TOUCH OF EVIL Opening Scene

According to Wikipedia many critics considered Orson Welles' three-minute, twenty-second tracking shot in TOUCH OF EVIL as one of the greatest shots in cinematic history, especially considering that it's the opening scene.

Here's the synopsis.

On the U.S.-Mexico border, a man plants a time bomb in a car. A man and woman enter the vehicle and make a slow journey through town to the U.S. border. Newlyweds Miguel "Mike" Vargas (Charlton Heston) and Susie (Janet Leigh) pass the car several times on foot. The car crosses the border, then explodes, killing the occupants.

To see the opening scene of TOUCH OF EVIL PLEASE go to the following URL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yg8MqjoFvy4

TOUCH OF EVIL Opening Scene

According to Wikipedia many critics considered Orson Welles' three-minute, twenty-second tracking shot in TOUCH OF EVIL as one of the greatest long takes in cinematic history, especially considering that it's the opening scene.

Here's the synopsis.

On the U.S.-Mexico border, a man plants a time bomb in a car. A man and woman enter the vehicle and make a slow journey through town to the U.S. border. Newlyweds Miguel "Mike" Vargas (Charlton Heston) and Susie (Janet Leigh) pass the car several times on foot. The car crosses the border, then explodes, killing the occupants.

To see the opening scene of TOUCH OF EVIL PLEASE go to the following URL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yg8MqjoFvy4

TOUCH OF EVIL Opening Scene

According to Wikipedia many critics considered TOUCH OF EVIL's three-minute, twenty-second tracking shot as one of the greatest long takes in cinematic history, especially considering it's the opening scene.

On the U.S.-Mexico border, a man plants a time bomb in a car. A man and woman enter the vehicle and make a slow journey through town to the U.S. border. Newlyweds Miguel "Mike" Vargas (Charlton Heston) and Susie (Janet Leigh) pass the car several times on foot. The car crosses the border, then explodes, killing the occupants. To see the opening scene of TOUCH OF EVIL PLEASE go to the following URL http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yg8MqjoFvy4

The Shadow Of The Man

Orson Welles achieved fame early in his life with the controversial radio broadcast THE WAR OF THE WORLDS in 1938. He was only 23. Three years later CITIZEN KANE was acclaimed the greatest movie of all time. His success freed him from the reins of the Hollywood studios, although the movie moguls were experts at repressing rebels and his subsequent films were hacked by editors according to the whims of the producers controlling the market from screenplay to popcorn. Orson Welles responded to this treatment by gaining weight at an alarming rate during his forties. In LADY FROM SHANGHAI he supposedly ordered the cameraman, "Shoot me from the fifth rib up." Welles sought solace from the studio's mistreatment by dining for three or four a gourmet restaurants around Europe. At home in Hollywood he was no slouch at the dinner table. His housekeeper said, "It was not unusual for me to prepare him a couple of big Porterhouse steaks, a dozen eggs, a plate of biscuits and a pot of coffee. Orson Welles could really eat." In order to play the role of the portly King Falstaff the actor had to go on diet to get down from his epic 400+ pounds. After his death in 1985 a rich friend of mine found a cape of the late great Welles at a Martha Vinyard antique shop. The fabric was black cashmere with a equally black silk lining. The director name was sewn above the interior pocket. My friend was tall as Orson. 6-1. He tried on the cape thinking that it would make a good conversation piece, however the expanse of material was so immense that my friend thought that he looked like a circus tent under the cape. The salesman told him that everyone felt the same way and my rich friend thanked him for the experience of wearing Orson's cape. I wish I had been there, for at times in my life I've tipped over to the fat side of weight, but that's no sin as long as you aren't shy, for as Orson said, "Gluttony is not a secret vice." He was a good eater.

Cooking UK ala Nothing

Obesity is spreading through the world from the USA, where over 35% of the adult population have been inflicted with Orson Wellesitis. The director of CITIZEN KANE weighed more than 350 pounds or 150 kilos at the time of his death. I once found a black cape with the label MADE FOR MSSR ORSON WELLES at a Nantucket antique shop. It was a circus tent and I blame obesity not only on fast food, but that people don't know how to cook for themselves.

A recent survey revealed that a majority of young Brits haven't a clue to boil an egg.

Directions: boiling water. 3 minutes. Salt and Pepper. Crack open shell. Drippy yoke.

Simple, n'est pas?

1 in 20 Brits thought it took 10 minutes and 15% answered with the standard,"I don't know."

Bangers, bacon, eggs, and fried toast with the fixings seems to be heading the way of the British Empire. At least Italian pasta has overtaken Indian curry as England's favorite dish. EEC rules. Remember Brits on this Jubilee Weekend, you are what you eat.