Many people view “Touch of Evil” as the end of film noir as a genre Essay Example

of one. While I am not well-versed in the Film Noir genre, this movie seems to surpass the usual standards. Typically, there is one shady detective who confronts adversities from both the good and the bad.

This Detective typically has a formidable female companion, known as the femme fatal. In "Touch of Evil," Well's introduces two detectives named Vargas and Quinlan. Vargas is joined by a stunning American woman who seems to be the perfect wife. On the other hand, Quinlan is accompanied by a robust barkeep, who possesses masculine qualities, but doesn't fully belong to him. Initially, they are separated by jurisdiction, and from there, Well's narrative unfolds.

I would argue that both Vargas and Quinlan (especially Quinlan) are unlikeable characters. Quinlan's unlikeability stems from his tendency to plant evidence, while Vargas is also difficult to like because he abandons his vulnerable wife in hostile territory. Despite initially being portrayed as the protagonist to root for, Vargas loses control of his sanity and becomes solely focused on his personal vendetta. This departure from the typical film noir narrative further undermines his likeability. In most film noirs, we typically cheer for the embattled detective despite knowing their flaws.

Essentially, we embrace the concept of choosing the lesser of two evils, or accepting a necessary evil. For me, as a viewer of my generation, it is challenging to determine the film's reflection of its era. Initially, I consider a potential link between Quinlan-Vargas and the relationship between the U.S. and U.

S. S. R. is a scenario where two men are compelled to collaborate against a shared adversary, which is crime. This is similar to the scenario in the U.

S.

- The U.S.S.R. was Germany.

The partnership between two factions faces obstacles, leading to their transformation into adversaries. In addition, anxiety emerges regarding the apprehension within our country. The expansive boundaries of our nation contribute to the lack of safety that has probably instilled fear in numerous Americans. This fear could be linked to the consequences of World War II and the commencement of the Cold War, which led to a decline in confidence towards others.

Additionally, it is important to emphasize the importance of the conclusion of the "black film" era, which took place right before Kennedy assumed presidency. It appeared that Americans were ready for a transformation in various aspects.