Touch of Evil . Austin Chronicle . 07-27-98

Touch of Evil

DIRECTED BY: Orson Welles

REVIEWED: 07-27-98

Charlton Heston as a Mexican? Nobody sells out like Orson Welles. This was his "studio" film to finance "his" film. Turns out to be one of the best films he ever made. How do you describe this movie? Janet Leigh raped by a band of evil Mexicans in a motel from hell. Marlene Dietrich as the mysterious, world-weary taxi driver and lover of the chief of police. The definitive fat man role for Welles ... and being a fat man, I love great fat characters in film: Sydney Greenstreet in The Maltese Falcon, Charles Laughton in Witness for the Prosecution, Victor Buono in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, Guy Kibbee in every Busby Berkeley film. These are the elite of the obese. And at the top ... well, Welles. In that suit, that cane, that sweaty, eye-twitching face, the clenched throat, the panicky voice, the aura of desperation, and his gimpy walk. All things we fat, would-be actors wish for in a role. And last but not least there is Henry Mancini's fantastically outrageous jazzy/rock & roll/gypsy score. You'll rush to buy it if you're lucky. His tunes propel even a Gabor to tolerable standards. It really is amazing.

--Harry Knowles

Full Length Reviews
Touch of Evil
Touch of Evil
Touch of Evil
Touch of Evil

Capsule Reviews
Touch of Evil
Touch of Evil
Touch of Evil

Other Films by Orson Welles
Citizen Kane
The Magnificent Ambersons
The Trial

Film Vault Suggested Links
The Killing
Mulholland Falls
Double Indemnity

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