威尔斯启发了黑色电影风格，又以这个类型风格来处理本片。平静小城受人尊敬的教授原来是纳粹余孽，联邦密探微服侦查，引发出连场杀戮。威尔斯饰演教授，与康城影帝爱德华．罗便臣饰演的联邦密探，大斗演技，成为一时佳话。杀人毒计更为影片带来奥斯卡最佳原着剧本和威尼斯影展最佳电影金狮奖提名，又是他最卖座的电影。Welles,whohadbeenanoriginalinspirationoffilmnoir,skillfullyincorporatedthenoirelementintothisthrillerofdeceitandmurder.Wellesplaysawell-respectedsmalltownprofessorwhowasactuallyaNazifugitive.TheinvestigationbytheFBIagentplayedbyEdwardG.Robinson’shasbroughtaboutmurderousconsequences.ThefilmwasnominatedforanOscarinBestOriginalScreenplayandaGoldenLionatVeniceFilmFestival;itwasalsoWelles’biggestbox-officesuccess.