Touch of Evil (4 Stars)

I bought this film on Blu-ray a few days ago, and I wasn't prepared for what awaited me. The box contains FIVE versions of the film on two Blu-ray discs. It's a big treat for fans of Orson Welles and this film in particular, but I don't intend to watch all five. I've picked the two versions that interest me most: the 1958 theatrical version and the 1996 restored version. I watched the theatrical version today, and I'll watch the restored version in the next few days..

In 1957 Orson Welles made a film called "Badge of Evil". He was absent during post-production, and the studios were in a hurry to release the film, so they gave the work to a film editor called Aaron Stell. Stell was unhappy with the footage left by Welles, so he rearranged scenes and asked for some new scenes to be filmed. The lead actor, Charlton Heston, refused to make the new scenes, because he thought that the film was already perfect as made by Orson Welles, but his contract compelled him to make the new scenes. Charlton Heston wrote in his journal, "I have done worse work in the movies than this day's retakes, but I don't remember feeling worse". The film was also renamed "Touch of Evil".

In the mid 1990's footage was found that had been removed from the film. Using Orson Welles' notes, an attempt was made to recreate the film as Welles wanted it, removing the new scenes and re-inserting the old scenes. You can think of the 1996 version as a Director's Cut without the director. This new version has been universally acclaimed as superior to Aaron Stell's hack job.

The film takes place in two towns on either side of the Mexican border. In Mexico a bomb is placed in the car of an American millionaire. The bomb explodes after the car crosses the border into America. This raises problems about whose jurisdiction it is. The American police captain Hank Quinian leads the case, but he's assisted by the Mexican prosecutor Miguel Vargas, nicknamed Mike by his American wife. Vargas suspects a connection with a drug case which will soon come to trial.

Quinian's main suspect is a young man called Sanchez, but Vargas thinks he's innocent. Quinian isn't a bad cop, but he believes in cutting corners to put the guilty behind bars. He places evidence in Sanchez's apartment so that he can make an arrest. Vargas knows that the evidence was freshly placed, so he tries to investigate Quinian. The drug lord Joe Grandi knows about the tension between the two men, so he approaches Quinian and offers to frame Vargas for drug possession.

I found the film very good, apart from unwanted comedy scenes with an inept motel night manager. It's thrilling and exciting, with a fascinating plot. I wonder if the restored version really is so much better. I'll let you know.

Success Rate:  + 0.7

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