Themes, Scenes & Everything in Between

Touch of Evil (1958), by Orson Welles tells the story of police corruption in a border town near Mexico and the United States. The film follows corrupt United States Police Captain Hank Quinlan (Orson Welles) and Mexican Narcotics Agent Mike Vargas (Charlton Heston).

Quick Character Study – Hank Quinlan

Welles is widely known for creating egocentric male leads that crave power and status; Hank Quinlan is no different. Quinlan is an overweight, lazy, racist cop who exerts his control over others. The police captain has no qualms at planting false evidence on unsuspecting people in order to keep his position as top cop.  Nonetheless, Quinlan is not a stereotypical corrupt official. He’s a smart detective with numerous physical and mental issues (e.g. use of walking cane and alcoholism). Sure, his instincts generally lead him in the right direction, but he uses corrupt techniques in order to prove his case. These character flaws unfortunately lead to his tragic downfall.

How Film Techniques Build a Character

Various film noir elements (a stylized genre of crime dramas) , such as low key lighting and frequent use of low camera angles, underscores Quinlan’s penchant for corruption. The screen cap below shows how deep dark shadows help emphasize that the police captain is not a heroic figure. 

The film's  use of extreme low angles also shows Quinlan’s overbearing presence – especially when he is trying to intimidate a potential foe, such as Vargas. 

Furthermore, the use of close up and medium close up shots underline Quinlan's antagonistic nature. Notice how the detective takes up most of the following shots. His very presence dominates the scenes. 

Overall,  the director's use of film noir techniques help push Quinlan's "anti hero turned villain" persona. Basically, he's the original Walter White or Frank Castle or. . . Well, you get the general idea.

If you want to watch a Touch of Evil, I highly recommend viewing it on any streaming services, such as iTunes and Amazon Video. 

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This blog is dedicated to breaking down scenes, themes, and everything in between from films to television shows. I will analyze new and old concepts. Guilty pleasures and cult classics. The critically acclaimed and the popcorn flicks. Things that are beloved in pop culture and things that are not.

Each analysis will run between 200 - 300 words. My goal is to state my opinion of these films and TV shows in a clear and concise manner. Hopefully, my blog will encourage you to view these films and TV shows at your own convenience.

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