Touch of Evil (1958)

Director:

Orson Welles

Writers:

Orson Welles (screenplay)
Whit Masterson (based on the novel "Badge Of Evil" by)
(more)

Release Date:

8 June 1958 (France)

Genre:

Crime | Film-Noir | Thriller

Tagline:

The Overwhelming Drama of a Strange Vengeance

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Mexican | Border | Honeymoon | Investigation | Police

Awards:

3 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Charlton Heston	...	Mike Vargas
Janet Leigh	...	Susan 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 (as Valentin De Vargas)
Mort Mills	...	Al Schwartz
Victor Millan	...	Manelo Sanchez
Lalo Rios	...	Risto
Michael Sargent	...	Pretty Boy
Phil Harvey	...	Blaine
Joi Lansing	...	Zita
Harry Shannon	...	Chief Gould
Marlene Dietrich	...	Tanya
Zsa Zsa Gabor	...	Strip-Club Owner
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Joe Basulto	...	Young Delinquent (uncredited)
Yolanda Bojorquez	...	Bobbie (uncredited)
Joseph Cotten	...	Coroner (uncredited)
Domenick Delgarde	...	Lackey (uncredited)
Jennie Dias	...	Jackie (uncredited)
John Dierkes	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Eleanor Dorado	...	Lia (uncredited)
Billy House	...	Construction Site Foreman (uncredited)
Mercedes McCambridge	...	Gang Leader (uncredited)
Arlene McQuade	...	Ginnie (uncredited)
Ken Miller	...	Gang Member (uncredited)
Ramón Rodríguez	...	Gang Member (uncredited)
Gus Schilling	...	Eddie Farnham (uncredited)
William Tannen	...	Lawyer (uncredited)
Wayne Taylor	...	Gang Member (uncredited)
Rusty Wescoatt	...	Detective Casey (uncredited)
Dan White	...	Customs Officer (uncredited)
Keenan Wynn	...	Marcia Linnekar's Attorney (uncredited)

Directed by
Orson Welles

Writing credits
Orson Welles		(screenplay)
Whit Masterson		(based on the novel "Badge Of Evil" by)
Franklin Coen		contributing writer: reshoots (uncredited)
Paul Monash		additional scenes (uncredited)

Produced by
Albert Zugsmith	....	producer

Original Music by
Henry Mancini

Cinematography by
Russell Metty		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Walter Murch		(1998 re-edit)
Aaron Stell		(film editor)
Virgil W. Vogel		(film editor) (as Virgil Vogel)
Edward Curtiss		(uncredited)

Art Direction by
Robert Clatworthy
Alexander Golitzen

Set Decoration by
John P. Austin		(set decorations)
Russell A. Gausman

Costume Design by
Bill Thomas		(gowns)

Makeup Department
Bud Westmore	....	makeup artist
Merle Reeves	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Vincent Romaine	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Maurice Seiderman	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Monty Westmore	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Foster Thompson	....	unit production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Phil Bowles	....	assistant director
Harry Keller	....	director: reshoots (uncredited)
Terence Nelson	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Leslie I. Carey	....	sound
Frank H. Wilkinson	....	sound (as Frank Wilkinson)
Peter Berkos	....	sound editor (uncredited)
Robert L. Bratton	....	sound editor (uncredited)
Donald Cunliffe	....	sound technician (uncredited)
Ed Hall	....	sound technician (uncredited)
George Ohanian	....	dialogue editor (uncredited)
Walter White	....	sound technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Kevin Braun	....	lead digital compositor (1998 restoration)
Kevin Braun	....	visual effects supervisor (1998 restoration)
Sandy DellaMarie	....	digital production coordinator (1998 restoration)
Chris Flynn	....	digital paint artist (1998 restoration)
Mark Freund	....	visual effects supervisor (1998 restoration)
George Gervan	....	digital paint artist (1998 restoration)
Richard Gervan	....	digital paint artist (1998 restoration)
Maureen Healy	....	digital paint artist (1998 restoration)
Lynn Tigar	....	digital paint artist (1998 restoration)

Stunts
David Sharpe	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Sherman Clark	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Ledge Haddow	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
James V. King	....	camera operator: Venice canal locations (uncredited)
Philip H. Lathrop	....	camera operator (uncredited)
John L. Russell	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Clifford Stine	....	camera operator: additional photography (uncredited)
Roy Vaughn	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Claire Cramer	....	wardrobe (uncredited)
Nevada Penn	....	wardrobe (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Eric Aijala	....	negative restoration (1998 restoration)
Sean Cullen	....	assistant editor (1998 restoration)
Bob O'Neil	....	picture restoration (1998 restoration)
Ernest J. Nims	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Joseph Gershenson	....	music supervisor
Richard Nash	....	musician: trombone (uncredited)

