A textual analysis of 'Touch of Evil'

2. Because this is a traditional Film Noir, the film doesn’t begin
with the conventional green background and white text,
informing the audience that the trailer has been approved
for the target audience. Instead it begins with a cut straight
to the action, with the damsel stumbling into an unknown
threat, thus creating an enigma and setting the equilibrium
of the trailer. A heavy brass orchestra accompanied by a
drum play during this sequence, creating a tense
atmosphere and further connoting that the damsel is in
distress. To build further enigmas a slogan was introduced
early into the trailer, the two sentences are introduced
separately to build tension and set the narrative of the
trailer which is based around the missing damsel. Because
this is a traditional Film Noir a slide transition was used on
the text as there was a limit of transitions that could be used
at the time the trailer was made. The antagonists are then
introduced with a cut, supporting the idea that they are
barging in without notice, the reinforce this notion the
music gets louder and comes to a halt during this shot. The
narrator says “Where was the man she had married?”,
suggesting that the damsel gets killed or kidnapped. Then
an audience pleasure is created as during the title sequence
the damsel is being kidnapped by the antagonists,
answering the questions that were suggested in the past
sequences, and confirming the narrative.
The gangsters are very conventional of the time period with gelled
her and leather jackets which would be considered hooligan
clothing at the time. The damsel is also stereotypical, judging by
the shade of her hair she is blonde with a hairstyle which
developed from Monroe’s feminine style of the period connoting

3. Then there is an instant cut to a car explosion with
diegetic sound of the explosion accompanied by
upbeat jazz music which is conventional of the Film
Noir genre as it makes the footage more lively
therefore building narrative expectations for the
audience. Then a resolution aspect of the
equilibrium is introduced with a shot of a detective,
the detective’s menacing look connotes that he’s
eager to solve the crime and find out who’s behind
the explosion and the smug face of the detective
besides him connotes that he knows what he’s
doing. The black and white colour is the result of the
film being filmed in 1958, it makes it clear to
modern/contemporary audiences that the film is
vintage. In the shot of the characters running to the
explosive car the two main male and female
characters are in the middle of the shot, with the
detectives and other characters on the left, this
makes it clear to the audience who the main focus of
the shot is and helps audiences follow the narrative
better through focusing on specific character
reactions. Heston’s character looks distraught at the
sight, connoting that it could’ve been his car or that
it could’ve held something valuable.
Afterwards a long-shot of a bar with a stripper in the foreground are
used for the slogan “The story of a border-town trap” connoting that
lust is used as a trap in the film and making it clear that the film is
made for an older demographic with the use of Mulvey’s male gaze in
the form of the stripper’s legs which would attract male audiences. At
the beginning of the stripper shot upbeat jazz music begins to play,
thus changing the atmosphere and establishing a change in the
narrative which is conventional as trailers are a montage from a
variety of scenes in a film, rather than complete scenes.

4. In this sequence of shots the actors playing the
main characters are introduced, the font used
for each of the shots is very bold and sharp,
suitable for the Film Noir genre as it blends
well with the harshness of the genre and the
convention of a dark and dangerous tone to the
film. During this sequence the names are being
announced by a male in third person which is
conventional in old films from the 50’s, it is
easily recognisable through its vintage quality
of sound which is a result of the microphones
which were around at the time. The shot of
Heston’s character is a low angle medium shot
with the focus on his facial expression which
connotes shock and concern, connoting that his
character is watchful and caring for the damsel.
The shot of Leigh’s character is another
medium shot, her shot has both her and Heston
in it, connoting that her character is obliged to
him with her love for him. Her character’s facial
connotes that she is feeling lustful towards
Heston’s character during that scene as her
eyes are focused on Heston’s lips.
Welles’ shot is similar to his last one but this time he is saying
something but the dialogue has been muted out for the audience to
be able to hear the voice of the announcer. His menacing look
suggests that he’s hard-boiled on solving this crime or it could
connote that he’s already solved it, and his menacing look is a result
of the harsh news and realisation that he’s come to.

5. In the next shot another character says “What are
you trying to do?”, the way he says it connotes that
the character is scared due to the fast pace of and
higher pitch of his voice. Welles then responds
with: “I’m trying to strap you in the electric chair
boy” connoting that he is a suspect not only
through the dialogue but the serious and dead
tone of Welles’ character. Heston’s character is
also in the background connoting that he is
constantly involved in the case, but the distance he
has from the detective and suspect suggest that
he’s not authorised to get involved therefore is
observing the detective’s actions on the case from
a distance.
The next shot is a medium long shot of Heston’s
and Leigh’s characters walking through the
streets, this shot serves as a transition from the
investigation back to Leigh’s character as it
reminds the audience of the bond between them,
the focus of the film. Throughout a sequence of
shot the announcer introduces the director of the
film and explains the plot which is being
presented through the shots, it is conventional for
the announcers in Film Noir films to serve as a
In the next shot Leigh’s character is confronted by an antagonist but
her stance connotes that she’s a strong woman and that she’s
standing up to him. The antagonist is holding a cigar, smoking is a
convention of Film Noir because the consumption of tobacco was
popular at the time the film was made. In the next shot Heston’s
character confronts an antagonist, both of the characters appear to
be serious and ready to fight through their stance and facial