Uh, you focused American citizens? I am yes? Where were you born?
This? Miss? What? Philadelphia? The name is Vargus? Here
in jail? See who's here? Sure, mister Vargus, I'm in the
trail of another dope ring, not in the trail of a chocolate soda from
my wife. Your wife darely a bride officer? Hey? Can I get
through lot to talk up here about how you crack that brandy business? Why
here you caught the big boats? Only one of them? The Grandies are
a big family. Good night, no purchases, mister Legy, Hey,
I do American citizens? My goodness? Chicking noise? Okay, the noise
in my head? Why do you realize this the very first time we've been
together in my country? Do you realize I haven't kissed you over that my
thought nose? Like? What happened that car that just passed has exploded?
I don't know. I'll have to try to find us. You'd better not
come in exclose. We'll have to post before Minnesota. I'm afraid i'd like
guy Susie, please be careful. Starting with this sprawling, impeccable tracking shot
that comes in at over four minutes, and it concludes with dialogue and a
car exploding. We are brought into one of the highest regarded film noirs in
cinema history. This film is from nineteen fifty eight and it is directed by
Orson Wells. Following ten years away in Europe, I present to you Touch
of Evil. The film stars Wells as corrupt cop Hank Quinlan, who is
investigating the car bomb explosion that kills a man and his stripper girlfriend. His
plans in getting a corrupt conviction are thwarted by Special Prosecutor Miguel Vargas played by
Charlton Heston and his newlywed American wife Susy played by Starlit Janet Lee. The
conflict between Quinlan and Vargas takes center stage early. Quinlan is highly regarded by
people in the area for his high conviction rate that is obtained by dubious means.
Right away, we can see here and feel the tension between the quote
unquote do gooder that is Vargas and the corrupt Quinn. Our first scene is
the first encounter that two have with each other. Then, in the second
scene, where Vargas confronts Quinlan over planting evidence to secure a confession, and
hopeful conviction on a man that is secretly married the male victim's daughter. Really
pay attention to the tension in the first scene and how they interact with each
other. In the second scene, Vargas becomes more apt at butting heads with
Quinlan and doesn't have fear of him. In the second scene. We should
also tell you about my wife's wife. It was accusted in the street a
little while ago, and let across to some dive on your side of the
border. Vargas family seems been getting into quite a lot of trouble tonight.
Can you describe this man? First? One scene? Good looking man,
not exactly exactly sis. She was taking to starve by force? Not by
force. No one of the grandees was their weak, short, fat with
a mustache description. I haven't run into him. What they call him uncle
Joe? That's right? Go on? What do you mean? Go on?
I told you what happened. Aren't you going to do something about it?
I'm making a charge. You could ask a writer, is that police
procedure in Mexico? Proceed? Say your wife was a not say she was
just saying she was molested, physically molested. No was obsive language I do
think explaining the fact that your wife allowed herself to be picked up by it
was a good picked up. Now, Hank, I think we're getting off
on the wrong tack here. And this good lucky young man was a friend
of her, obviously not you wouldn't call that getting picture from now. We
mustn't forget, must be that mister Vargas is not gonna witness stand. Hank's
a born lawyer. You know, lawyer, I know lawyer or a lawyer
cares about it, the law. And you are a policeman, aren't you.
You don't seem very fond of the job, bloody of soldiers who don't
like war. It's a dirty job forcing the law, but it's what we're
supposed to be doing. Is and I don't know about you. On a
murderers loose, I'm supposed to catch him, ryll Pete. Let's get back
to civilization. Let's go, don You gotta get some rest, a chance
of that. They got to be dead. And now the second scene,
what is it found? What partner? Come here along? I don't even
know this sencious all right, boy boy, come in here now in English?
Just how much dynamite was that you stole. What good did you to
tell you that I've never seen any Don Linaker. He did all he could
to keep you away from his daughter, but she stances and haired a million
bucks, so naturally you just moved in. Marti and I were married secretly
million bucks. Ain't no secret about that. God's candy changes. Well,
why don't you let up for a man? Got yourself this highway? Olcome
to the explosive's been in store? Ten sticks a dynamo. No, well,
I has done it again. He's nailed this man thanks to you.
Pardon me. The dynamite had been a snake there in the battle, but
it would have been its chief. Cool and I'd keep you in forum bargains.
So I'm doing it. This is it. We broke in the case.
Rudy Lineker was blown up with eight sticks of dynamite and Sans stole ten.
