Editing Touch of Evil (section)

==Release==
===Initial release and reception===
''Touch of Evil'' was given a [[Film screening#sneak preview|sneak preview]] at a theater in [[Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles]] on January 31, 1958. This version of the film ran 108 minutes, and was not well-received.{{sfn|Callow|2015|page=275}} Heston wrote in his journal that "I'm afraid it's simply not a good picture. It has the brilliance that made each day's rushes look so exciting, of course. Indeed, there's hardly a dull shot in the film. But it doesn't hold together as a story."{{sfn|Heston|1979|page=[https://archive.org/details/actorslifecharlt00alpe/page/42/mode/2up 42]}} In February 1958, ''Touch of Evil'' was attached in a [[double bill]] with ''[[The Female Animal]]'', starring [[Hedy Lamarr]],<ref>{{cite news |last=Murch |first=Walter |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/09/06/arts/film-restoring-the-touch-of-genius-to-a-classic.html |title=Restoring the Touch Of Genius to a Classic |work=The New York Times |date=September 6, 1998}}</ref> which was also produced by Albert Zugsmith and directed by Harry Keller. The two films even had the same cameraman, Russell Metty. This general version ran only 94 minutes.{{sfn|Callow|2015|page=275}}

====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>

====Accolades====
Although Universal Pictures did its best to prevent ''Touch of Evil'' from being selected for the 1958 Brussels World Film Festival—part of the [[Expo 58]] [[world's fair]]—the film received its European premiere and Welles was invited to attend. To his astonishment, Welles collected the two top awards.{{sfn|Callow|2015|page=277}} ''Touch of Evil'' would also receive the [[International Federation of Film Critics|International Critics Prize]], and Welles was recognized for his body of work.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fipresci.org/festival-reports/1958/brussels-world-film-festival |title=1958 Brussels World Film Festival |publisher=[[International Federation of Film Critics]] (FIPRESCI) |access-date=May 15, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Lyons |first=Leonard |date=July 10, 1958 |title=The Lyons Den |work=The Salt Lake Tribune}}</ref>

====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>

===Restorations===
====1976 release====
Robert Epstein, a [[University of California, Los Angeles|UCLA]] film studies professor, had requested a film print for a screening in his class in the early 1970s. Inside the Universal archives, he discovered a 108-minute print of ''Touch of Evil''.{{sfn|Brady|1989|page=507}} It was publicly screened at the [[Los Angeles County Museum of Art]] as part of "The 50 Great American Films" on December 15, 1973.<ref>{{cite news |last=Thomas |first=Kevin |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/381821627 |title=Marathon To Conclude Film Series |date=December 12, 1973 |work=Los Angeles Times |at=Part IV, p. 24 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription}}</ref> The [[American Film Institute]], recognizing the historical value of the discovery, had submitted a duplicated [[Negative (photography)|negative]] to the [[Library of Congress]] for preservation in June 1975. A 16&nbsp;mm re-release provided through United World Films, Universal Pictures' non-theatrical distribution arm, was also discussed.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Orson Welles 'Evil' Now Has 'Cult' Aura |magazine=Variety |date=June 25, 1975 |pages=2, 71}}</ref> Subsequently, it was screened at the [[Paris Film Festival]], which was followed with a wide theatrical re-release by Universal Pictures that recognized an increased interest among film fans in Welles's works.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Buffs Show Interest in Enlarged Vault Version of 'Evil' of '58 |magazine=Variety |date=August 27, 1975 |page=4}}</ref>

[[Jonathan Rosenbaum]] published an article in the film magazine ''[[Sight & Sound]]'' in 1975, claiming that, except for a few minor details, the version was "apparently identical to Welles' final cut," and described it as the "definitive version".<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Rosenbaum |first=Jonathan |title=Prime Cut |url=https://archive.org/details/Sight_and_Sound_1975_10_BFI_GB/page/n25/mode/2up |magazine=Sight & Sound |date=Autumn 1975 |volume=44 |issue=4 |pages=217–218 |via=Internet Archive}}</ref> [[Joseph McBride (writer)|Joseph McBride]], in a letter to ''Sight & Sound'', issued a correction, identifying the cut as the "preview" version.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=McBride |first=Joseph |title=Letters |url=https://archive.org/details/Sight_and_Sound_1976_04_BFI_GB/page/n69/mode/2up |magazine=Sight & Sound |volume=45 |issue=2 |date=Spring 1976 |pages=128, 130 |via=Internet Archive}}</ref>

