"Touch of Evil"

Orsen Welles directed in 1958 the black and white film “Touch of Evil.” The film is set on the boarder of Mexico. There are problems with narcotics and a Mexican investigator works with the police force mainly the Captain, Hank, and his crew to help solve the problems. The investigator, Vargas, discovers that the Captain is corrupt and works to clear his wife’s name, Suzie, and the Captian held accountable for his actions.

This film is a work of film noir and a little bit of melodrama with the dramatic Spanish music played throughout. The lighting with a lot of shadows (attached and cast) and the detective element add to the suspense and are the main elements of film noir. The film had tons of low angles and straight angles. The upward angles came mostly when Orsen Welles’ character Captain Hank and Charlton Heston’s character Vargas were being shown. The cinematography was exceptional throughout. For example, when Suzie was caught with this Mexican gang, the camera showed the leader Grande looking in the mirror and in the mirror the audience could see Suzie and the other gang member. The lighting was very dark when the captain went to visit his friend who reads cards. It was dark but yet her face glowed and created great shadows. Lastly, when Suzie was taken to her cabin after the Chief dropped her over there was a crane shot over the cabin into the desert that was effect and very smooth.

Quote from the film: “It is a dirty job enforcing the law but someone has to do it.” Vargas