A Touch of Orson

I have written some film and book reviews for various websites over the years. I have decided that, on occasion, I will rewrite/edit some and post them here, along with original reviews.

Here are my thoughts on my favorite Orson Welles film (and no, it is not Citizen Kane, though that is my second-favorite Welles film). It's a lesser-known work, thanks to the studio, called Touch of Evil.

TOUCH OF EVIL
By Orson Welles
1958 - Universal Pictures

One of the biggest complaints viewers have today about Touch of Evil, the classic film noir written and directed by the late, great Orson Welles, is that it features Charlton Heston playing a Mexican. Yes, Moses himself playing a south-of-the-border Mexican.

Let's not forget, folks, Heston was shoved down Welles's throat. He didn't want to cast Heston as Vargas -- but the studio wanted a "star" to play the role. But I think the future NRA frontman did fine in the role.

Casting issues aside, virtually the entire movie was cut to shreds and reedited (this happened a lot to Welles, post-Citizen Kane). Luckily, Hollywood has regained its sanity in recent decades. Touch of Evil was later recut to fall more in line with Welles's original vision. In fact, on the DVD I own, you can read Welles's impassioned memo to the empty studio heads imploring them to at least respect the film's tapestry--its flow of visual images that no one but Welles and possibly some of the great film critics could probably even appreciate. Thank God for DVD!

I say the film works and is an excellent visual experience, with strong story telling, striking imagery and memorable characters (check out Deitrich!) and a very young Dennis Weaver as a schizo motel clerk. The film even includes what can only be a gang rape of Janet Leigh, and this is a 1950s movie.

Just remember, ultimately, Welles's career was only a shadow of what it could have been thanks to the fallout of Citizen Kane. Welles would end up fatter than his Touch of Evil character, and selling no wine before its time. But all in all, we are lucky to have Touch of Evil (which was several years' ahead of its time in terms of filmmaking).