Orson Welles' 'Touch of Evil' returns to Italian cinemas in 4K

Orson Welles’ 1958 film, ‘Touch of Evil’ (L’infernale Quinlan), is returning to Italian cinemas starting October 5. Distributed by the Cineteca di Bologna, the release features a 4K restored version of the 111-minute ‘reconstructed director’s cut’.

The version was reconstructed in 1998 using 58 pages of notes left by Welles to better align the film with his original creative intentions regarding rhythm, framing, and editing. The film stars Charlton Heston, Janet Leigh, and Marlene Dietrich.

A defining feature of the film is its legendary opening long take, a technical and narrative feat that follows the action through multiple rooms leading up to a bomb explosion. Welles famously described this single shot as moving through three rooms with fourteen actors.