====1998 release====
In 1998, [[Walter Murch]], working from all available material, re-edited the film based on the Welles memo, with [[Rick Schmidlin]] who produced the re-edit and with the help of Bob O'Neil, Universal's director of film restoration and [[Bill Varney]], Universal's Vice President of Sound Operations, participating in the restoration.<ref name="latimes">{{cite news |first=Valerie J. |last=Nelson |title=Bill Varney dies at 77; Oscar-winning sound mixer |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-bill-varney-20110407-story.html |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=April 7, 2011 |access-date=April 10, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Charles |last=Taylor |title=Ballad of a fat man |url=http://dir.salon.com/story/ent/movies/review/1998/09/10/review/ |work=Salon.com |date=10 September 1998 |access-date=May 22, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071204222315/http://dir.salon.com/story/ent/movies/review/1998/09/10/review/ |archive-date=December 4, 2007}}</ref> As Welles's rough cut no longer exists, no true "director's cut" is possible but Murch was able to assemble a version incorporating most of the existing material, omitting some of the Keller scenes (though some were retained, either because they had replaced Welles's lost scenes and were necessary to the plot or because Welles had approved of their inclusion). Some of Welles's complaints concerned subtle sound and editing choices and Murch re-edited the material accordingly.<ref>{{cite news |first=Walter |last=Murch |title=Restoring the Touch Of Genius to a Classic |url=http://www.reelclassics.com/Articles/Films/touchofevil-article.htm |work=New York Times |date=September 6, 1998 |access-date=May 22, 2008}}</ref> Notable changes include the removal of the credits and [[Henry Mancini]]'s music from the opening sequence, cross-cutting between the main story and Janet Leigh's subplot and the removal of Harry Keller's hotel lobby scene. [[Rick Schmidlin]] produced the 1998 edit, which had a limited but successful theatrical release (again by Universal) and was subsequently made available on [[DVD]]. The DVD includes an on-screen reproduction of the 58-page memo.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}

Originally scheduled to be premiered at the 1998 [[Cannes Film Festival]] with Janet Leigh, Walter Murch and Rick Schmidlin attending, the screening was canceled at the eleventh hour after threats of [[litigation]] from Welles's daughter, [[Beatrice Welles]]. Her suit against Universal, for not consulting her or obtaining her consent prior to the reworking of ''Touch of Evil'', was settled out of court.<ref>{{cite news |first=Geoffrey |last=Macnab |title=One of our classics is missing |url=http://film.guardian.co.uk/features/featurepages/0,,1031039,00.html |work=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |date=29 August 2003 |access-date=19 August 2006}}</ref> Welles later said she had only asked Universal to inform her on what was being done and when she was ignored, she told the Cannes Festival that the restoration was not sanctioned by the Welles Estate,

<blockquote>I saw it later and it was wonderful...I thought they did an amazing job, and it was very well done. It was what he wanted and it made much more sense than that chopped up nightmare there was before. It was fine and it was his. If they had told me that from the very beginning, none of that would have happened.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wellesnet.com/beatrice-welles-interview-part-1-treasures-to-be-auctioned-life-with-orson-welles-and-public-misconceptions/ |title=Beatrice Welles interview |last1=Kelly |first1=Ray |date=April 1, 2014 |publisher=Wellesnet |access-date=November 13, 2015}}</ref></blockquote>

The 1998 re-edit received awards from the [[1998 New York Film Critics Circle Awards|New York Film Critics Circle]], the [[1998 Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards|Los Angeles Film Critics Association]] and [[1998 National Society of Film Critics Awards|National Society of Film Critics]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Past Awards |url=https://nationalsocietyoffilmcritics.com/about-2/ |website=National Society of Film Critics |date=December 19, 2009 |access-date=26 June 2021}}</ref>

