Orson Welles in “Touch of Evil”

by Peggy Rowland

Orson Welles wrote and directed this 1958 classic, “Touch of Evil.” Welles stars as Sheriff Hank Quinlan, a long-time cop of a town near the U.S.-Mexico border. Charlton Heston stars as Mike Vargas, a narcotics detective on his honeymoon with wife Susan, played by Janet Leigh. 

The prologue explains that Welles edited the first cut of the film in 1957. The studio thought it could be improved, so they shot more scenes and re-edited the film. After Welles saw this new version, he wrote a 58-page memo requesting changes. Most of these changes were not incorporated until the 1998 restored version. This review is based on the 1998 restored version of the film that attempts to incorporate most of the changes requested by Welles in 1957. 

This is a visually beautiful, although dark and shadowy film. The famous, often-studied opening scene uses crane tracking. There is a delicate and almost calm suspense as the viewer is waiting for the inevitable to happen during this three-minute sequence covering four city blocks.

“Touch of Evil” is memorable not only for its camerawork and lighting, but for the character played by Orson Welles, Sheriff Quinlan. Although this film is a thriller, it is also a skillful character study. The jaded, obese and cigar-smoking Quinlan packs quite an attitude. Although Quinlan, who likes to aid justice by faking evidence, has very questionable morals, the viewer wants to sympathize with him. His presence is mesmerizing. Even when he does wrong, the viewer thinks he must have a good reason: It’s a painful past that makes him act this way. 

Quinlan doesn’t like Vargas, the supposed hero of the film, from the beginning. And Vargas doesn’t inspire much affection from the viewer either. Charlton Heston certainly doesn’t portray a very convincing Mexican character. I had been watching the movie for several minutes before I realized he was supposed to be a Mexican character. The fact that he involves himself in trying to solve a crime that’s out of his territory while he’s on his honeymoon is perplexing. Furthermore, Vargas places his wife in dangerous situations without much concern for his American darling. He loves her, but his character doesn’t seem to have much sense. 

Toward the end of the movie, there’s an impending feeling that Quinlan’s not going to survive much longer. His biggest ally is Police Sergeant Pete Menzies, played by Joesph Calleia. In the end, even Menzies can no longer deny Quinlan’s questionable tactics. Marlene Dietrich is Tanya, a minor character who has a past with Quinlan. She tells him, “Your future is all used up.” 

The dark climax of “Touch of Evil” contains several unexpected twists. The exciting climax and filming techniques more than make up for the uninspiring performance by Charlton Heston.