Editing Touch of Evil (section)

====Critical re-evaluation====
In 1998, [[Roger Ebert]] added ''Touch of Evil'' to his Great Movies list. He praised the lead and supporting actors and argued that the cinematography was "not simply showing off" but rather was used to add depth to the complex plot by showing interpersonal connections and "trapping [the characters] in the same shots". Ebert also speculated Welles's role was semi-autobiographical, describing his Quinlan character as nursing old feuds and demonstrating an obsessive desire for control that arguably parallels Welles's life and career.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ebert |first=Roger |url=http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-touch-of-evil-1958 |title=Touch of Evil Movie Review |work=Chicago Sun-Times |via=[[RogerEbert.com]] |date=September 23, 1998 |access-date=August 26, 2017}}</ref> Todd McCarthy of ''Variety'' stated that although the restored film was virtually the same, he noted the film's plot is more coherent and that "due to the pristine new print, Welles' technical virtuosity and ingenious use of locations have never been more evident, and the entire picture plays more smoothly."<ref name="ToddMcCarthy" /> Peter Stack of the ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'' wrote "''Touch of Evil'' is a savvy starter because Welles' astonishing cinematic invention and his persuasive presence as star are prime noir attractions. The look, a deftly arranged climate of odd shadows and angles, neon lighting and flawlessly choreographed action scenes, keeps interest piqued through a contrived plot and mannered acting."<ref>{{cite news |last=Stack |first=Peter |url=https://www.sfgate.com/movies/article/Welles-Shown-Off-to-Be-His-Evil-Best-Revival-2800160.php |title=Welles Shown Off to Be His 'Evil' Best / Revival of 1958 noir classic opens at Castro |work=San Francisco Gate |date=October 24, 1997 |access-date=October 20, 2020}}</ref>

Michael Wilmington of the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' positively wrote the film was "close to the pinnacle of film noir" thanks to "[w]izardly moving camera shots, nightmarish angles and incredibly florid, amusing performances".<ref>{{cite news |last=Wilmington |first=Michael |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2005-12-30-0512300207-story.html |title=Welles' touch is evident in restored 'Touch of Evil' |work=Chicago Tribune |access-date=October 20, 2020}}</ref> [[Kenneth Turan]], reviewing for the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', summarized the 1998 re-cut: "Photographed by Russell Metty, ''Touch of Evil'' is one of the standard-bearers for the kind of eye-catching, bravura camera work Welles favored. Expressionistic in the extreme, filled with shadows, angles and cinematic flourishes, the film raises the usual brooding nightmare ambience of film noir to a level few other pictures have attempted."<ref>{{cite news |last=Turan |first=Kenneth |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-sep-06-ca-19865-story.html |title=The Authentic Touch of Welles |work=Los Angeles Times |date=September 6, 1998 |access-date=October 20, 2020}}</ref> In 2012, critic [[Manohla Dargis]] listed ''Touch of Evil'' as one of her ten favourite films of all time on [[The Sight & Sound Greatest Films of All Time 2012|2012 ''Sight & Sound'' critics' poll]] list.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/sightandsoundpoll2012/voter/372|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310130747/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people//sightandsoundpoll2012/voter/372|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 10, 2016|title=Manohla Dargis &#124; BFI}}</ref>

On the [[review aggregator]] website [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film received an approval rating of 95% based on 79 reviews, with an average rating of 8.80/10. The critical consensus reads, "Artistically innovative and emotionally gripping, Orson Welles' classic noir is a visual treat, as well as a dark, sinister thriller."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1021749-touch_of_evil |title=Touch of Evil (1958) |work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |access-date=September 9, 2021}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], the film has a weighted average score of 99 out of 100, based on 22 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/touch-of-evil |title=Touch of Evil Reviews |work=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=October 20, 2020}}</ref>

In 1998, ''[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]]'' magazine conducted a poll and the film was voted 57th greatest film of all time.<ref>{{cite web |work=[[AMC (TV channel)|AMC Filmsite.org]] |url=http://www.filmsite.org/timeout2.html |title=Top 100 Films (Readers) |publisher=American Movie Classics Company |access-date=August 17, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718213202/http://www.filmsite.org/timeout2.html |archive-date=July 18, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2000, the film was ranked at No. 55 in ''[[The Village Voice]]''{{'}}s 100 Greatest Films list.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hoberman |first=J. |title=100 Best Films of the 20th Century |publisher=Village Voice Media, Inc. |location=New York |url=http://www.filmsite.org/villvoice.html |date=January 4, 2000 |access-date=December 14, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140331174817/http://www.filmsite.org/villvoice.html |archive-date=March 31, 2014}}</ref> ''Touch of Evil'' was placed No. 64 on [[American Film Institute]]'s "[[AFI's 100 Years...100 Thrills|100 Years, 100 Thrills]]" list in 2001.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.afi.com/100years/thrills.aspx |title=AFI's 100 Years...100 Thrills |publisher=[[American Film Institute]] |access-date=2015-11-12}}</ref>

In [[The Sight & Sound Greatest Films of All Time 2012|the ''Sight & Sound'' Greatest Films of All Time 2012]] poll, the film was placed No. 26 and No. 57 by the directors and the critics respectively.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6b8bc241/sightandsoundpoll2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302002726/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6b8bc241/sightandsoundpoll2012 |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 2, 2017 |title=Votes for Touch of Evil (1958) |publisher=[[British Film Institute]] |access-date=2017-08-26}}</ref> In 2015, the film ranked 51st on [[BBC]]'s "100 Greatest American Films" list, voted on by film critics from around the world.<ref>{{cite web|date=July 20, 2015|title=100 Greatest American Films|url=http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20150720-the-100-greatest-american-films|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916105535/http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20150720-the-100-greatest-american-films|archive-date=September 16, 2016|access-date=July 21, 2015|work=BBC}}</ref>

Henry Mancini's soundtrack album, released by [[Challenge Records (1950s-60s label)|Challenge Records]] in 1958, was ranked at number 405 in ''[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]]''{{'}}s 2025 list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1950s"; contributor Peter Watts noted how Mancini's "opulent and evocative" music "introduced a theme of pulsating [[Afro-Cuban music|Afro-Cuban]] percussion, swinging [[Mexican music|Mexican]] rhythms and [[jump blues]] alongside Mancini's trademark strut."<ref name="Uncut500">{{cite journal |editor1-last=Robinson |editor1-first=John |title=The Ultimate Record Collection: The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1950s |journal=Uncut: The Archive Collection |date=April 2025 |issue=8 |page=16}}</ref>