New TOUCH OF EVIL DVD set?

[Jeff Wilson]

I didn't post this on the News blog as it's basically unfounded rumor, but according to this post on the Criterion Forum, Universal is prepping a TOUCH OF EVIL release with all three versions of the film. Obviously there are no other details, but if true (and it's a big if), this would be fantastic news.

[Joshua]

That sounds too good to be true...

[Jeff Wilson]

I agree, but with the film's 50th anniversary here and the always lucrative cash-in-on-a-dead-celebrity effect, it could be true.

[ToddBaesen]

I think it should be obvious, that Rick Schmidlin and Jonathan Rosenbaum never wanted their re-edit to be considered the be all and end all version of TOUCH OF EVIL.

One only has to look at Rosenbaum's book on Welles to see he thinks all three versions should be made available.

So if this rumor is true - and I certainly hope it is - please show your interest, because I know some Universal Home video executives look at this site, from time to time. So even a simple comment, like "I'd like to buy a 2-DVD set of TOUCH OF EVIL, with all three versions of the film, along with the "Reconstructing Evil" documentary, and the audio commentary producer Rick Schmidlin recorded with Charlton Heston and Janet Leigh, included," could prove to be the tipping point for making it actually happen. Naturally, the more interest that is shown here, the greater the chance that it will actually happen!

J. ROSENBAUM: The first two release versions of TOUCH OF EVIL are my second favorites. I was a consultant on the third version--a re-edit by Walter Murch based on a memo written by Welles to Universal in the 50s--and it was never the intention of Murch, me, or our producer Rick Schmidlin to replace the film’s original release version or the longer preview version that supplanted it in the 70s. We were hoping that all three could be released in a DVD box set.


So Universal, are you listening?

[Terry]

I'd like to buy a 4-DVD set of TOUCH OF EVIL, with all three versions of the film, along with the "Reconstructing Evil" documentary, and the audio commentary producer Rick Schmidlin recorded with Charlton Heston and Janet Leigh, included!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Steve Kostelecky]

As the man said, "I'd like to buy a 2-DVD set of TOUCH OF EVIL, with all three versions of the film, along with the "Reconstructing Evil" documentary, and the audio commentary producer Rick Schmidlin recorded with Charlton Heston and Janet Leigh, included..."
See how cut-and-paste has ruined civilized discourse?

[The Night Man]

So if this rumor is true - and I certainly hope it is - please show your interest...

Who among us wouldn't love to have a deluxe Touch of Evil with all the bells & whistles? I know I would, and I know several others - some Welles fans, some Heston fans, but none of whom post here - who would too!

[Tony]

It's strange how Criterion would do a 3 disc set for Arkadin, Welles's worst film, but not do one for Evil, one of his best films: perhaps the reason is that Universal won't let go of it, as they might have e plans for a 50th anniversary box set themselves; has anyone contacted Universal?

[purplepines]

It seems to me that "Mr. Arkadin" has more going for it than "The Immortal Story", though...

[Roger Ryan]

Today's "Arts & Leisure" section of the New York Times reports that a "50th Anniversary" edition of TOUCH OF EVIL will be released on DVD in July. No further information, but I doubt Universal would simply reissue the same disc from eight years ago.

[Joshua]

ok, this has me a bit excited. I agree that it would make no sense to simply re-release the previous version, so something new must be in the works.

[kipling71]

...I doubt Universal would simply reissue the same disc from eight years ago.

I wouldn't be surprised if they released the same disc BUT with a "50th ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL EXCLUSIVE COLLECTORS EDITION" banner plastered on the cover. With extra content consisting of a trailer for "Mummy 3". *sigh*

[atcolomb]

...I doubt Universal would simply reissue the same disc from eight years ago.

I wouldn't be surprised if they released the same disc BUT with a "50th ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL EXCLUSIVE COLLECTORS EDITION" banner plastered on the cover. With extra content consisting of a trailer for "Mummy 3". *sigh*

...and don't forget Hellboy 2 The Golden Army....

[Jeff Wilson]

I won't be shocked either way, but a set with all three versions and some kind of contextual material would be obviously welcome. Unless Universal is going to give She Who Must Not Be Named a large pile of cash, I don't think we'll get either the Reconstructing Evil documentary or the Heston-Leigh commentary, because whatever bug she had up her rear about those features then presumably won't have changed in the intervening years.

[Roger Ryan]

A clarification for the News blog entry: for those who might be interested in attending the Staten Island Film Festival showing of TOUCH OF EVIL that Chris Welles Feder will reportedly introduce, the screening will happen at 2 p.m. on Thursday, June 5th (not June 6th as reported on the blog).

A 2 p.m. Thursday screening doesn't strike me as a great slot; I hope the film gets the audience size it deserves.