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Rutgers Films in Print
Touch of Evil
Welles is by consensus one of the most talented directors who ever worked in Hollywood, and this flamboyant film - a 1958 exploration of the thriller form - is one of his greatest achievements.
Comito's introduction considers the film's relation to the tradition of film noir and demonstrates how Welles's mastery of cinematic language transforms the materials of a routine thriller into a work that is at once a sardonic examination of the dark side of sexuality, an elegiac rumination on the loss of innocence, and a disquieting assault on the viewer's own moral and ascetic certainties.
Other contextual materials in the book include a biographical sketch of Welles; an important interview with Welles by Andre Bazin, Charles Bitsch, and Jean Domarchi, available here for the first time in English; an interview with Charlton Heston on the making of the film; representative reviews; critical essays by William Johnson, Jean Collett (translated especially for this book), Stephen Heath; an analysis of the relation of the complete film to Welles's recently discovered shooting script; and filmography and bibliography. The continuity script collates the two available versions of Touch of Evil and provides an invaluable, shot-by-shot guide through the visual and audio complexities of Welles's masterpiece.
Comito's introduction considers the film's relation to the tradition of film noir and demonstrates how Welles's mastery of cinematic language transforms the materials of a routine thriller into a work that is at once a sardonic examination of the dark side of sexuality, an elegiac rumination on the loss of innocence, and a disquieting assault on the viewer's own moral and ascetic certainties.
Other contextual materials in the book include a biographical sketch of Welles; an important interview with Welles by Andre Bazin, Charles Bitsch, and Jean Domarchi, available here for the first time in English; an interview with Charlton Heston on the making of the film; representative reviews; critical essays by William Johnson, Jean Collett (translated especially for this book), Stephen Heath; an analysis of the relation of the complete film to Welles's recently discovered shooting script; and filmography and bibliography. The continuity script collates the two available versions of Touch of Evil and provides an invaluable, shot-by-shot guide through the visual and audio complexities of Welles's masterpiece.
- GenresFilmNonfiction
288 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1985
27 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 10, 2025
Touch of Evil written and directed by Orson Welles, based on the novel by Whit Masterson
9 out of 10
Notes and thoughts on other books are available at:
- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list... and http://realini.blogspot.ro/
Touch of Evil is one of the best films you can see, coming from the phenomenal writer, director and star who gave the world
- Citizen Kane, probably the best film ever
Touch of Evil has been acclaimed by the critics and it is included on The New York Times’ Best 1,000 Movies Ever Made list:
- http://www.listchallenges.com/new-yor...
But as the IMDB chart of Top 250 Rated Movies proofs, this is also a film popular with audiences, decades after being produced:
- http://www.imdb.com/chart/top?ref_=tt...
And the moving picture starts with a loud bang, as a rich construction man is blown up with a dancer, near the Mexican border.
Charlton Heston has the leading role of Mike Vargas and he used to be a complicated actor, at least for this viewer.
On the one hand he had some memorable roles, but on the other, his involvement and prominent role in the NRA did not endear him to me.
Mike Vargas is a Mexican Narcotics officer- and to look Latino he had to wear heavy dark make –up-just married.
The fact that he has to interrupt his honeymoon, on account of the bomb that blew off very near him and he wants to look into the case that may have connections with his investigation of the Grandi family upsets his wife.
Susan Vargas loves her husband and even wants to help him in his job, when an opportunity is given, but she will grow ever more frustrated.
A young man comes to Susan Vargas with a message saying that she needs to follow him in order to get material that would be useful for her spouse.
It is actually a trap in which she is photographed and then later on pushed even further, in an attempt to compromise the husband.
But the members of the Grandi family are not the only villains involved in organized crime that appear in this movie.
Orson Welles plays the police captain Hank Quinlan, who in the first place appears to be on the right side of the law.
He is a tired man and I was wondering about the health of the titan of cinema when filming this moving picture.
Hank Quinlan has a reputation for flair and intuition, because “his leg” keeps telling him who the guilty party is.
The problem is that when he suspects someone, the only aspect left is to provide evidence, by hook or by crook.
In this case, given that he has found an employ of the murdered rich man, Manolo Sanchez, who has had an affair with the daughter of the victim becomes not just the prime suspect, but the killer in the version of captain Quinlan.
Mike Vargas or Miguel is present in the room, when the American policeman pretends he has found dynamite in Monolo’s bathroom.
Knowing this is false, for he had searched in the bathroom and found nothing incriminating, Miguel Vargas begins to have doubts about Hank Quinlan.
The latter is now ready to work with the criminal world and makes a pact with Joe Grandi with the scope of compromising Vargas through his wife.
Susan Vargas is detained, and then abused in a motel owned by the Grandi family, which wants to present evidence against the innocent woman.
In the meantime, Miguel Vargas is looking into the records of the public archives that show evidence of wrongdoing in the cases that Hank Quinlan had brought to court.
The atmosphere of the film is gloomy, dark, even depressing, but this is working to the advantage of the drama, presenting the events unfolding in their proper, dark mood, until a climax is reached and some of the criminals are- maybe- identified.