That leaves two and we found them both. You heard that, boy,
We found the dynamite. That's impost on. We found two sticks like
fox right number? Where did you find this? Right here? And your
love? Were you at the stash? Of course? What are you trying
to do? Trying to strap you to the electric chair. We don't like
it when innocent people are blown to jelly in our town. There's no lady
on main street. Last night, I picked up a shoe. Shoe had
a foot in it. We're gonna make you pay for them. They're trying
to railroad me. I don't know why. I never stole any dynamite,
so you know, sending Hindu for all good mother, He swears on his
mother's grave that there has never been any dynamite in this apartment. Sure,
sure, take him in, book him, let's go. You say you
found this dynamite their bathroom, Pete found it. Can't you do something to
help me? What are you scared of? That stuff is nearly as easy
to blow up as people seem to think. It doesn't go off quick.
You found the dynamite in this box? Yeah, he founded towards you.
Then I'm capting. I looked in that box just now. There wasn't anything
there. I know you feel You'm sure I do you people are touchy.
It's film You Are is known for its plot twists and turns. These turns
are often loaded with gross betrayal. We are left wondering at the end of
the film, did anyone have intentions without ulterior motives. This film carries that
theory to the next level, even when seemingly detached from the wicked ways.
Within the world of this film, the characters go into the dark recesses of
their minds and souls, and generally it is under the guise in belief the
end justify the means. Next, we will hear Quinlan implicate Vargas's wife for
a drug induced murder. The truth is she has been taken to a remote
hotel for her protection, but unbeknownst to her husband, the hotel is owned
by Joe Grandi, the brother of a major narcoticstealer that Vargas has put away.
They use this to terrorize her and drug her. This sets up Quinland
starting to lose his grip on the corrupt world he helped cultivate by murdering Grandy
and setting up Susie for the crime. What Vargas's wife an narcotic scramp oh
One of the boys that was on this wild party game of the Buzzy I
just really add to the vice boys is Anonymous, the hotel rich room mate.
Anyway, I had things got a lot of control. Don't be surprised
what they find. Well, what about me? H? What do I
do? He buy them? Break him, bake him, put up the
phone. Let's see what you got the key? Talk to you about you
up here for a reason? God right now? No nything? Just don't
no you real west h m hm hm oh no DoD really dead you no
m As with any noir film, there has to be a climactic ending touch
of evil. Certainly delivers that as Vargas and Quinland meet for a final showdown.
In this scene. Notice how Quinland, despite being figured out, despite
being at the end of the road, refuses to back down. He has
been defeated. His corrupt reign is over, but yet he is still defiant
in the face of law in order that is represented by Vargas well, Captain,
I'm afraid this is finally something you can't take your way out of.
You wonder that you killed him various? Come on, Dollar, give me
my gun back. You don't know. It's just telling me you killed Pete.
Bullet is from your gun. You think anyone would believe that? They
always believe me anyway, never believe I killed him a gun. You're resisting
arrest. How could you arrest me here. This is my country, and
this is where you're gonna die. Yeah, there wasn't no miss pocus that
was there to turn you around. I don't want to shoot your him back.
I'm not you rally try around for it. Mmmmh sorts Is she there?
Did you bring my wife? She's in the car. That's men's he's
dead. Quinlan's been shot too. He's lying by the recording down there.
I've got it all on tape. You sure you got enough enough? Go
play it back. You'll see, Susie. Well, these years you've been
playing me for a sucker, faking evidence, aiding justice bartnet. Hang,
Susie, It's all over, Susie. I'm taking your home home. How
minutes did your friend know what? It wasn't Gilly, Gilly? Hang?
No, I ain't working for five hours, harness. Give okay. Here
this study. That's the second bullet I stopped for you. For anyone that
has never seen a film noir, or even if you are well versed to
the genre, this film is a mussy. It is filled with suspense,
beautiful cinematography, in biting dialogue, all well known aspects of the film noir
genre. It is the quintessential noir. Sadly, people did not feel the
same way. Upon release, the film was disregarded by critics and would be
Wells's last American made film before he went back to Europe. Much like the
earlier reviewed Magnificent Amberson's, Wells's final vision did not make it to the big
screen. He lost final editing when he refused to come to a redubbing following
a memo he sent to the studio. Unlike the Magnificent Amberson's, his original
vision was able to be restored in nineteen ninety eight. What they did is
followed the same memo Wells sent to the studio in post production. That version
has gone mass acclaim and led to the film being deemed culturally significant. Sadly,
Wells would never see or hear this. He would never take part of
the acclaim because he died thirteen years prior in nineteen eighty five. Regardless,
the film has left a lasting impression on cinema, film reviewers, film instructors,
film students, and even those who have casually watched it. You owe
it to yourself to view this film and enjoy it. For WMNH and Matt
Connorton, unleashed. This has been a classic film review with Eric Pilcher