson
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful film noir from Mr Wells.
This DVD has English subtitles. Sound and vision good.
This classic film has the famous long opening scene that identifies it as one of the great films of modern times. Read more
Published 2 months ago by F. J. Pyne.
5.0 out of 5 stars The greatness of Welles
The fame of this film noir is justified. The genius of Welles is evident in his portrayal of an arrogant and corrupt police lietenant and in his direction, particularly evident in... Read more
Published 2 months ago by derek kinsey
4.0 out of 5 stars Very good film with brilliant performance by Orson Welles
I rated this 4/5.It was very good with great oerformances all round.Great cameos from Marlene and Joseph Cotton.Janet Leigh was also very good.
Published 4 months ago by Mr I. Thomson
5.0 out of 5 stars Pure Evil.
This is most definitively Orson Welles best movie next to Citizen Kane. Pure evil ;-)
This Eureka! Read more
Published 4 months ago by sunrisespacelab
5.0 out of 5 stars Nothing short of amazing.
One of Welles' best films comes to blu-ray. The transfer is definitely sufficient, but I do not care about picture quality all that much. Read more
Published 8 months ago by ThomasP
5.0 out of 5 stars A citizen`s cane
This is a film that makes lovers of film as an art form go the the cinema or, these days, watch DVDs of classic movies like this, films that define what is possible in the medium. Read more
Published 11 months ago by GlynLuke
5.0 out of 5 stars A Work of Art
Touch of Evil is a perfect demonstration of how even a modest small scale genre such as film noir can become a work of art in the hands of a genius, especially when that same... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Brian S. Meredith
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