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Touch of Evil
- Director: Orson Welles
- Writer: Orson Welles; Whit Masterson
- Producer: Rick Schmidlin; Albert Zugsmith
CGiii Comment
A supposed classic...not in our book.
Welles looks terrible, the script is terrible and the acting is an all-shouting-line-delivery match - who can shout the loudest.
Basically, it's a B-movie and an extension to Welles' decline.
Those who praise it as a masterpiece haven't seen too many masterpieces.
This is a confused shambles with a great opening shot.
Trailer...
The(ir) Blurb...
Mexican Narcotics officer Ramon Miguel 'Mike' Vargas has to interrupt his honeymoon on the Mexican-US border when an American building contractor is killed after someone places a bomb in his car. He's killed on the US side of the border but it's clear that the bomb was planted on the Mexican side. As a result, Vargas delays his return to Mexico City where he has been mounting a case against the Grandi family crime and narcotics syndicate. Police Captain Hank Quinlan is in charge on the US side and he soon has a suspect, a Mexican named Manolo Sanchez. Vargas is soon onto Quinlan and his Sergeant, Pete Menzies, when he catches them planting evidence to convict Sanchez. With his new American wife, Susie, safely tucked away in a hotel on the US side of the border - or so he thinks - he starts to review Quinlan's earlier cases. While concentrating on the corrupt policeman however, the Grandis have their own plans for Vargas and they start with his wife Susie.
Cast & Characters
Charlton Heston as Ramon Miguel 'Mike' Vargas;
Janet Leigh as Susan 'Susie' Vargas;
Orson Welles as Police Captain Hank Quinlan;
Joseph Calleia as Police Sergeant Pete Menzies;
Akim Tamiroff as 'Uncle' Joe Grandi;
Joanna Moore as Marcia Linnekar;
Ray Collins as District Attorney Adair;
Dennis Weaver as Mirador Motel Night Manager;
Valentin de Vargas as Pancho - Grandi Hood;
Mort Mills as Al Schwartz - District Attorney's Assistant;
Victor Millan as Manelo Sanchez;
Lalo Rios as Risto - Grandi's Nephew;
Michael Sargent as Pretty Boy;
Phil Harvey as Blaine;
Joi Lansing as Zita