Name: Touch of Evil
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Crime
Released: 1958-04-23
Duration: 111 min
Rating: 7.7
Cast: Charlton Heston, Janet Leigh, Orson Welles, Joseph Calleia, Akim Tamiroff

Touch of Evil

First Moments in a Foreign Land

Susan Mike, do you realize this is the very first time we've been together in my country?

Vargas Do you realize I haven't kissed you in over an hour?

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Touch of Evil

Questioning Assumptions about Innocence and Intuition

Vargas That boy may be unpleasant, but he could even be innocent, you know.

Schwartz Intuition?

Vargas Why not? Quinlan doesn't have a monopoly on hunches.

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Touch of Evil

Language Barriers and Misunderstandings in Conversation

Quinlan I don't speak Mexican...Let's keep it in English, Vargas.

Vargas That's alright with me. I'm sure he's just as unpleasant in any language.

Sanchez Unpleasant? Strange? I've been told I have a very winning personality. The very best shoe clerk the store ever had.

Quinlan You weren't workin as a shoe clerk out in that construction crew...

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Touch of Evil

The Burden of Enforcing the Law

Quinlan I'm no lawyer. All a lawyer cares about is the law.

Vargas Captain, you are a policeman, aren't you?

Quinlan Mmm hmm. Aren't you? You don't seem very positive about the job.

Vargas There are plenty of soldiers who don't like war. It's a dirty job, enforcing the law, but it's what we're supposed to be doing, isn't it?

Quinlan I don't know about you, when a murderer's loose, I'm supposed to catch him.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Touch of Evil

A Captain's Regret Over a Lost Criminal

Police Captain Hank Quinlan I followed around after him...ate my heart out trying to catch him but I never did. That was the last killer that ever got out of my hands.

[about his wife's killer]

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Touch of Evil

Struggle for Respect in Law Enforcement

Police Captain Hank Quinlan 30 years of pounding beats and riding cars, 30 years of dirt and crummy pay. For 30 years, I gave my life to this department. And you allow this foreigner to accuse me. Answer, answer, why do I have to answer him? No sir! I won't take back that badge until the people of this county want me back.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Touch of Evil

Strategic Revenge Without Direct Confrontation

Uncle Joe Grandi We're gonna get him where it really hurts and without laying a hand on him. He's got a reputation. He's got a young bride. He's gonna leave this town wishing he and that wife of his had never been born.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Touch of Evil

Foot in a Shoe Incident

Police Captain Hank Quinlan There's an old lady on Main Street last night picked up a shoe. The shoe had a foot in it. We're going to make you pay for that mess.

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Touch of Evil

Addiction and Deception in Touch of Evil

Police Captain Hank Quinlan He's a drug addict. He's got that young wife of his hooked too, but good. If I hadn't seen that hypodermic myself...That's how come he happens to imagine all those crazy things. It's typical. What that wife of his was doing on that dive on skid row. Both a couple of junkies. Course he's using the job as a cover-up.

[about Vargas]

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Touch of Evil

Uncertain Connections in Touch of Evil

Schwartz I don't know what Quinlan thinks she's got to do with it.

Adair Tana? Oh, maybe she'll cook chili for him, or, uh, bring out the crystal ball.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Touch of Evil

A Warning from Captain Hank Quinlan

Police Captain Hank Quinlan That wasn't no miss, Vargas. That was just to turn you round, so I don't have to shoot you in the back. Unless you'd rather run for it.

[Quinlan fires a pistol at Vargas, not hitting him]

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Touch of Evil

Family Legacy in Question

Uncle Joe Grandi Until he gets out, who's running this outfit?...Oh, what a set-up to work with! One brother in jail, two others dead, and nobody left to carry on the business for the bunch of nephews.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Touch of Evil

Power Dynamics in a Small Town

Adair An hour ago, Rudi Linnekar had this town in his pocket.

Coroner Now you can strain him through a sieve.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Touch of Evil

A Caution About Spicy Chili

Quinlan Well, when this case is over, I'll come around some night and sample some of your chili.

Tana Better be careful. Maybe too hot for you.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Touch of Evil

The Illusion of Border Towns

Ramon Miguel Mike Vargas This isn't the real Mexico. You know that. All border towns bring out the worst in a country. I can just imagine your mother's face if she could see our honeymoon hotel.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Touch of Evil

Power and Consequences in a Corrupt System

Police Captain Hank Quinlan Listen, I got a position in this town, a reputation...somebody's gonna be ruined.