Other crew
Armondo Linus Acosta	....	consultant (uncredited)
Fred Banker	....	unit publicist (uncredited)
Charles Baqueta	....	coordinator (uncredited)
Wayne Fitzgerald	....	title designer (uncredited)
Betty A. Griffin	....	script supervisor (uncredited)
Robert Tafur	....	dialogue coach (uncredited)
Robert Tafur	....	technical advisor (uncredited)

Thanks
James Naremore	....	special thanks (1998 restoration) (as James Narmore)

Production Companies

• Universal International Pictures (UI) (presents) (as Universal International)

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1958) (USA) (theatrical)
• Universal Pay Television (1998) (USA) (TV) (1975 alternate version)
• MFA Filmdistribution (2000) (Germany) (theatrical) (restored version)
• Mundos de Cine (2000) (Argentina) (theatrical) (restored version)
• Universal Studios Home Video (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Home Video (2003) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures (Spain) (2003) (Spain) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures (2004) (Italy) (DVD)
• Süddeutsche Zeitung (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (2007) (Germany) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2008) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Eureka Entertainment (2011) (UK) (DVD) (Blu-ray) (limited edition)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2012) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Video (2012) (Canada) (DVD)
• CIC Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (????) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• 77 Kob Albuquerque  special thanks (1998 restoration)
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes (uncredited)
• Cineteca del Comune di Bologna  special thanks (1998 restoration) (as Cineteca Comunale Di Bologna)
• Deborah Ross Film Design  title design (1998 restoration)
• International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)  this picture made under the jurisdiction of (as I.A.T.S.E.)
• Lilly Library, Indiana University, The  special thanks (1998 restoration) (as The Lilly Library)
• Margaret Herrick Library of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences  special thanks (1998 restoration) (as The Margaret Herrick Library)
• Pacific Title/Mirage  digital restoration services (1998 restoration) (as Pacific Title/Mirage Restoration Division)
• Pacific Title/Mirage  titles (1998 restoration) (as Pacific Title/Mirage Optical Division)
• USC Cinema and Television Library  special thanks (1998 restoration) (as USC Cinema-Television Library & Archives of Performing Arts)
• Universal Studios  restored by (1998 restoration) (as Universal Studios Restoration Services)

Also Known As:

MPAA:

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

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) | 111 min (restored version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

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) | Germany:16 (restored version) (re-rating: 2005) | Netherlands:6 | South Korea:15 (2003) | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Trivia:

After filming was completed, Orson Welles left to go to Mexico to continue filming his version of "Don Quixote". It was during this time that Universal asked for cuts, and since he wasn't around, they began cutting it themselves.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: At the beginning of the famous opening long shot, at the point where the bomb is planted in the trunk of the car, the reflection of a crew member is briefly seen in the upper left hand corner of the screen.

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Halloween (1978)

Soundtrack:

Tana's Theme

Another touch of brilliance from Welles

Considered by many to be the last "classic" noir film ever made, and perhaps the last masterwork from child prodigy Orson Welles, who looks about sixty in this film, despite his 42 years. In TOUCH OF EVIL the "noirish" dark streets and shadows are darker than ever, practically swallowing up the soft tones like a murky swamp. The action takes place in a nondescript U.S./Mexico border town where the worst that both sides has to offer is most in evidence. The famous opening scene (a 3 1/2-minute continuous shot) where we witness a time bomb being placed in the trunk of a Cadillac is masterful. The camera pulls in and out of the city scene as it follows the motion of the vehicle winding its way through streets littered with pedestrians, thus effectively creating a level of anxiety that could not be duplicated with multiple edits. After the inevitable explosion, the drama dives into a seedy world of corrupt police justice and malevolent decrepitude, which is filmed with such a stylish flair, it is almost weirdly humorous and playful! Mike Vargas, the good guy, is played by Charlton Heston and seems more than a wee bit miscast as a Mexican narcotics officer with his face darkened by makeup. When U.S. Police Captain Hank Quinlan (Orson Welles) first meets him he remarks, "He doesn't look Mexican." Quinlan is the ultimate repugnant cop gone bad and Welles has the camera looking up into his nostrils most of the time making his character look even more monstrous. But Quinlan is also pitifully sad. A man who once had the instincts of a cat and the intelligence of a fox has been reduced to an insignificant mass of tissue, who's "instinct" is having a knack for finding evidence that he himself has planted. And while he may be revered by the local officials in law enforcement, he's acutely aware that he is a fraud and petrified that Vargas, has seen him naked.