===Home media===
The home media release history of ''Touch of Evil'' is summarized in the following table. The film was shot in the [[Fullscreen (aspect ratio)|fullscreen]] [[Academy ratio]] with Welles reportedly composing his shots primarily with the newer 1.85:1 [[widescreen]] aspect ratio in mind, which Universal applied to all its new films using a [[hard matte]].<ref name="hollywood-elsewhere.com">{{Cite web |date=2023-10-15 |title=Buy Boxy "Touch of Evil" While You Can – Hollywood Elsewhere |url=https://hollywood-elsewhere.com/buy-boxy-touch-of-evil-while-you-can/ |access-date=2023-12-01 |language=en-US}}</ref> Universal preserved Academy ratio prints of the film for later broadcast on television.<ref name="hollywood-elsewhere.com"/> Both [[Aspect ratio (image)|formats]] of the film have been released to home media.

{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Released
!Publisher
!Aspect Ratio
!Cut
!Runtime
!Commentaries
!Resolution
!Master
!Medium
|-
| rowspan="3" |September 25, 2023<ref name="eurekavideo.co.uk">{{Cite web |title=Touch Of Evil [Limited Edition Box Set] 4K Ultra HD {{!}} Eureka |url=https://eurekavideo.co.uk/movie/touch-of-evil-limited-edition-box-set-4k-ultra-hd/ |access-date=2023-12-01 |language=en-GB}}</ref>
| rowspan="3" |[[Eureka! Video Publishers|Eureka!]]<ref name="eurekavideo.co.uk"/>
| rowspan="3" |[[Widescreen#Types|1.85:1]]
|Theatrical
|1h 36m
|[[F. X. Feeney|F.X. Feeney]] (2008 Universal track)<ref name="eurekavideo.co.uk"/>
| rowspan="3" |[[4K resolution|2160p]]<ref name="eurekavideo.co.uk"/>
| rowspan="3" |[[8K resolution|8K]]
| rowspan="9" |[[Blu-ray]]
|-
|Preview
|1h 49m
|[[James Naremore]] with [[Jonathan Rosenbaum]] (2008)<ref name="eurekavideo.co.uk"/>
|-
|Reconstruction
|1h 51m
|[[Rick Schmidlin]] (1998), [[Charlton Heston]] with [[Janet Leigh]] and Rick Schmidlin (1998)<ref name="eurekavideo.co.uk"/>
|-
| rowspan="3" |March 8, 2022<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cook |first=Carson |date=2022-03-27 |title=Home Video Review: Touch of Evil on 4K UHD |url=https://www.roughcutcinema.com/post/home-video-review-touch-of-evil-on-4k-uhd |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=Rough Cut |language=en}}</ref>
| rowspan="3" |[[Kino Lorber]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home Theater Forum |date=April 3, 2022 |url=https://www.hometheaterforum.com/touch-of-evil-uhd-blu-ray-review/}}</ref>
| rowspan="3" |1.85:1
|Theatrical
|1h 36m
|[[Tim Lucas]], F.X. Feeney (2008 Universal track)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home Theater Forum | date=April 3, 2022 |url=https://www.hometheaterforum.com/touch-of-evil-uhd-blu-ray-review/#:~:text=Disc%201%20%E2%80%93%20Theatrical,some%20production%20tidbits.}}</ref> 
| rowspan="3" |2160p<ref>{{Citation |title=Touch of Evil 4K Blu-ray (4K Ultra HD) |url=https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Touch-of-Evil-4K-Blu-ray/285890/ |access-date=2023-12-01}}</ref>
| rowspan="3" |4K
|-
|Preview
|1h 49m
|James Naremore with Jonathan Rosenbaum (2008)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home Theater Forum | date=April 3, 2022 |url=https://www.hometheaterforum.com/touch-of-evil-uhd-blu-ray-review/#:~:text=Commentary%20by%20Orson%20Welles%20historians%20James%20Naremore%20%26%20Jonathan%20Rosenbaum%20%E2%80%93%20Carried%20over%20from%20the%20previous%202008%20DVD}}</ref>
|-
|Reconstruction
|1h 51m
|[[Imogen Sara Smith]], Charlton Heston with Janet Leigh and Rick Schmidlin (1998)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home Theater Forum | date=April 3, 2022 |url=https://www.hometheaterforum.com/touch-of-evil-uhd-blu-ray-review/#:~:text=Disc%202%20%E2%80%93%20Reconstructed,the%20reconstructed%20cut.}}</ref> 
