Touch of Evil (1958)

Calificación de los usuarios:

8.4/10   

Director:

Orson Welles

Escritores:

Orson Welles (screenplay)
Whit Masterson (novel)

Fecha de Lanzamiento:

8 junio 1958 (France)

Género:

Crimen | Cine Negro | Suspenso

Frase comercial:

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 | Investigation | Honeymoon | Motel

Premios:

3 wins

Comentarios de los usuarios:

Spellbinding thriller

Reparto

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

También conocida como:

Sed de mal (Argentina) (restored version) (Mexico) (DVD title) (Spain) [es]
Sombras del mal (Mexico) [es]

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some violence and drug content. (1988 restoration)

Duración:

95 min | Germany:111 min (1998 alternate version) | USA:108 min (1975 alternate vesion) | USA:112 min (director's cut) | Spain:106 min (DVD edition)

País:

USA

Idioma:

Inglés | Español

Color:

Negro y Blanco

Relación de Aspecto:

1.37 : 1

Sonido:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Clasificación:

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)

Locaciones de Filmación:

Venice, Los Angeles, California, USA

Compañía:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Trivialidades:

Orson Welles originally wanted Lloyd Bridges in the role of "Menzies". The studio refused, and instead cast veteran actor Joseph Calleia. Welles was pleased with this new choice, because he had seen Calleia on stage as a child and thought he was very talented.

Errores:

Continuidad: 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.

Citas:

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

Conexiones de Película:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Deadly Mantis (#9.4)" (1997)

Banda de Sonido:

Tana's Theme

Spellbinding thriller

There are only two ways to write a review that would truly do this film justice. Either one would have to write an exceedingly long review, or a short, concise one. I choose to do the latter.

When I first saw "Touch of Evil," I was glued to the chair. When I found out it was not Welles' definitive vision, I wondered how on earth it could have been made better. And when I saw the re-released version, I wondered why the studio altered it. The stunning black-and-white images, the intricate plot, and the powerful, engaging performances took a hold of my imagination. At times, I imagined myself on the street with the characters, because the atmosphere was so thick I felt surrounded in it.

The actors all did an outstanding job, especially Leigh and Heston (who, although not thoroughly convincing as a Mexican, soared above his usual powerful, furious presence). This is Welles' picture, however, and whenever the camera catches his obese figure, you are fully aware of the man as a director and an actor. His powerful vision drives the film, from the single-cut opening sequence to the cat-and-mouse finale.

I suggest watching the 1998 restored version over the original theatrical release, but regardless of which version, "Touch of Evil" will have you stuck in your seat, questioning your views of morality until long after the last credit has rolled up the screen.