Touch of Evil (DVD)

Touch of Evil (1958) starring Charlton Heston, Orson Welles, Janet Leigh. Heston plays Mexican detective Mike Vargas, who locks horns with corpulent American sheriff Hank Quinlan (Welles) after a car crossing the Mexico-U.S. border explodes before his eyes. The newlywed Vargas forsakes his bride (Leigh) to mount an investigation, but soon finds that Quinlan is a shady cop who's not above planting evidence or colluding with the local crime lord to keep Vargas from discovering the ugly truth. Unfortunately, it's all badly dated and doesn't live up to current standards of cinematic excellence. This movie is a laughable mess that is a chore to watch, not an entertainment. The part involving drugs is especially ridiculous. Grade: C-