"A policeman's job is only easy in a police state."

Mexican narcotics investigator, Ramon Vargas, is about to go on honeymoon with his new American wife Susan when they witness a car explosion on the US / Mexican border. Vargas cannot help but get involved in the incident and assisting on the case with revered US Police Captain Hank Quinlan. In the midst of this Vargas' wife becomes a target for local crime lord Uncle Joe Grandi and very soon the honeymoon is the last thing on their minds. Vargas also realises very quickly that Quinlan's policing methods are somewhat morally compromised and decides to investigate further into the methods of this intriguing character and his 'game' leg intuitions for solving crime.

"We're gonna get him where it really hurts and without laying a hand on him. He's got a reputation. He's got a young bride. He's gonna leave this town wishing he and that wife of his had never been born."


skyjude review
A film that stars Charlton Heston works in spite of his performance as a Mexican narcotics investigator. Yes - Charlton Heston as a Mexican and this has long been considered one of movie's greatest oddities. Good ol' Chuck took the role as an opportunity to work with Orson Welles and for this he cannot be blamed as we have one of cinema's greatest directors at the very top of his game - a serious rival to the genius of Citizen Kane as Welles greatest achievement. If that's not enough praise and reason to seek this movie out then the first three minutes should do the trick in an awesome, jaw-dropping example of what movies can do with the right man at the helm.

Top 5 Reasons for Watching Touch Of Evil

[5] Dennis Weaver
Almost certainly the inspiration for Anthony Perkins' portrayal of the Motel manager in Psycho, Weaver brilliantly stutters his way through his role as the hard-of-understanding Mirador Motel Night Manager. Never less than completely weird and disturbingly creepy, this is a memorable role in a great movie.

[4] Janet Leigh's tight top
We get to enjoy Janet Leigh in all sorts of clothing and lingerie but her tight top's the winner for me. With the unenviable task of playing Charlton Heston's new bride, Leigh simply lets her superb figure do the talking firmly relegating Heston to straight man in a film where he should have been the hero.

[3] Quinlan attacks Uncle Joe
Only a man of Quinlan's lack of integrity could betray the mob leader who was helping him frame somebody else. There is some perverse joy in watching a heavily drunk man of Quinlan's size overpower the petrified Uncle Joe.

[2] Orson Welles
Either as director or actor this is Welles film. Only a director with the audacity and brilliance of Welles could have picked himself for the role of the obese, corrupt and generally unpleasant Hank Quinlan. And quite frankly nobody else could have played this role anything like Welles does. As for the directing - well this is simply a showpiece for other auteurs and essentially provided the last word in how to shoot a film noir.

[1] The opening sequence
An easy pick for top moment in film but this really is a breathtaking shot that stands alone in movie history. Three minutes of an amazing crane shot starting with the planting of a bomb and climaxing with it's explosion - a contender for most awesome opening to a film ever.


Touch Of Evil quotes

Ramon Vargas: This could be very bad for us.
Susan Vargas: For us?
Ramon Vargas: For Mexico, I mean.

D. A. Adair: Well, here comes Hank at last. Vargas, you've heard of Hank Quinlan our local police celebrity.
Ramon Vargas: I'd like to meet him.
Coroner: That's what you think.

Ramon Vargas: I wonder. What makes you so very sure it was dynamite?
Hank Quinlan: My leg.
Ramon Vargas: Your what?
Pete Menzies: His game leg. Sometimes he gets kind of a twinge like folks do for a change of weather. Intuition he calls it.

Ramon Vargas: Captain, you won't have any trouble with me.
Hank Quinlan: You bet your sweet life I won't.

Hank Quinlan: Who's the Jane?
D. A. Adair: His wife.
Hank Quinlan: Well, what do you know - she don't look Mexican either.

Hank Quinlan: I'm Hank Quinlan.
Tanya: I didn't recognize you. You should lay off those candy bars.
Hank Quinlan: It's either the candy or the hooch. I must say, I wish it was your chili I was getting fat on. Anyway, you're sure looking good.
Tanya: You're a mess, honey.

Hank Quinlan: I'm no lawyer. All a lawyer cares about is the law.
Ramon Vargas: Captain, you are a policeman, aren't you?
Hank Quinlan: Hmm, hmm. Aren't you? You don't seem very positive about the job.
Ramon Vargas: There are plenty of soldiers who don't like war. It's a dirty job, enforcing the law, but it's what we're supposed to be doing, isn't it?
Hank Quinlan: I don't know about you, when a murderer's loose, I'm supposed to catch him.

Hank Quinlan: I don't speak Mexican. Let's keep it in English, Vargas.
Ramon Vargas: That's alright with me. I'm sure he's just as unpleasant in any language.
Sanchez: Unpleasant? Strange, I've been told I have a very winning personality. The very best shoe clerk the store ever had.

Hank Quinlan: Come on, read my future for me.
Tanya: You haven't got any.
Hank Quinlan: What do you mean?
Tanya: Your future is all used up.

Pete Menzies: You're a killer.
Hank Quinlan: Partly. I'm a cop.

Schwartz: So it turns out Quinlan was right after all.

Schwartz: Well, Hank was a great detective all right.
Tanya: And a lousy cop.
Schwartz: Is that all you have to say for him?
Tanya: He was some kind of a man. What does it matter what you say about people?


Production companies: Universal International Pictures