|-
| rowspan="3" |April 15, 2014<ref>{{Cite web |title=DVD Savant Blu-ray + Digital HD Review: Touch of Evil |url=https://www.dvdtalk.com/dvdsavant/s4467evil.html#:~:text=min.%20/%20Street%20Date-,April%2015,%202014,-/%2029.98 |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=www.dvdtalk.com}}</ref>
| rowspan="3" |[[Universal Home Entertainment|Universal]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=DVD Savant Blu-ray + Digital HD Review: Touch of Evil |url=https://www.dvdtalk.com/dvdsavant/s4467evil.html#:~:text=Universal%20Home%20Video |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=www.dvdtalk.com}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Touch of Evil Blu-ray |url=https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Touch-of-Evil-Blu-ray/70420/ |access-date=June 23, 2019}}</ref>
| rowspan="3" |1.85:1
|Theatrical
|1h 36m
|F.X. Feeney (2008 Universal track)<ref>{{Cite web |title=DVD Savant Blu-ray + Digital HD Review: Touch of Evil |url=https://www.dvdtalk.com/dvdsavant/s4467evil.html#:~:text=The%20standard%20theatrical%20cut%20honors%20a%20few%20of%20the%20suggestions%20in%20Welles'%20famous%20memo,%20but%20slashes%20the%20film%20by%20twelve%20minutes,%20obscuring%20a%20number%20of%20important%20story%20points.%20F.X.%20Feeney's%20commentary%20for%20this%20cut |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=www.dvdtalk.com}}</ref>
| rowspan="3" |[[1080p]]<ref>{{Citation |title=Touch of Evil Blu-ray (Limited Edition) |url=https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Touch-of-Evil-Blu-ray/70420/ |access-date=2023-12-01}}</ref>
| rowspan="3" |[[2K resolution|2K]]
|-
|Preview
|1h 49m
|James Naremore with Jonathan Rosenbaum (2008)<ref>{{Cite web |title=DVD Savant Blu-ray + Digital HD Review: Touch of Evil |url=https://www.dvdtalk.com/dvdsavant/s4467evil.html#:~:text=It%20carries%20a%20commentary%20by%20critics%20Jonathan%20Rosenbaum%20and%20James%20Naremore. |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=www.dvdtalk.com}}</ref>
|-
|Reconstruction
|1h 51m
|Charlton Heston with Janet Leigh and Rick Schmidlin (1998)<ref>{{Cite web |title=DVD Savant Blu-ray + Digital HD Review: Touch of Evil |url=https://www.dvdtalk.com/dvdsavant/s4467evil.html#:~:text=The%201998%20restored%20version%20carries%20two%20commentaries.%20Restoration%20producer%20Rick%20Schmidlin%20shares%20a%20commentary%20with%20the%20late%20stars%20Charlton%20Heston%20and%20Janet%20Leigh,%20and%20returns%20on%20a%20solo%20track%20to%20tell%20the%20story%20of%20his%20years-long%20effort%20to%20re-cut%20Touch%20of%20Evil. |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=www.dvdtalk.com}}</ref>
|-
|January 10, 2012<ref name="blu-ray.com">{{Citation |title=Touch of Evil DVD (Universal 100th Anniversary) |url=https://www.blu-ray.com/dvd/Touch-of-Evil-DVD/102009/ |access-date=2023-12-01}}</ref>
|Universal<ref name="blu-ray.com"/>
|1.85:1
|Reconstruction
|1h 51m
|none
|[[480i]]<ref name="blu-ray.com"/>
|[[NTSC]]<ref name="blu-ray.com"/>
|[[DVD-Video|DVD]]
|-
| rowspan="5" |November 14, 2011<ref name="Touch of Evil {{!}} Eureka">{{Cite web |title=Touch of Evil {{!}} Eureka |url=https://eurekavideo.co.uk/movie/touch-of-evil/ |access-date=2023-12-01 |language=en-GB}}</ref>
| rowspan="5" |Eureka!<ref name="Touch of Evil {{!}} Eureka"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Touch of Evil Blu-ray |url=https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Touch-of-Evil-Blu-ray/26694/ |access-date=June 23, 2019}}</ref>
|[[Academy ratio|1.37:1]]
