Directed by Orson Welles
Written by Whit Masterson
Screenplay by Orson Welles
Director of photography: Russell Mett
Music by Henry Mancini
Cast: Charlton Heston, Janet Leigh, Orson Welles, Joseph Calleia, Akim Tamiroff, Joanna Moore
Production: Universal International Pictures

The opening sequence is one of the most important, gripping and innovative film scenes of all time, the origin point of the so-called long take: we see a hand attach a time bomb to the engine of a car and the clock starts ticking. Then without any cut we watch as the car starts off, carrying a young couple past people pushing trolleys and border guards. All the way we are waiting for the bomb to explode. This is the essence of suspense, and suspense is the essence of this film, indeed this genre. The viewer has a greater awareness of what’s going on than those who are involved in the plot. After this, the final film noir of film history, only neo noirs were made (in the studios of the likes of Christopher Nolan, but not true noirs). This is the final noir and at the same time one of the best. The lead actor and director is one of the greatest figures of the genre: Orson Welles.