Touch of Evil – Review

After Universal Studios saw the finished cut of this film, they decided to rework things into what became the Theatrical Cut. Years later, the Reconstructed Cut was crafted in order to present the original version of Orson Welles’ vision as closely as possible. This review is of the Reconstructed Cut which runs about 15 minutes longer than the Theatrical.

Miquel ‘Mike’ (Heston) and Susan (Leigh) Vargas stroll through a city straddling the U.S.-Mexico border. They have just married and are out looking for a chocolate soda to celebrate. As a car is let through customs, it explodes shortly after. A bomb in the trunk made sure of this, and the couple in the car had no chance of survival.

Mike is a special prosecutor in Mexico City and decides to stick around the area to look into this explosive event. On the streets, Susan gets a note with a number for her husband to call from a Mexican stranger. Instead, she follows up herself and meets with a local nightclub runner Uncle Joe Grande (Tamiroff), who immediately wants to show Vargas he should lay off his drug trafficking brother in Mexico City. Plots are multiplying!

Into to bombing scene walk local investigators, like hard-edged alcoholic and racist Captain Harry Quinlan (Welles). He is at once at odds with Mike, who proclaims to still be just an observer. The men ultimately are from different worlds and have varying views and investigation techniques. This sends the pair down a dark path and towards non-stop confrontation.

Touch of Evil is an interesting and well-acted blast from the past. With expert actors in main roles, it is hard not to get sucked into the weaving plotlines. Despite the late 50s setting, the film plays just as well today and is a serious romp through crime and layers of social psychology. Shots are well framed and visually grabbing as is the setting and backdrop of the crime story which allows for all sorts of elements to creep into the action.

Despite any cut controversies, the film is pretty good regardless, but the Reconstructed Cut takes my vote for the win. I find the pacing also fits just fine despite the longer version.