Movie Reviews by Edwin Jahiel

TOUCH OF EVIL (1958)

A work of genius by and with Orson Welles. The clash between narcotics agent Vargas (Charlton Heston) and corrupt local cop Hank Quinlan ( a wonderfully grotesque Welles) around a murder investigation in a low-life Mexican border town is an excuse for amazing visual pyrotechnics : incredibly good, moody sets, lighting and photography, innovative camera movements, terrific acting , superior and different productn values. Excellent score by Henry Mancini. The film was, like all by Welles, beset by troubles and problems. Heston, in one of the best decisions of his life, was the person who started the ball rolling when he read a script that was eventually replaced by Welles'. With Janet Leigh, Joseph Cotten, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Ray Collins, Akim Tamiroff, Dennis Weaver. Marlene Dietrich's small part is remarkable, Joseph Calleia has the role of his life. Welles' last Hollywood picture. (Edwin Jahiel)