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Touch of Evil

Caution Against Idealism in a Corrupt World

Police Captain Hank Quinlan Look out. Vargas'll turn you into one of these here starry-eyed idealists. They're the ones making all the real trouble in the world. Be careful, they're worse than crooks. You can always do something with a crook.

[to Menzies]

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Touch of Evil

Late Night Encounter in Touch of Evil

Tana We're closed.

Quinlan You've been cookin at this hour?

Tana Just cleanin up.

Quinlan Have you forgotten your old friend, hmm?

Tana I told you we were closed.

Quinlan I'm Hank Quinlan.

Tana I didn't recognize you. You should lay off those candy bars.

Quinlan It's either the candy or the hooch. I must say, I wish it was your chili I was gettin fat on. Anyway, you're sure lookin good.

Tana You're a mess, honey.

Quinlan Yeah. That pianola sure brings back memories.

Tana The customers go for it - it's so old, it's new. We got the television too. We run movies. What can I offer you?

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Touch of Evil

Concerns About Consequences for Mexico

Vargas This could be very bad for us.

Susan For us?

Vargas For Mexico, I mean.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Touch of Evil

The Complexity of Law Enforcement Ethics

Ramon Miguel Mike Vargas There are all kinds of policemen, sir. I don't have to tell you that. A few take bribes... Most are honest, yes, but even some of the honest men abuse their power in other ways.

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Touch of Evil

Competing Interests and Consequences in Law Enforcement

Uncle Joe Grandi We are both after the same exact thing, Captain. If Vargas goes on like this, shooting his face off...Somebody's reputation has got to be ruined. Why shouldn't it be Vargas's?

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Touch of Evil

Reflections on Wealth and Career Choices

Police Captain Hank Quinlan Don't you think I could have been rich? A cop in my position. What do I have...after thirty years, a little turkey ranch - that's all I got. A couple of acres.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Touch of Evil

Menzies Acknowledges Hank's Success Again

Menzies Well, Hank has done it again. He's nailed his man.

[to Vargas]

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Touch of Evil

Misunderstandings About Friendship and Arrest

Night Manager That, that friend of yours, Mr. Grandi, he, he ain't gonna leave you here for long.

[He winks]

Susan He is not my friend.

Night Manager He, he brought you here in that, that car, didn't he?

Susan No, he didn't. As a matter of fact, he's under arrest.

Night Manager Under arrest? Mr. Grandi?

[He laughs and then quickly steps away]

Susan Yes he is.

Touch of Evil

A Captain's Burden of Responsibility

Police Captain Hank Quinlan Pete. That's the second bullet I, I stopped for you.

[after being shot by Menzies]

Touch of Evil

Striving for Justice and Honor

Ramon Miguel Mike Vargas How can I leave here until my wife's name is clean? Clean!

Touch of Evil

A Married Woman's Firm Stance

Susan Vargas I understand very well what he wants...Tell him I'm a married woman, and that my husband is a great big official in the government, ready and willing to knock out all those pretty front teeth of his.

Touch of Evil

Debate on Guilt and Evidence in Crime

Quinlan Just because he speaks a little guilty, that don't make him innocent, you know.

Vargas If you can show motive, yes, but don't you need a bit more than that?

Quinlan Oh, we'll get it. Oh, there's my coffee. Didn't you bring me any donuts or sweet rolls?

Vargas You'll have to put him on the scene of the crime.

Quinlan We will.

Schwartz You've got to have some evidence.

Quinlan We'll get it.

Touch of Evil

Duty Amidst Celebration

Susan Vargas Of course, even on his honeymoon, the chairman of the Pan-American Narcotics Commission has a sacred duty to perform.

Touch of Evil

A Husband's Plea for His Wife's Whereabouts

Ramon Miguel Mike Vargas Listen, I'm no cop now. I'm a husband! What did you do with her? Where's my wife?

Touch of Evil

Tension Between Vargas and Quinlan

Vargas Captain, you won't have any trouble with me.

Quinlan You bet your sweet life, I won't.

Touch of Evil

Family Ties and Professional Struggles

Marcia Linnekar I guess that's my father. I'm not acquainted with my father's girlfriends.

Pete Menzies He got it in a gun fight...He was wounded stopping a bullet that was meant for me.

[to Vargas, about Quinlan's bad leg]

Pete Menzies Sure. You can smear him. Ruin his whole life's work. Vargas, I-I don't even know what he is. That's what you've done to him....He's on an important case and he's disappeared. Good and drunk probably.

[to Vargas, about Quinlan]

Touch of Evil Quotes