Great on a technical level (for 1957, when it was made) but 'meh' as a viewing experience

This was written/directed by Orson Welles (loosely based on a book) and has a huge reputation as a B&W noir-ish cult flick. There are interesting technical things going on as far as camera angles, lighting and impressive long takes (e.g. the opening sequence). It also has a notable classic cast (e.g. Welles and Heston) with Janet Leigh thoroughly stunning, not to mention Joanna Moore, Marlene Dietrich, Joi Lansing and a cameo by Zsa Zsa Gabor on the female front.

Yet I otherwise found the picture talky, nigh surreal and noticeably hokey with an unengrossing story and dubious acting, e.g. the hooligan Mexicans and the eye-rolling Shakespearean lunatic “night man” (Dennis Weaver). Viewing this film is like entering Welles’ head on an acid trip.

That said, the flick offers quite a bit to digest and I could see it playing better on additional viewings, which explains its cult status, but I’m not interested. There are far more fascinating and compelling B&W dramas with noteworthy casts from that general era, like “The Misfits," which isn't noir, but it has the same general tone.

I viewed the long reconstructed version, aka the “director’s cut,” which runs about 110 minutes while the original studio-butchered version runs 93 minutes. Interestingly, the film wasn’t shot anywhere near the border of Mexico, let alone the Texas border, but in freakin’ Venice, Los Angeles.