The Racial Commentary on Touch of Evil

The film Touch of Evil by Orson Welles comments on the idea of race during a time that racial diversity may have disturbed and bothered viewers who watched the film. Set during the mid 1900s, interracial couples were not a typically seen in society and in fact frowned upon by many individuals during that time. However, Touch of Evil pushed boundaries by starring Janet Leigh and Charleston Heston as a recently married interracial couple Susie and Mike Vargas. The film, both directly and indirectly, touches on race and the idea of an interracial relationship numerous times. This is highlighted at the beginning of the movie as Mike and Susie are about to share their first kiss in the United States, until they are interrupted by the explosion of the car bomb. This is clearly attacking the stigma that interracial couples weren’t allowed or should not have been together, especially in public. Relationships like the one Mike and Susie had would have caused uproar in American society. However, the real racial injustice is the fact that Heston isn’t even a latino actor, he’s white. In fact, Heston’s character Vargas is the only honorable Mexican character in the film while all the other characters, played by real Mexican actors, are low lives and dishonorable. This sends viewers the message that latinos, or all people of color, are unable to be the good guy unless they are played by a white actor. Heston’s Mike Vargas is seen as the clear hero of the film from beginning to end. He does not discriminate, keeps an open mind, and cares about his wife. Even the film itself disappoints on its racial undertones by making Sanchez guilty of the car bombing. Initially, the film made it seem as though he was innocent because of Quinlan’s attempt to frame him. To the viewer, this was because Quinlan is the racist villain. However, by making Sanchez the suspect who actually committed the crime, it attempts to prove that Quinlan’s intuition was true about Mexicans being criminals. Touch of Evil is truly a product of its time. Overall, its commentary on race is very biased against minorities, even when it tries not to.