THE CLASSIC FILM NOIR THRILLER FROM LEGENDARY FILMMAKER
ORSON WELLES AS NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN ON DVD
TOUCH OF EVIL – 50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
For the First Time Ever, All Three Versions of the Controversial Film
Contained in a Two-Disc DVD Set with the Complete Filmmaker Memo,
New Behind-the-Scenes Bonus Features and More Available October 7, 2008 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Universal City, Calif. – August 14, 2008 -- Orson Welles’ film noir masterpiece celebrates a home entertainment milestone with the release of the Touch of Evil - 50th Anniversary Edition DVD on October 7, 2008 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. For the first time on DVD,
audiences can experience this cinematic achievement as never before: All three versions of the film including the preview version, the theatrical version and the restored version based on Welles’ vision, contained on one two-disc set for $26.98 SRP.
Also a specially printed reproduction of the complete 58-page memo Welles wrote in 1957 to the studio outlining his recommended edits after viewing the rough cut of the film, is available for the very first time with the DVD set.
Headlined by an all-star cast that includes Charlton Heston, Janet Leigh, Ray Collins, Dennis Weaver, Akim Tamiroff and Welles along with memorable appearances by Mercedes McCambridge, Zsa Zza Gabor, and Marlene Dietrich, Touch of Evil is the dark cinematic portrait of an intricate
criminal plot that combines in lurid and fascinating detail, a kidnapping, betrayal, police corruption, drug use and murder. An essential addition to every movie lover’s library, the DVD’s bonus features with cast, crew and film historians, delve deep into the complicated backstage story of what
has become a film, that was misunderstood in its day but is now considered one of Orson Welles’ greatest and lasting achievements.
THREE VERSIONS OF THE CLASSIC FILM ON ONE DVD
The two-disc DVD includes three versions of the classic film:
- Restored Version: Re-edited in 1998, this definitive cut of the film is restored to Orson Welles' vision based on his detailed 58-page memo to the studio.
- Theatrical Version: This original version of the film was seen by U.S. audiences when it was released in theaters in 1958.
- Preview Version: Created prior to the theatrical version, this cut of the film incorporates some of Orson Welles' requests and was discovered by Universal in 1976.
The original rough cut filmed by Welles in 1957 was re-edited and in part re-shot by Universal, to trim down the running time and modify some of the story elements. In late 1957, the director, after viewing that resulting film cut, issued a 58-page memo to the studio’s head of production Edward Muhl outlining his recommended changes. However, many of these suggestions were not included in the version eventually released theatrically in early 1958 with additional scenes added by director Harry Keller, who had been hired to direct the re-shot material. It was not until 1976 that Universal discovered a preview version in its vaults that post-dated Welles’
memo and included some but not all of the director’s changes and still included Keller’s scenes. In 1998, the film was re-edited by the esteemed Walter Murch based on Welles’ memo and working from available materials. The Murch version adhered as closely as possible to Welles’ instructions including the removal of the credits and music from the film’s opening sequences, one of Welles’ biggest complaints. It is this version that is referred to above as the restored version.
BONUS FEATURES:
In addition to the original promotional trailer from the film’s theatrical campaign, Touch of Evil – 50th Anniversary Edition includes these all-new, behind the scenes bonus features:
• Bringing Evil to Life: This never-before-released “making-of” feature includes interviews with stars Charlton Heston and Janet Leigh, crew members and film historians.
• Evil Lost & Found: A never-before-released documentary explaining the various versions of the film and the restoration featuring interviews with cast, crew members and film historians.
• All-New Audio Commentaries:
o Restored Version Audio Commentary: Featuring Charlton Heston, Janet Leigh and restoration producer Rick Schmidlin.
o Restored Version Audio Commentary: Featuring restoration producer Rick
Schmidlin
o Theatrical Audio Commentary: Featuring writer and filmmaker F.X. Feeny
o Preview Version Audio Commentary: Featuring Welles historians Jonathan
Rosenbaum and James Naremore.
SYNOPSIS
Experience director Orson Welles’ masterpiece Touch of Evil like never before in an all-new 50th Anniversary Edition DVD! Starring Charlton Heston, Janet Leigh and Orson Welles himself, this exceptional film noir portrait of corruption and morally compromised obsessions tells the story of a crooked police chief who frames a Mexican youth as part of an intricate criminal plot. Now for the first time ever, see all three versions of the film – the preview
version, the theatrical version and the restored version based on Orson Welles’ vision. The Touch of Evil 50th Anniversary Edition commemorates a true cinematic achievement and is an essential addition to the very movie lover’s library!
CAST AND FILMMAKERS
Directed By: Orson Welles
Written By: Orson Welles (Screenplay), Whit Masterson (Novel)
Produced By: Rich Schmidlin, Albert Zugsmith
Director of Photography: Russell Metty
Edited By: Walter Murch, Aaron Stell, Virgil Vogel
Costume Designer: Bill Thomas
Original Music By: Henry Mancini
Cast: Charlton Heston, Janet Leigh, Orson Welles, Marlene Dietrich, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Akin Tamiroff, Dennis Weaver, Mercedes McCambridge, Keenan Wynn
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
DVD
Street Date: October 7, 2008
Pre-Order Close: September 2, 2008
Copyright: 2008 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Price: $26.98 SRP
Selection Number: 61103474
Running Time: Restored Version (1 Hour 51 Mins); Theatrical Version (1 Hour 36 Mins); Preview Version (1 Hour 49 Mins)
Layers: Dual
Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Widescreen (1.85.1)
Rating: PG-13, Unrated
Technical Info: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; English SDH, French and Spanish Subtitles
ORSON WELLES AS NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN ON DVD
TOUCH OF EVIL – 50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
For the First Time Ever, All Three Versions of the Controversial Film
Contained in a Two-Disc DVD Set with the Complete Filmmaker Memo,
New Behind-the-Scenes Bonus Features and More Available October 7, 2008 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Universal City, Calif. – August 14, 2008 -- Orson Welles’ film noir masterpiece celebrates a home entertainment milestone with the release of the Touch of Evil - 50th Anniversary Edition DVD on October 7, 2008 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. For the first time on DVD,
audiences can experience this cinematic achievement as never before: All three versions of the film including the preview version, the theatrical version and the restored version based on Welles’ vision, contained on one two-disc set for $26.98 SRP.
