From Universal Studios Home Entertainment: The Classic Film Noir Thriller From Legendary Filmmaker Orson Welles as Never-Before-Seen on DVD

From Universal Studios Home Entertainment: 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., Aug. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- 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:       --  Restored Version Audio Commentary:  Featuring Charlton Heston,           Janet Leigh and restoration producer Rick Schmidlin.       --  Restored Version Audio Commentary: Featuring restoration producer           Rick Schmidlin       --  Theatrical Audio Commentary:  Featuring writer and filmmaker F.X.           Feeny       --  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    

Universal Studios Home Entertainment is a unit of Universal Pictures, a division of Universal Studios (http://www.universalstudios.com/). Universal Studios is a part of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80%-owned by General Electric, with 20% owned by Vivendi.

    CONTACTS:    Universal Studios Home Entertainment    Evan Fong    Executive Director, Publicity    (818) 777-5540    evan.fong@nbcuni.com     Scott Lyons    Manager, Print Publicity    (818) 777-0523    Scott.Lyons@nbcuni.com     Kelly Castell    Manager, Broadcast Publicity    (818) 777-0549    Kelly.Castell@nbcuni.com     Nicole Canizales    Manager, Online Publicity    (818) 777-0115    Nicole.Canizales@nbcuni.com  

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Source: Universal Studios Home Entertainment

CONTACT: Evan Fong, Executive Director, Publicity, +1-818-777-5540,
evan.fong@nbcuni.com, or Scott Lyons, Manager, Print Publicity,
+1-818-777-0523, Scott.Lyons@nbcuni.com, or Kelly Castell, Manager, Broadcast
Publicity, +1-818-777-0549, Kelly.Castell@nbcuni.com, or Nicole Canizales,
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of Universal Studios Home Entertainment

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Profile: International Entertainment