Who directed the 1958 film noir Touch of Evil?

Orson Welles directed the 1958 film noir Touch of Evil.

Welles also played the corrupt police captain Hank Quinlan and substantially rewrote the screenplay. The film was adapted from Whit Masterson's 1956 novel Badge of Evil, but Welles moved the story to the Mexico–United States border and emphasized corruption, racism, and abuse of power.

Charlton Heston's involvement was important to the directing assignment. Heston, cast as Mexican police officer Miguel Vargas, reportedly suggested Welles for the job after Welles had initially been hired primarily as an actor. Welles completed production, but Universal later re-edited the film and ordered reshoots.

Touch of Evil is especially famous for its elaborate opening tracking shot, which lasts nearly three and a half minutes. Although its initial reception was mixed, the film's reputation grew, and a 1998 reconstruction followed Welles's 58-page memo about his preferred version.