Universal Feature Films

PROMOTION DEPARTMENT MeA TV • 445 PARK AVENUE/NEW YORK, N.Y. 10022 (212) 759·7500

"TOUCH OF EVIL" 95 mins 1958

CAST AND CREDITS

Charlton Heston Ramon Miguel (Mike) Vargas •. Charlton Heston

Janet Leigh Susan Vargas Janet Leigh
Orson Welles Hank Quinlan •.............. Orson Welles
Joseph Calleia Pete Menzies •........•.•... Joseph Calleia
Akim Tamiroff "Uncle Joe" Grandi .....•..•. Akim Tamiroff
Marlene Dietrich Marcia Linnekar Joanna Moore
Zsa Zsa Gabor Adair Ray Collins
The Night Man Dennis Weaver
Directed by Orson Welles Pancho •.....•............. Valentin De
Screenplay by Orson Welles Vargas
Based on the Novel "Badge of Evil" Schwartz .•..•.............. Mort Mills
by Whit Ma sterson Manelo Sanchez Victor Millan
Produced by Albert Zugsmith Risto ....•................. Lalo Rios
Pretty Boy. Michael Sargent

THE STORY

The honeymoon of Susan and Mike Vargas (JANET LEIGH and CHARLTON HESTON)
is interrupted by an automobile bombing on the U .S. side of Los Robles I a Mexican
border town. Though Vargas is not a policeman I but a special investigator for the
Mexican government I he feels it is his duty to remain on the scene I since the car
came from Mexico. One victim is a little-known strip teaser I but her companion I
a man named Linnekar I virtually owned Los Robles. Vargas earns the displeasure
of detective captain Hank Quinlan (ORSON WELLES) I a bully and bigot I but a hero
among American cops because he has never failed to get his man. Quinlan wants no
Mexican interference I but is forced I by orders from above I to cooperate with Vargas.
As her husband talks with Quinlan over the torn bodies in the street I Susan is
accosted by a stranger with a note which piques her curiosity. She follows the man
to a cheap hotel where she meets "Uncle Joe" Grandi (AKIM TAMIROFF) I underworld
leader who tries to impress Susan with the necessity of Vargas laying off Grandi I s
brother in a Mexico City narcotics rap. Susan foolishly goes to wait for Vargas in
a lonely motel on a deserted old highway. Vargas discovers that Quinlan has planted
evidence I the dynamite used to blow up Linnekar's car I in the apartment of a young
Mexican named Sanchez I recently married to Linnekar's spoiled daughter I Marcia
 "TOUCH OF EVIL"
(continued)

(JOANNA MOORE). Vargas probes Quinlan's past to find that the police hero's
arrests were all based on phony evidence. He has often framed the criminal to
insure justice. Concerned that Vargas may expose him, Quinlan plans with
Grandi to frame Susan.
Quinlan and Grandi have young hoodlums stage a "junk" party at Susan's
motel, after which Susan, drugged, is brought to Grandi's hotel and placed half .
conscious, half dressed, in a room filled with evidence of narcotics. Then,
undesirous of being in a blackmailer's clutches, Quinlan chokes Grandi to death
with Susan's stocking, leaving the dead man in her room.
Vargas finds his wife in jail, arrested by the vice squad. Proving to
Quinlan's sergeant, Pete Menzies (JOSEPH CALLEIA), that his boss is a criminal,
Vargas enlists Menzies I aid to trick Quinlan into tape recording confessions with
a microphone hidden in Menzies I clothes. They discover the detective drunk in a
joint run by Tanya (MARLENE DIETRICH). But clever Quinlan realizes wMt is
happening, he shoots Menzies and goes after Vargas. The dying Menzies shoots
Quinlan before the captain can get Vargas.
With Quinlan, a great detective but a bad cop, dead, Vargas and Susan are
free to continue their honeymoon.
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Universal Feature Rims
PROMOTION DEPARTMENT MeA TV • 445 PARK AVENUE/NEW YORK, N.Y. 10022 (212) 759·7500

10 Second On-The-Air Announcement

TOUCH OF EVIL

Gripping action and suspense as a crooked cop plans

to frame two newlyweds in a Mexican bordertown.

Charlton Heston, Orson Welles and Janet Leigh in

TOUCH OF EVIL (tomorrow) (tonight) at _

on Channel