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Touch of Evil (1958)
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Overview
User Rating:
Your 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:
(31 articles)
Johnny Dankworth: The jazz bringer
(From The Guardian - Film News. 9 February 2010, 2:20 AM, PST)
Sundance 2010: New Frontier Artists including Gordon-Levitt's hitRECord and Ragnar Kjartansson's The End
(From ioncinema. 2 February 2010, 9:18 PM, PST)
(From The Guardian - Film News. 9 February 2010, 2:20 AM, PST)
Sundance 2010: New Frontier Artists including Gordon-Levitt's hitRECord and Ragnar Kjartansson's The End
(From ioncinema. 2 February 2010, 9:18 PM, PST)
User Reviews:
The Best of the best
more (210 total)
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:
Orson Welles said that this was the most fun he'd ever had filming a picture, unlike most of his Hollywood films, because he wasn't troubled by studio interference (until after he completed the picture, anyway), he was given a healthy budget and he was working with a crew of some of his favorite actors on a script that didn't involve as much symbolism and all-out cinematic tricks as something like Citizen Kane (1941).
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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.
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Quotes:
Movie Connections:
Referenced in The Best of Film Noir (1999) (V)
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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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Touch of Evil has, perhaps, the BEST cinematography and lighting in ANY film ever made. Not just in the film noir genre, but in all categories. Orson Welles tended to use wide shots for all of his films, and Touch of Evil's use of wide shots took filmmaking to another level, especially with the amazing opening shot. The camera techniques and lighting are too spectacular to fathom, it is the grandmaster of all movies. Brilliant is an understatement. See this film, if not for the excellent acting and sheer brilliance in terms of the camera (this film had a GREAT D.P.!!), but for entertainment value. But if you are a film student or just want to see great camera work, Touch of Evil will astonish you.