Frequently Bought Together
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
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
Synopsis
Orson Welles's Touch of Evil is nothing short of a masterpiece. Beginning with a three-minute-plus tracking crane shot, the film explodes onto the screen, literally the marvelously expressive opening shot ends with a car blowing up, and that detonation sets into motion a classic noir tale of betrayal and murder. In a complex exploration of character and morality, Welles plays the racist Captain Hank Quinlan, a grotesque, troubled, and powerful figure who runs his small U.S. border town according to his own version of the law. Quinlan's brutishness and vulgarity contrast starkly with the idealism and playboy good looks of Charlton Heston as Mike Vargas, a Mexican detective trying to put away the leader of a dangerous family of drug dealers the Grandis. In the U.S. with his new bride, Susie (Janet Leigh), Vargas becomes consumed with exposing Quinlan and his highly questionable methods too busy to see that his own beautiful blonde bride is in serious danger from both Quinlan and the Grandis. In 1998, Welles's film was restored closer to its creator's original vision, and it is a joy to behold. Every shot is impeccably crafted, every word of dialogue concise and pointed. The camerawork (by Russell Metty and John Russell) is stunning, particularly in the opening scene and the long single take in which Vargas believes he has caught Quinlan planting evidence. The supporting cast, led by Marlene Dietrich, Dennis Weaver, Akim Tamiroff, and Joseph Calleia, gives exhilarating performances. Touch of Evil, Welles's last studio film, is a near-perfect examination of the dark underbelly of society and the tragic downfall of a once proud man.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
By danijmartin
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.
36 of 37 people found the following review helpful
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 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.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
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.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 197 reviews
4.2 out of 5 stars
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
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 23 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
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
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
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
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
![[Start the discussion]](http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/02/x-locale/communities/discussion_boards/start-new-discussion-sec._V192198663_.gif){kind=small}
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
