11.6 Module 11 Summary

Module 11 Summary 

The ultimate crooked cop, Detective Quinlan is realized by Orson Welles in a fat suit and extensive prosthetic makeup to add jowls


RECAP
Based on Whit Masterson’s mystery novel “Badge of Evil,” Touch of Evil was a late-cycle entry in the traditional noir canon, but it deploys many of the genre’s familiar devices, like a swinging light getting smacked to convey associative violence, or the way cinematographer Russell Metty adds to the chiaroscuro hysteria with wide-angle views that are enhanced but also abnormal.

In this module To demonstrate your learning, you completed the following activities and assessments: 

Read module material and "The Borderlands of Touch of Evil"  Download "The Borderlands of Touch of Evil"from Noir Anxiety by Kelly Oliver and Benigno Trigo

Watch Touch of Evil and clips

RESOURCES

Suggested Further Viewing: 
The Lady from Shanghai (1947) Full movie
Link to film here Free on YouTube
Rita Hayworth as Elsa Bannister
Orson Welles as Michael O'Hara
Based on "If I Die Before I Wake, 1938 by Raymond Sherwood Kind. 

Produced, directed and screenplay by Orson Welles

Walter Murch - The story behind Orson Welles's 'Touch of Evil'
Link Here

In 2012 before the showing of the Orson Welles classic Touch of Evil (a re-released version of the film with changes based on a memo Welles had penned for the studio), actor/director/author Peter Bogdanovich (author of This Is Orson Welles) spoke about Welles' artistic legacy. After the film (at 8:03), IU Emeritus Professor of Film Studies James Naremore (author of The Magic World of Orson Welles and our textbook) joined Bogdanovich for a Q&A with the audience about the film.

Peter Bogdanovich on Orson Welles
Link Here

(Before the showing of the Orson Welles classic Touch of Evil (a re-released version of the film with changes based on a memo Welles had penned for the studio), actor/director/author Peter Bogdanovich (author of This Is Orson Welles) spoke about Welles' artistic legacy. After the film, IU Emeritus Professor of Film Studies James Naremore (author of The Magic World of Orson Welles) joined Bogdanovich for a Q&A with the audience about the film.)


Behind the Edit: The Orson Welles Memo
Link Here

In this video, director/editor Joey Scoma compares and contrasts versions of the 1958 film TOUCH OF EVIL and shows us how the arduous process of editing pushes and pulls the overarching narrative of a film. Take a page out of this incredible piece of film history and see how even the most minor of edits can act as a powerful storytelling tool.


The editing process is one of the most elusive parts of filmmaking to teach and it's rare to get a glimpse into the often private and meticulous decisions filmmakers make in the edit bay. With the film TOUCH OF EVIL, we are afforded that rare glimpse into the creative thought process of Orson Welles, often considered one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. 


After writing, acting in, and directing the film, Welles was abruptly fired from the production after Universal studio execs saw the rough cut and worried its unconventional narrative would tank. What followed was a back and forth struggle over the final cut between Welles and the studio, and resulted in the incredible 58-page memo detailing Welles' editorial notes. While some of his asks were addressed, Universal released its version of the film in 1958. A previously unreleased cut of the film was discovered in 1976 and in 1998, esteemed film editor Walter Murch reconstructed Welles' original vision using his memo as a guide. 

In this video, director/editor Joey Scoma compares and contrasts versions of the 1958 film Touch of Evil and shows us how the arduous process of editing pushes and pulls the overarching narrative of a film. Take a page out of this incredible piece of film history and see how even the most minor of edits can act as a powerful storytelling tool. The editing process is one of the most elusive parts of filmmaking to teach and it’s rare to get a glimpse into the often private and meticulous decisions filmmakers make in the edit bay. With the film Touch of Evil, we are afforded that rare glimpse into the creative thought process of Orson Welles, often considered one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. - Rocket Jump Film School

RESOURCES:

The Orson Welles Memo on "Touch of Evil"
Link Here


FILM COMMENTARY TO PLAY ALONG WITH FILM

If you really want to geek out - full film commentary with Rick Schmidlin (producer of the re-edit), Janet Leigh & Charlton Heston. I've provided the film again below if you want to cue them together. - Link Here


Looking Ahead

Now you are ready to move onto Module 12.

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