威爾斯啟發(fā)黑色電影風，又以這個型風格來處本片。平靜城受人尊敬教授原來是粹餘孽，聯(lián)密探微服偵，引發(fā)出連殺戮。威爾飾演教授，康城影帝愛華．羅便臣演的聯(lián)邦密，大鬥演技成為一時佳。殺人毒計為影片帶來斯卡最佳原劇本和威尼影展最佳電金獅獎提名又是他最賣的電影。Welles, who had been an original inspiration of film noir, skillfully incorporated the noir element into this thriller of deceit and murder. Welles plays a well-respected small town professor who was actually a Nazi fugitive. The investigation by the FBI agent played by Edward G. Robinson's has brought about murderous consequences. The film was nominated for an Oscar in Best Original Screenplay and a Golden Lion at Venice Film Festival; it was also Welles' biggest box-office success.
