Crooked Way, The (1949)

[Steve-O]

I'm not crazy about Touch of Evil either, and when I hear it praised, I think I must be missing something. I don't mind amnesia films at all, btw.

I did watch The Crooked Way. I like it, but I certainly see flaws in it. Now let's talk about hating Touch of Evil! lol... I find that sometimes I have to be in the mood to enjoy a noir - and you really have to be in the right frame of mind to enjoy a b-noir (someone once said they're only good when you're sleep deprived and a bit drunk at 3am. Maybe true!) I remember loving The Crooked Way but I only find it passable now (same for Somewhere in the Night which was very talky).

[Nighthawk]

Now let's talk about hating Touch of Evil! lol

Yeah, I have to bite my tongue when I read some of these "Touch of Evil isn't very good" comments. To me, that's like saying, "I don't think Out of the Past and The Killers are very good."

[Steve-O]

Yeah, I have to bite my tongue when I read some of these "Touch of Evil isn't very good" comments. To me, that's like saying, "I don't think Out of the Past and The Killers are very good."

I respect yours and Guy Savage opinions though. I remember Guy's piece on Dead Reckoning was the first negative piece on NOTW.

[MFPhoto]

Yeah, I have to bite my tongue when I read some of these "Touch of Evil isn't very good" comments. To me, that's like saying, "I don't think Out of the Past and The Killers are very good."

The first time I saw Touch of Evil was on TV. I thought it was total crap, with Charlton Heston putting the final dagger though the heart with an unconvincing performance.

But later I saw the restored version in a theater. The film was not just simply restored, but was totally re-edited in accordance with Orson Welles' notes. The original studio release had certain scenes in a different order than what Welles intended. Between seeing the film on a large screen and seeing it the way Welles intended, it came across as a much better made and stronger film -- although Heston's performance still was unconvincing.

[Nighthawk]

I respect yours and Guy Savage opinions though. I remember Guy's piece on Dead Reckoning was the first negative piece on NOTW.

I don't mean to imply any disrespect; I guess I just can't see how any noir fan could not like Touch of Evil.

The first time I saw Touch of Evil was on TV. I thought it was total crap, with Charlton Heston putting the final dagger though the heart with an unconvincing performance.

But later I saw the restored version in a theater. The film was not just simply restored, but was totally re-edited in accordance with Orson Welles' notes. The original studio release had certain scenes in a different order than what Welles intended. Between seeing the film on a large screen and seeing it the way Welles intended, it came across as a much better made and stronger film -- although Heston's performance still was unconvincing.

Well, Heston was supposed to be playing a Mexican (!), a casting decision (that Universal pushed for) that still baffles me to this day.

[cigar joe]

I agree Heston as a Mexican takes a bit getting used to.

[noirguru]

No doubt about it, Heston was miscast. I read that Heston wanted Welles to direct the film, Orson was only suppose to act in it. If Welles didn't direct, no Heston!

[NOTW comment bot: comments from Noiroftheweek.com]

Oh I think the reviewer has been harsh on this film which I watched tonight. Certainly Sonny Tufts is just a bad actor and Percy Helton is his familiar annoying self. However I have to disagree with his comments about Ellen Drew who I found interesting and very watchable as the ex-wife who still desperately wants to be loved.
As to Payne well just as I defend John Hodiak for his performance as the amnesia suffering ex-soldier in the excellent 1946 film Somewhere in the Night, I have to say that Payne gives an above average and convincing performance here. When you're searching for your identity you're not going to be able to express every emotion for things you don't understand and Payne manages to convey it appropriately without coming across as wooden or flat.
However there is no disagreement as to the look of the film which is excellent. There are just so many nice shots: from Payne's initial arrival into LA to his wandering around the streets at night.

Cheers
Mimaroba

comment by Anonymous



This comment was made at Noiroftheweek.com.



2012-08-01T11:28:54.968-05:00

[Steve-O]

full movie: