Editing Touch of Evil (section)

====Contemporary reviews====
[[Howard Thompson (film critic)|Howard Thompson]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' wrote "...while good versus evil remains the text, the lasting impression of this film is effect rather than substance, hence its real worth." He complimented the film's direction noting that "Mr. Welles' is an obvious but brilliant bag of tricks. Using a superlative camera (manned by Russell Metty) like a black-snake whip, he lashes the action right into the spectator's eye."<ref>{{cite news |last=Thompson |first=Howard |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1958/05/22/archives/screen-touch-of-evil-orson-welles-is-triple-threat-in-thriller.html |title=Screen: 'Touch of Evil' |work=The New York Times |page=25 |date=May 22, 1958 |access-date=October 20, 2020}}</ref> Philip K. Scheuer of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' wrote "As usual, Welles has placed mood above content. But what mood! ''Touch of Evil'' is underkeyed, underlighted and undermonitored (for sound), but with the assistance of Russell Metty's marvelous mobile camera it charges ahead like the pure cinema it so often succeeds in being, complete with built-in stocks."<ref>Scheuer, Philip K. (June 10, 1958). [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/61466599/philip-k-scheuers-review-of-touch-of/ "Welles Paradox as Film Director"]. ''Los Angeles Times''. Part III, p. 7. Retrieved October 20, 2020 – via [[Newspapers.com]]. {{Open access}}</ref> ''[[Harrison's Reports]]'' felt that Welles "has peopled the story with odd characterizations and, in an apparent effort to get away from routine picture-making, has made dramatic use of unusual photographic angles, shadows and lighting. This makes for an arty approach but it seems to lessen the dramatic impact of the story. The acting is very good, and a number of the individual scenes are tense and exciting."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://archive.org/details/harrisonsreports40harr/page/n53/mode/2up |title='Touch of Evil' with Orson Welles, Charlton Heston and Janet Leigh |work=Harrison's Reports |page=47 |date=March 22, 1958 |access-date=November 13, 2020 |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref>

''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' felt that "Welles establishes his creative talent with pomp, but unfortunately the circumstances of the story suffer. There is insufficient orientation and far too little exposition, with the result that much of the action is confusing and difficult to relate to the plot...Welles' script contains some hard-hitting dialogue; his use of low-key lighting with Russell is effective, and Russell Metty's photography is fluid and impressive; and Henry Mancini's music is poignant. But ''Touch of Evil'' proves it takes more than good scenes to make a good picture."<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/variety210-1958-03/page/n173/mode/2up |title=Film Reviews: Touch of Evil |magazine=Variety |page=16 |date=March 19, 1958 |access-date=October 20, 2020 |via=Internet Archive}}</ref> Dorothy Masters, reviewing for the ''[[New York Daily News]]'', gave the film three stars out of four noting that the "Welles touch is manifest in a taut screen play, suspenseful presentation, stark backgrounds, off-beat camera angles and a weird assortment of characters. The production is advantage and are ably supported by the rest of the cast."<ref>{{cite news |last=Masters |first=Dorothy |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/456732355/ |title=Evil on a Rampage in Murder Mystery |work=New York Daily News |page=75 |url-access=subscription |date=May 8, 1958 |access-date=October 20, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>