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Touch of Evil (1958)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
8 June 1958 (France)
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Tagline:
The Overwhelming Drama of a Strange Vengeance more
Plot:
Stark, perverse story of murder, kidnapping, and police corruption in Mexican border town. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
3 wins
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NewsDesk:
(27 articles)
Orson's TV revolution that never was
(From The Guardian - TV News. 18 December 2009, 3:43 AM, PST)
Orson's TV revolution that never was
(From The Guardian - Film News. 18 December 2009, 3:43 AM, PST)
(From The Guardian - TV News. 18 December 2009, 3:43 AM, PST)
Orson's TV revolution that never was
(From The Guardian - Film News. 18 December 2009, 3:43 AM, PST)
User Comments:
The B-films would never be the same.
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Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Charlton Heston | ... | Ramon Miguel 'Mike' Vargas | |
| Janet Leigh | ... | Susan 'Susie' Vargas | |
| Orson Welles | ... | Police Captain Hank Quinlan | |
| Joseph Calleia | ... | Police Sergeant Pete Menzies | |
| Akim Tamiroff | ... | 'Uncle' Joe Grandi | |
| Joanna Moore | ... | Marcia Linnekar | |
| Ray Collins | ... | District Attorney Adair | |
| Dennis Weaver | ... | Mirador Motel Night Manager | |
| Valentin de Vargas | ... | Pancho - Grandi Hood | |
| Mort Mills | ... | Al Schwartz - District Attorney's Assistant | |
| Victor Millan | ... | Manelo Sanchez | |
| Lalo Rios | ... | Risto - Grandi's Nephew | |
| Michael Sargent | ... | Pretty Boy | |
| Phil Harvey | ... | Blaine | |
| Joi Lansing | ... | Zita |
Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for some violence and drug content. (1988 restoration)
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
95 min | Germany:111 min (1998 alternate version) | USA:108 min (1975 alternate version) | USA:112 min (director's cut) | Spain:106 min (DVD edition)
Country:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System)
Certification:
Germany:16 (restored version) (re-rating: 2005) |
Netherlands:6 |
South Korea:15 (2003) |
Argentina:13 |
Australia:M |
Chile:14 |
Finland:K-11 (DVD rating) |
Finland:K-12 (restored version) |
Finland:K-16 (original rating) |
Germany:18 (restored version) |
Norway:15 (re-rating) (1999) |
Norway:16 (1985) |
Spain:13 (DVD rating) |
Sweden:11 (restored version) |
Sweden:15 (original rating) |
UK:12 |
USA:Approved (PCA #18506) (original rating) |
USA:PG-13 (No. 36039) (re-rating) (1998 restoration) |
USA:Unrated (restored version) |
West Germany:16 (nf)
Filming Locations:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Scenes that the studio ordered to be retaken were not filmed by Orson Welles, but by Harry Keller. Charlton Heston at first refused to be filmed by anyone other than Welles and caused a delay of one day. He later reimbursed the studio $8,000 for the delay.
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Goofs:
Continuity: The car that blows up four minutes into the film has the Texas plate AG 3724. 32 minutes into the film police car number 10 also has the Texas plate AG 3724.
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Quotes:
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "House M.D.: Ignorance Is Bliss (#6.8)" (2009)
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Soundtrack:
Tana's Theme
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FAQ
A Note Regarding SpoilersIs this movie based on a novel?
Any recommendations for movies similar to "Touch of Evil"?
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Orson Welles made this film over 15 years after "Citizen Kane", but even though it doesn't reach the level of "Kane", he never lost his genius touch. With a basic story and regular budget he made the most famous B-film ever. His majesty in the camera control and the editing jump out of the screen. His director geniality is seen through the outstanding performances by great actors like himself, Janet Leigh and Marlene Dietricht, and actors not that great, like Charlton Heston. Several lines of this motion picture are amongst the greatest of all times, specially the Dietrich ones. The credits scene, that runs uncut for about 3 minutes, is one of the greatest moments in the film history, along with the pianola tune at Tanya's place. Some might say that "Touch of Evil" is banal and boring, but these are the people that don't like real motion pictures, and we all know that, so we don't care about them.