威爾斯啟發(fā)了黑色電影風(fēng)格,又以這個(gè)類型風(fēng)格來(lái)處理本片。平靜小城受人尊敬的教授原來(lái)是納粹餘孽,聯(lián)邦密探微服偵查,引發(fā)出連場(chǎng)殺戮。威爾斯飾演教授,與康城影帝愛(ài)德華.羅便臣飾演的聯(lián)邦密探,大鬥演技,成為一時(shí)佳話。殺人毒計(jì)更為影片帶來(lái)奧斯卡最佳原著劇本和威尼斯影展最佳電影金獅獎(jiǎng)提名,又是他最賣座的電影。Welles,whohadbeenanoriginalinspirationoffilmnoir,skillfullyincorporatedthenoirelementintothisthrillerofdeceitandmurder.Wellesplaysawell-respectedsmalltownprofessorwhowasactuallyaNazifugitive.TheinvestigationbytheFBIagentplayedbyEdwardG.Robinson’shasbroughtaboutmurderousconsequences.ThefilmwasnominatedforanOscarinBestOriginalScreenplayandaGoldenLionatVeniceFilmFestival;itwasalsoWelles’biggestbox-officesuccess.