Orson Welles
in 'Touch of Evil'“Touch of Evil” (1958)

MPAA Rating: PG-13
Directed by: Orson Welles [1]
Starring: Charlton Heston, Orson Welles, Janet Leigh, Akim Tamiroff, Marlene Dietrich

The Gist: Law enforcement — It’s not just a job, it’s a vendetta.

The Story: Vargas (Heston) is a Mexican narcotics investigator set to testify against one of the notorious Grandi brothers. But first, he plans to enjoy a honeymoon with his American sweetheart, Susan (Leigh). The newlyweds’ plans are interrupted when they witness an assassination by car bombing. Vargas believes the bomb was planted on the Mexican side of the border, so he teams up with Capt. Hank Quinlan (Welles) for a joint investigation. Quinlan doesn’t like Vargas. He doesn’t trust outsiders snooping around while he goes about his work, and for good reason. It’s harder to plant evidence when others are watching. The Grandis and Quinlan share a common enemy, and they conspire to get Vargas. The plan? To turn his honeymoon suite into a murder scene.

The Review: The definitive “Touch of Evil” wasn’t released until 1998, 40 years after its first theatrical release. Universal Studios brutalized Welles’ first cut. Even in this mangled state, many considered “Touch of Evil” to be the last example of classic American film noir. Both versions kick off with a stunning continuous crane shot, which begins with a close-up of a saboteur planting a bomb in a car, then continues as the car drives down a crowded street and across the U.S.-Mexico border, before exploding. It’s a trademark Welles’ flourish. Leigh’s performance as Susan is noteworthy. Two years later, she played the ill-fated Marion Crane in “Psycho [2].” One hopes Leigh received better room service in real life.

The Classic Quote: Vargas: “A policeman's job is only easy in a police state.”

(Jorge Sosa is a staff writer for the Hutchinson Leader. He can be reached at sosa@hutchinsonleader.com [4])