Also a specially printed reproduction of the complete 58-page memo Welles wrote in 1957 to the studio outlining his recommended edits after viewing the rough cut of the film, is available for the very first time with the DVD set.
Headlined by an all-star cast that includes Charlton Heston, Janet Leigh, Ray Collins, Dennis Weaver, Akim Tamiroff and Welles along with memorable appearances by Mercedes McCambridge, Zsa Zza Gabor, and Marlene Dietrich, Touch of Evil is the dark cinematic portrait of an intricate
criminal plot that combines in lurid and fascinating detail, a kidnapping, betrayal, police corruption, drug use and murder. An essential addition to every movie lover’s library, the DVD’s bonus features with cast, crew and film historians, delve deep into the complicated backstage story of what
has become a film, that was misunderstood in its day but is now considered one of Orson Welles’ greatest and lasting achievements.
THREE VERSIONS OF THE CLASSIC FILM ON ONE DVD
The two-disc DVD includes three versions of the classic film:
- Restored Version: Re-edited in 1998, this definitive cut of the film is restored to Orson Welles' vision based on his detailed 58-page memo to the studio.
- Theatrical Version: This original version of the film was seen by U.S. audiences when it was released in theaters in 1958.
- Preview Version: Created prior to the theatrical version, this cut of the film incorporates some of Orson Welles' requests and was discovered by Universal in 1976.
The original rough cut filmed by Welles in 1957 was re-edited and in part re-shot by Universal, to trim down the running time and modify some of the story elements. In late 1957, the director, after viewing that resulting film cut, issued a 58-page memo to the studio’s head of production Edward Muhl outlining his recommended changes. However, many of these suggestions were not included in the version eventually released theatrically in early 1958 with additional scenes added by director Harry Keller, who had been hired to direct the re-shot material. It was not until 1976 that Universal discovered a preview version in its vaults that post-dated Welles’
memo and included some but not all of the director’s changes and still included Keller’s scenes. In 1998, the film was re-edited by the esteemed Walter Murch based on Welles’ memo and working from available materials. The Murch version adhered as closely as possible to Welles’ instructions including the removal of the credits and music from the film’s opening sequences, one of Welles’ biggest complaints. It is this version that is referred to above as the restored version.
BONUS FEATURES:
In addition to the original promotional trailer from the film’s theatrical campaign, Touch of Evil – 50th Anniversary Edition includes these all-new, behind the scenes bonus features:
• Bringing Evil to Life: This never-before-released “making-of” feature includes interviews with stars Charlton Heston and Janet Leigh, crew members and film historians.
• Evil Lost & Found: A never-before-released documentary explaining the various versions of the film and the restoration featuring interviews with cast, crew members and film historians.
• All-New Audio Commentaries:
o Restored Version Audio Commentary: Featuring Charlton Heston, Janet Leigh and restoration producer Rick Schmidlin.
o Restored Version Audio Commentary: Featuring restoration producer Rick
Schmidlin
o Theatrical Audio Commentary: Featuring writer and filmmaker F.X. Feeny
o Preview Version Audio Commentary: Featuring Welles historians Jonathan
Rosenbaum and James Naremore.
SYNOPSIS
Experience director Orson Welles’ masterpiece Touch of Evil like never before in an all-new 50th Anniversary Edition DVD! Starring Charlton Heston, Janet Leigh and Orson Welles himself, this exceptional film noir portrait of corruption and morally compromised obsessions tells the story of a crooked police chief who frames a Mexican youth as part of an intricate criminal plot. Now for the first time ever, see all three versions of the film – the preview
version, the theatrical version and the restored version based on Orson Welles’ vision. The Touch of Evil 50th Anniversary Edition commemorates a true cinematic achievement and is an essential addition to the very movie lover’s library!
CAST AND FILMMAKERS
Directed By: Orson Welles
Written By: Orson Welles (Screenplay), Whit Masterson (Novel)
Produced By: Rich Schmidlin, Albert Zugsmith
Director of Photography: Russell Metty
Edited By: Walter Murch, Aaron Stell, Virgil Vogel
Costume Designer: Bill Thomas
Original Music By: Henry Mancini
Cast: Charlton Heston, Janet Leigh, Orson Welles, Marlene Dietrich, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Akin Tamiroff, Dennis Weaver, Mercedes McCambridge, Keenan Wynn
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
DVD
Street Date: October 7, 2008
Pre-Order Close: September 2, 2008
Copyright: 2008 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Price: $26.98 SRP
Selection Number: 61103474
Running Time: Restored Version (1 Hour 51 Mins); Theatrical Version (1 Hour 36 Mins); Preview Version (1 Hour 49 Mins)
Layers: Dual
Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Widescreen (1.85.1)
Rating: PG-13, Unrated
Technical Info: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; English SDH, French and Spanish Subtitles