9 out of 10
Notes and thoughts on other books are available at:
- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list... and http://realini.blogspot.ro/
Touch of Evil is one of the best films you can see, coming from the phenomenal writer, director and star who gave the world
- Citizen Kane, probably the best film ever
Touch of Evil has been acclaimed by the critics and it is included on The New York Times’ Best 1,000 Movies Ever Made list:
- http://www.listchallenges.com/new-yor...
But as the IMDB chart of Top 250 Rated Movies proofs, this is also a film popular with audiences, decades after being produced:
- http://www.imdb.com/chart/top?ref_=tt...
And the moving picture starts with a loud bang, as a rich construction man is blown up with a dancer, near the Mexican border.
Charlton Heston has the leading role of Mike Vargas and he used to be a complicated actor, at least for this viewer.
On the one hand he had some memorable roles, but on the other, his involvement and prominent role in the NRA did not endear him to me.
Mike Vargas is a Mexican Narcotics officer- and to look Latino he had to wear heavy dark make –up-just married.
The fact that he has to interrupt his honeymoon, on account of the bomb that blew off very near him and he wants to look into the case that may have connections with his investigation of the Grandi family upsets his wife.
Susan Vargas loves her husband and even wants to help him in his job, when an opportunity is given, but she will grow ever more frustrated.
A young man comes to Susan Vargas with a message saying that she needs to follow him in order to get material that would be useful for her spouse.
It is actually a trap in which she is photographed and then later on pushed even further, in an attempt to compromise the husband.
But the members of the Grandi family are not the only villains involved in organized crime that appear in this movie.
Orson Welles plays the police captain Hank Quinlan, who in the first place appears to be on the right side of the law.
He is a tired man and I was wondering about the health of the titan of cinema when filming this moving picture.
Hank Quinlan has a reputation for flair and intuition, because “his leg” keeps telling him who the guilty party is.
The problem is that when he suspects someone, the only aspect left is to provide evidence, by hook or by crook.
In this case, given that he has found an employ of the murdered rich man, Manolo Sanchez, who has had an affair with the daughter of the victim becomes not just the prime suspect, but the killer in the version of captain Quinlan.
Mike Vargas or Miguel is present in the room, when the American policeman pretends he has found dynamite in Monolo’s bathroom.
Knowing this is false, for he had searched in the bathroom and found nothing incriminating, Miguel Vargas begins to have doubts about Hank Quinlan.
The latter is now ready to work with the criminal world and makes a pact with Joe Grandi with the scope of compromising Vargas through his wife.
Susan Vargas is detained, and then abused in a motel owned by the Grandi family, which wants to present evidence against the innocent woman.
In the meantime, Miguel Vargas is looking into the records of the public archives that show evidence of wrongdoing in the cases that Hank Quinlan had brought to court.
The atmosphere of the film is gloomy, dark, even depressing, but this is working to the advantage of the drama, presenting the events unfolding in their proper, dark mood, until a climax is reached and some of the criminals are- maybe- identified.
April 11, 2020
There are a multitude of books on Welles, and rightly so...but this is one of the few that simply looks at my favourite of, not just Welles' films, but one of my all time favourite films.
Touch of Evil is a masterpiece, not just because of the title sequence, but layer on layer of quality; it is known for two prints - the original theatrical release and the 'Welles Cut' based on the discovery of his annotated shooting script - this book neatly looks at both.
A nice synopsis of the film and Welles' career precedes the script, with neat highlighting of the differences between the two. The next section follows on really well with analysis of the progression of the book to first script to Welles' final script before a series of reviews - beautifully demonstrating why Francois Truffaut was such a cinematic force. The interviews that follow are of interest, with the Heston interview the best by far and the book is rounded off with 'commentaries' that delve deeper still and are really for academic level film study.
If you love this film, as I do, then you must read this book.
Touch of Evil is a masterpiece, not just because of the title sequence, but layer on layer of quality; it is known for two prints - the original theatrical release and the 'Welles Cut' based on the discovery of his annotated shooting script - this book neatly looks at both.
A nice synopsis of the film and Welles' career precedes the script, with neat highlighting of the differences between the two. The next section follows on really well with analysis of the progression of the book to first script to Welles' final script before a series of reviews - beautifully demonstrating why Francois Truffaut was such a cinematic force. The interviews that follow are of interest, with the Heston interview the best by far and the book is rounded off with 'commentaries' that delve deeper still and are really for academic level film study.
If you love this film, as I do, then you must read this book.
August 18, 2018
Very good, fans of the film will enjoy it immensely.
November 19, 2020
Very thorough... to the point where it becomes quite difficult to read...
January 2, 2009
made me consider the feat of shooting entire dialogue reverses blocks away from each other (one has a church, behind welles one has a whorehouse, behind charlton heston) and maybe even nights apart. this is the b movie that made the grade.
September 26, 2019
OW's writing style is great. Quick story with all the elements you need. Characters well written and worked out. High quality storytelling!
March 28, 2023
Orson Wells masterpiece baby
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews