Editing Touch of Evil (section)

=== Development ===
In March 1956, the mystery novel ''[[Badge of Evil]]'' was released to generally favorable reviews and its sales were brisk, with two printings in hardcover. [[Edward Muhl]], the head of production of [[Universal Pictures|Universal-International]], believed the novel had cinematic possibilities and arranged to purchase the film rights through the literary agency [[Curtis Brown (agency)|Curtis Brown]].{{sfn|Brady|1989|page=496}} By April 1956, the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' reported that the film rights had been acquired and that [[Albert Zugsmith]] (known as the "King of the [[B movie|Bs]]") had been tapped as producer.<ref>{{cite news |last=Schallert |first=Edwin |date=April 17, 1956 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/381268064/ |title=Two Novels Purchased; 'Rock Hunter' to Open New Season at Carthay |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |at=Part III, p. 7 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Zugsmith then assigned television writer [[Paul Monash]] to write the script adaptation within four weeks. Zugsmith then read Monash's script, but did not care for it and temporarily halted any further development on the project. By December 1956, Zugsmith had received a memo from Universal executive Mel Tucker inquiring about the development of ''Badge of Evil'' and suggested the possibility of casting [[Charlton Heston]] as the lead.{{sfn|Brady|1989|pages=496–497}}

By January 1957, having just finished promoting ''[[The Ten Commandments (1956 film)|The Ten Commandments]]'' (1956), Heston had received the script and considered it good enough. The actor contacted Universal to ask who they had considered to direct. They told him that they did not know, but [[Orson Welles]] was lined up as Hank Quinlan. Heston then replied, "Why not him direct, too. He's pretty good" to which the studio responded "We'll get back to you."{{sfn|Heston|1979|page=[https://archive.org/details/actorslifejourna00hest/page/39/ 18]}}{{sfn|Thomson|1996|page=335}} Universal studio head executives Ernest Nims and Jim Pratt—both of whom had worked with Welles on ''[[The Stranger (1946 film)|The Stranger]]'' (1946)—lobbied for Welles to direct again. Based on Pratt's suggestion, Universal-International offered Welles $125,000 for the job to act, direct, and based on his choosing, to rewrite the script.{{sfn|Leaming|1985|page=418}} On January 11, it was officially announced that Welles had signed with Muhl to star in and direct ''Badge of Evil''.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hopper |first=Hedda |author-link=Hedda Hopper |date=January 11, 1957 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/371318518/ |title=Orson Welles Will Star in and Direct 'Badge of Evil' |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |at=Section 2, p. 6 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

Welles had previously starred in ''[[Man in the Shadow (1957 American film)|Man in the Shadow]]'' (1957), which Zugsmith produced. According to Zugsmith, on the last day of shooting, Welles, who was impressed with Zugsmith's writing abilities, expressed that he was interested in directing a picture for him. Zugsmith offered Welles a pile of scripts, of which he requested the worst one. Welles was then handed Monash's script for ''Badge of Evil'' to which he asked, "Can I have two weeks to write it?" Zugsmith replied, "You can have it."<ref name="Zurgsmith">{{cite book |last1=McCarthy |first1=Todd |last2=Flynn |first2=Charles |title=Kings of the Bs: Working within the Hollywood System: An Anthology of Film History and Criticism |chapter-url=https://www.wellesnet.com/albert-zugsmith-on-producing-orson-welless-touch-of-evil/ |chapter=Producer Albert Zugsmith on making TOUCH OF EVIL with Orson Welles |pages=418–421 |year=1975 |location=New York |publisher=[[E.P. Dutton]] |isbn=978-0-525-14090-0 |via=Wellesnet.com}}</ref>{{sfn|Leaming|1985|page=413}}{{sfn|Deming|2020|pages=13–14}}