Touch Of Evil - A Film Noir Extraordinaire

I watched Touch of Evil (1958) as part of TCM's October Star of the Month centennial celebration of Charlton Heston's birth. This is one of his best films. It gave him an opportunity to play totally against type (which may offend some people as he died his hair black to play a Latino cop but at least he didn't attempt a fake accent). Once the first shot hits you'll forget all that and become completely immersed in this gritty crime Noir set on the US/Mexican border.

A bigwig's car explodes right in front of cop Mike Vargas (Heston) and his gorgeous wife Susie (played with a wonderful bit of spunk by Janet Leigh). He leads an investigation that gets more and more complicated, involving crooked cops and shady gangsters. The lead cop, Hank Quinlan (Orson Welles, who also directed), is a rough so and so, barreling his way into every corner of the investigation.

Susie is put in danger several times, with some pretty racy scenes for the era though they'd be mild today. Vargas finds out some disturbing facts about Quinlan and a showdown ensues. 

I've loved this quirky, crazy film since I was a teen. Everybody in it seems to be having a great time filming this extraordinary Noir! Orson Welles as Quinlan is deliberately hideous but he manages to garner sympathy for the guy even as he makes your skin crawl. Heston and Leigh work well together; their romance is not sappy but has a realness to it that fits the story. Marlene Dietrich shows up as Quinlan's former flame and steals every scene she's in. Even the supporting players and other cameos - Zsa Zsa Gabor, Ray Collins, Joseph Calleia, Joanna Moore, Mort Mills, Akim Tamiroff, Mercedes McCambridge, Joseph Cotten, etc... are perfect, I couldn't see anyone else doing any better in these roles.

I have to give a solo shout out to Dennis Weaver's performance as the night man at a creepy motel. His character is so far out there, just a bunch of neuroses wrapped up in a nerdy frame. And his nervousness around Susie Vargas is hilarious. In an interview he said he thought it was the best thing he ever did, and I agree. 

Touch of Evil is a Not To Be Missed Classic if you love Film Noir!