Touch of Evil Poster
MOVIEmeter
Top 5000
Up 102 this week

Touch of Evil (1958)

95 min  -  Crime | Film-Noir | Thriller  -   8 June 1958 (France)
8.3
Your rating:
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 -/10 X  
Ratings: 8.3/10 from 46,163 users  
Reviews: 236 user | 123 critic

Stark, perverse story of murder, kidnapping, and police corruption in Mexican border town.

Director:

Orson Welles

Writers:

Orson Welles (screenplay), Whit Masterson (based on the novel "Badge Of Evil" by), and 2 more credits »
 Loading+Watchlist
Watch Trailer
0Share...

Related Lists

a list of 953 titles by dimkovachev created 9 months ago
 
a list of 692 titles by James Cool created 21 Nov 2011
 
a list of 1,999 titles by augman74 created 29 Nov 2011
 
a list of 999 titles by Brig_Gen_Jack_D_Ripper created 6 months ago
 
a list of 58 titles by esteban-gitton created 2 weeks ago
 

Connect with IMDb


Share this Rating

Title: Touch of Evil (1958)

Touch of Evil (1958) on IMDb

Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below.

Take The Quiz!

Test your knowledge of "Touch of Evil".
Top 250 #131 | 3 wins & 1 nomination See more awards »
Edit

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Charlton Heston Charlton Heston ...
Janet Leigh Janet Leigh ...
Orson Welles Orson Welles ...
Joseph Calleia Joseph Calleia ...
Akim Tamiroff Akim Tamiroff ...
Joanna Moore Joanna Moore ...
Ray Collins Ray Collins ...
Dennis Weaver Dennis Weaver ...
Valentin de Vargas Valentin de Vargas ...
Pancho (as Valentin De Vargas)
Mort Mills Mort Mills ...
Victor Millan Victor Millan ...
Manelo Sanchez
Lalo Rios Lalo Rios ...
Risto
Michael Sargent Michael Sargent ...
Pretty Boy
Phil Harvey Phil Harvey ...
Blaine
Joi Lansing Joi Lansing ...
Edit

Storyline

Mexican Narcotics officer Ramon Miguel 'Mike' Vargas has to interrupt his honeymoon on the Mexican-US border when an American building contractor is killed after someone places a bomb in his car. He's killed on the US side of the border but it's clear that the bomb was planted on the Mexican side. As a result, Vargas delays his return to Mexico City where he has been mounting a case against the Grandi family crime and narcotics syndicate. Police Captain Hank Quinlan is in charge on the US side and he soon has a suspect, a Mexican named Manolo Sanchez. Vargas is soon onto Quinlan and his Sergeant, Pete Menzies, when he catches them planting evidence to convict Sanchez. With his new American wife, Susie, safely tucked away in a hotel on the US side of the border - or so he thinks - he starts to review Quinlan's earlier cases. While concentrating on the corrupt policeman however, the Grandis have their own plans for Vargas and they start with his wife Susie. Written by garykmcd  

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

Mexican | Border | Honeymoon | Investigation | Police  | See more »

Taglines:

The Strangest Vengeance Ever Planned! See more »

Genres:

Crime | Film-Noir | Thriller

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some violence and drug content (re-rating) (1998 restoration) See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
Edit

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Release Date:

(France) See more »

Also Known As:

Sed de mal See more »

Box Office

Budget:

$829,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$70,725 (USA) (13 September 1998) (3 Screens) (reissue)

Gross:

$2,237,659 (USA) (3 January 1999) (re-issue)
See more »

Company Credits

Show detailed company contact information on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

 | Germany: (1998 alternate version)  | USA: (1975 alternate version)  | USA: (director's cut)  | Spain: (DVD edition)  | (restored version)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1
See full technical specs »
Edit

Did You Know?

Trivia

Orson Welles claimed to have only read "Badge of Evil" by Whit Masterson, the novel on which the film was based, after he completed the film. He based his rewrite of the screenplay upon Paul Monash's initial treatment. See more »

Goofs

Audio/visual unsynchronized: As the couple is getting into the car at the beginning of the movie, there is exhaust coming from the tailpipe well before we hear the ignition noise. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Border Cop: Uh, you folks American citizens?
See more »

Crazy Credits

In the 111-minute restored version, there are no credits at all until the end of the film. See more »

Connections

Referenced in Ed Wood (1994) See more »

Soundtracks

"Tana's Theme"
(1958) (uncredited)
Written by Henry Mancini
Performed by United International Orchestra
Conducted by Joseph Gershenson See more »