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Touch of Evil

Posted on September 6, 2008August 25, 2018 by Village Vidiot

“Touch of Evil,” 6 September 2008 (1958), DVD.  B slept through this classic film noir with a difference from Orson Welles featuring Charlton Heston, Welles, Janet Leigh, Akim Tamiroff, Dennis Weaver, Marlene Deitrich and Zsa Zsa Gabor.  What a weird, surreal, study of corruption, cruelty, violence, racism, deception, and much more comic in moments most unexpected, it’s an over the top murder story Welles takes several pot shots at his girth, mostly through the beautiful mouth of Deitrich.  Heston is self-righteous and macho but fighting for the angels Weaver is totally deranged with his night clerk at a sleazy motel miles from nowhere.  (Rather like the template for Dennis Hopper and Harry Dean Stanton in their wild years.) Wild and quite worth seeing, if hokey in an early fifties fashion.  Janet Leigh is sharp and naïve. This film probably drew Hitchcock to her. Welles is burned out, corrupt, degenerate, and a ‘good cop’ but a dishonorable person. Gabor is a total hoot in a cameo as a stripper. Tamiroff is really fun and smarmy. Welles: “Tell me what the cards say about my future. Read ‘em”. Deitrich:. “You have no future. It’s all used up”

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