This movie is about a murder in a small US/Mexican border town and the involvement of an upright Mexican narcotics officer (Charlton Heston) and a corrupt American police captain (Orson Welles).

The story revolves around the corrupt captain Quinlan played with ruthless efficiency by Orson Welles and the protagonist Mike Vargas played with aplomb by Mr. Heston. The murder throws the two against each other and soon Vargas discovers the evil all around him that threatens to engulf his newly wed wife.

A much celebrated picutre that is included as part of syllabus in many film courses, this movie is indeed a work of art. You will see some great cinematography used effectively to magnify Welles's character. Close shots taken from waste up and shoulder down at strange angles make Mr. Welles look unusually large -- larger than life. This fits well with what the movie is trying to tell us.

Many movie students believe that this is one of the best American movies of all time -- technically.