He was hilarious. Shoulda cut this to about 90 minutes but I saw the 98 redux so I dont know if maybe the theatrical cut was better but I am not going out of my way to find out. WAY Overrated. Just cant trust these IMDB ratings.
Well maybe the OP would be better off attending circus shows then because that´s where this idiocy belongs. Had there been a few more minutes of that annoyance, it could´ve single handedly ruined the whole enterprise. I have no idea what Welles was thinking when he decided to film and include this sh-t.
Well, in my day, I've encountered real life characters like the type Weaver played in this movie and sometimes, frankly, one can't help BUT laugh at their comical eccentricities. Possibly, Welles also knew men like the Weaver character and perhaps incorporated such experiences into the filmmaking of "Touch of Evil."
The above having been said, I have to agree with others that Dennis Weaver went beyond over the top as the retarded or autistic "I'm-the-night-man" guy. Though I'm not sure if it's possible to play such a character in an understated way.
I wonder if the OP also thinks that Jar Jar Binks is the best thing about Star Wars. Lol. The Night Man was cringe inducing absurdity that totally took me out of the movie. I honestly could not enjoy the film on the same level after his scenes. It was like trying to fall back into a dream after being woken by a piercing whistle. How anyone can like this character is beyond my comprehension.
He's also scared of his own shadow. Can as easily be calmed with simple persuasion, flattery, etc., as he is alarmed and frightened when being bullied by Uncle Joe's young punks.
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