Comments on: Just a Little Evil

By: Recent DVD Releases | Coosa Creek Cinema

Recent DVD Releases | Coosa Creek Cinema — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:03:32 +0000

[...] Touch Of Evil (50th Anniversary Edition) (1958) [...]

By: Rick

Rick — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 02:01:07 +0000

You say to-mah-toe, I say to-may-to … thanks for the comment.

By: darkcitydame4e...

darkcitydame4e... — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 20:37:52 +0000

“Personally, I’m not big on labeling things … if it walks like a duck, talks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it’s a duck. Noir, neo-noir …”

Hi! Rick,
I am so glad to tell you this, but you’re not along!…in the “world” of film noir…there are “two camps”…among the followers of films with noir elements….”One camp” that feels exactly, the way that you do, when it comes to films that are considered film noir being placed in separate categories and the other “camp” that feels the complete “opposite” and they think that there was a “transitional” period. (and why films that are considered film noir and neo~noir must be placed in separate categories at all cost!)
Of course!…I fit into the “latter camp”…instead of the “former camp.”

Thanks, dcd

By: Rick

Rick — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 20:34:57 +0000

I don’t think O’Toole was miscast, as you figured out, but the darkening of the his skin via makeup was what it reminded me of.

I should learn to be a little more clear!

By: Phillip

Phillip — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 20:13:19 +0000

Never mind that. I misread. Damn my eyes.

By: Phillip

Phillip — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 20:12:42 +0000

Heston really is terrible in this, but you think Peter O’Toole was mis-casted in Lawrence of Arabia?!

What, my dear friend, are you smoking?

By: Rick

Rick — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:39:24 +0000

Yeah, Jonathan you’re right: I will give Heston props for that. Without Welles, TOE would only be a fraction of what it is. Also, Janet Leigh elevates it in my mind at least. And as you point out, that bathroom scene is killer.

I also think that Welles builds suspense expertly around Leigh’s fate in the hotel owned by the Mexican thug. He toys with us: the minute Heston’s character finds out who owns that hotel, he’d be off, but he doesn’t until it’s too late. At one point, another character says “Do you know who owns that hotel?” but before he can say, there’s a diversion. We in the audience are going “Go on, tell him!” Genius.

By: Rick

Rick — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:35:56 +0000

Sam: Maybe it’s because the story/plot is just so-so. It’s pretty standard, actually, and Welles doesn’t seem interested in it per se. Rather, it seems to be an excuse for Welles’ adventurous and innovative filmmaking techniques and outlook.

By: Rick

Rick — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:30:52 +0000

darkcitydame4e: Thanks for the comments. I’m not a big advocate one way or another of Welles, but I like this film. Personally, I’m not big on labeling things … if it walks like a duck, talks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it’s a duck. Noir, neo-noir …

By: Jonathan Lapper

Jonathan Lapper — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:29:56 +0000

And don’t forget the dynamite planting in the bathroom/interrogation scene. That’s all one take too and it’s amazing. As is the film for me, no tedium here. And as for Chuck he was instrumental in getting Welles on board to direct the movie so I definitely cut him slack on this one.