| rowspan="2" |Theatrical
| rowspan="2" |1h 36m
| rowspan="2" |F.X. Feeney (2008 Universal track)
| rowspan="5" |1080p<ref>{{Citation |title=Touch of Evil Blu-ray (Masters of Cinema) (United Kingdom) |url=https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Touch-of-Evil-Blu-ray/26694/ |access-date=2023-12-01}}</ref>
| rowspan="5" |2K
| rowspan="5" |Blu-ray
|-
|1.85:1
|-
|1.85.1
|Preview
|1h 49m
|James Naremore with Jonathan Rosenbaum (2008)
|-
|1.37:1
| rowspan="2" |Reconstruction
| rowspan="2" |1h 51m
| rowspan="2" |Rick Schmidlin (1998), Charlton Heston with Janet Leigh and Rick Schmidlin (1998)
|-
|1.85:1
|-
| rowspan="3" |October 7, 2008<ref name="ReferenceA">{{Citation |title=Touch of Evil DVD (50th Anniversary Edition) |url=https://www.blu-ray.com/dvd/Touch-of-Evil-DVD/17002/ |access-date=2023-12-01}}</ref>
| rowspan="3" |Universal<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
| rowspan="3" |1.85:1<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
|Theatrical
|1h 36m
|F.X. Feeney
| rowspan="3" |480i<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
| rowspan="3" |NTSC<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
| rowspan="4" |DVD
|-
|Preview
|1h 49m
|James Naremore with Jonathan Rosenbaum
|-
|Reconstruction
|1h 51m<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
|Rick Schmidlin (1998)
|-
|October 31, 2000
|Universal<ref>{{Cite web |title=The DVD Journal: Touch of Evil: Collector's Edition |url=http://www.dvdjournal.com/reviews/t/touchofevilrestored.shtml#:~:text=Universal%20has%20done%20a%20lot, |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=www.dvdjournal.com}}</ref>
|1.85:1
|Reconstruction
|1h 51m
|Rick Schmidlin, Charlton Heston with Janet Leigh and Rick Schmidlin
|480i
| rowspan="4" |NTSC
|-
|October 31, 2000
| rowspan="2" |Universal
| rowspan="2" |1.37:1
|Reconstruction
|1h 51m
| rowspan="3" |none
| rowspan="2" |240 lines
| rowspan="2" |[[VHS]]
|-
|April 28, 1998
|Theatrical
|1h 35m
|-
|March 1987<ref>{{Cite web |title=LaserDisc Database - Touch of Evil [21010] |url=https://www.lddb.com/laserdisc/01939/21010/Touch-of-Evil#:~:text=Released%C2%A0,%C2%A003/1987 |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=www.lddb.com}}</ref>
|[[MCA Inc.|MCA Home Video]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=LaserDisc Database - Touch of Evil [21010] |url=https://www.lddb.com/laserdisc/01939/21010/Touch-of-Evil#:~:text=Publisher-,MCA%20Home%20Video,-Price |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=www.lddb.com}}</ref>
|[[Aspect ratio (image)#4:3 standard|1.33:1]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=LaserDisc Database - Touch of Evil [21010] |url=https://www.lddb.com/laserdisc/01939/21010/Touch-of-Evil#:~:text=Ratio%C2%A0,%C2%A01.33:1 |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=www.lddb.com}}</ref>
|Preview<ref>{{Cite web |title=LaserDisc Database - Touch of Evil [21010] |url=https://www.lddb.com/laserdisc/01939/21010/Touch-of-Evil#:~:text=studio%20in%201958.-,An,-attempt%20to%20reconstruct |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=www.lddb.com}}</ref>
|1h 48m<ref>{{Cite web |title=LaserDisc Database - Touch of Evil [21010] |url=https://www.lddb.com/laserdisc/01939/21010/Touch-of-Evil#:~:text=Length%C2%A0,%C2%A0108%20min. |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=www.lddb.com}}</ref>
|[[405-line television system|425 lines]]
|[[LaserDisc]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=LaserDisc Database - Touch of Evil [21010] |url=https://www.lddb.com/laserdisc/01939/21010/Touch-of-Evil |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=www.lddb.com}}</ref>
|}