{"id":30092,"date":"2013-03-21T14:41:16","date_gmt":"2013-03-21T21:41:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=30092"},"modified":"2021-01-20T01:16:10","modified_gmt":"2021-01-20T08:16:10","slug":"beast-with-five-fingers-the-1945","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=30092","title":{"rendered":"Beast With Five Fingers, The (1945)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;In my mind, there is no doubt the hand is walking around.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/Beast-With-Five-Fingers-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/Beast-With-Five-Fingers-Poster-197x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"197\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-30096\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/Beast-With-Five-Fingers-Poster-197x300.jpg 197w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/Beast-With-Five-Fingers-Poster-84x128.jpg 84w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/Beast-With-Five-Fingers-Poster-674x1024.jpg 674w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/Beast-With-Five-Fingers-Poster.jpg 1054w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 197px) 100vw, 197px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nWhen a one-handed pianist (Victor Francen) dies, his loyal secretary (Peter Lorre) is distressed to learn that he&#8217;s been left out of his will, and soon comes to believe that Francen&#8217;s disembodied hand is stalking him.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Disembodied Parts<\/li>\n<li>Horror<\/li>\n<li>Peter Lorre Films<\/li>\n<li>Revenge<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nRobert Florey directed dozens of forgettable B-level flicks throughout his career (see his <a href=\"www.imdb.com\/name\/nm0282984\/\">profile at IMDb<\/a>), yet a small handful of his titles remain worth a look &#8212; most notably <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=3826\"><em>Murders in the Rue Morgue<\/em> (1932)<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=2131\"><em>The Face Behind the Mask<\/em> (1941)<\/a> (with Peter Lorre), and this later Lorre vehicle, perhaps best known for being the first &#8220;disembodied hand&#8221; flick to emerge from Hollywood. Unfortunately, the screenplay for <em>&#8230; Beast<\/em> (scripted in part by Curt Siodmak) is poorly paced and a bit of a mess, shifting aimlessly between various characters throughout the first half; but once it finally settles on Lorre &#8212; the most interesting character by far &#8212; the horror vibes really start to fly, as truly impressive special effects &#8212; coupled with atmospheric cinematography and excellent use of creepy piano music &#8212; begin to dominate the proceedings. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/BWFF-Lorre-Hand.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/BWFF-Lorre-Hand.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"512\" height=\"384\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-64631\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/BWFF-Lorre-Hand.png 512w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/BWFF-Lorre-Hand-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/BWFF-Lorre-Hand-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/BWFF-Lorre-Hand-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>As noted in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.timeout.com\/london\/film\/the-beast-with-five-fingers-1947\">Time Out&#8217;s capsule review<\/a>, &#8220;The fudged ending imposed by the studio deflates much of the mystery&#8221; &#8212; but the half-hour or so that comes before makes <em>The Beast With Five Fingers<\/em> a once-must classic of the genre. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Peter Lorre as Hilary Cummins<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/BWFF-Lorre.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/BWFF-Lorre.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"512\" height=\"384\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-30095\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/BWFF-Lorre.png 512w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/BWFF-Lorre-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/BWFF-Lorre-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Fine direction by Robert Florey<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/BWFF-Direction.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/BWFF-Direction.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"512\" height=\"384\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-30098\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/BWFF-Direction.png 512w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/BWFF-Direction-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/BWFF-Direction-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Exciting, remarkably impressive special effects<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/BWFF-Effects2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/BWFF-Effects2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"512\" height=\"384\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-30094\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/BWFF-Effects2.png 512w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/BWFF-Effects2-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/BWFF-Effects2-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Atmospheric cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/BWFF-Cinematography.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/BWFF-Cinematography.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"512\" height=\"384\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-30097\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/BWFF-Cinematography.png 512w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/BWFF-Cinematography-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/BWFF-Cinematography-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Powerful use of classical music<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, as a flawed but memorable horror classic. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Cult Movie<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0038338\/?ref_=sr_4\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thespinningimage.co.uk\/cultfilms\/displaycultfilm.asp?reviewid=6022&#038;aff=13\">Spinning Image Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.moriareviews.com\/horror\/beast-with-five-fingers-1946.htm\">Moria Review (SPOILER ALERT)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/fantasticmoviemusings.com\/2015\/01\/01\/the-beast-with-five-fingers-1946\/\">SciFilm Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/68266\/the-beast-with-five-fingers#articles-reviews?articleId=33768\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.timeout.com\/london\/film\/the-beast-with-five-fingers-1947\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;In my mind, there is no doubt the hand is walking around.&#8221; Synopsis: When a one-handed pianist (Victor Francen) dies, his loyal secretary (Peter Lorre) is distressed to learn that he&#8217;s been left out of his will, and soon comes to believe that Francen&#8217;s disembodied hand is stalking him. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Disembodied Parts Horror Peter Lorre Films Revenge Review: Robert Florey directed dozens of forgettable B-level flicks throughout his career (see his profile at IMDb), yet a&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=30092\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-30092","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30092","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=30092"}],"version-history":[{"count":19,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30092\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":64632,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30092\/revisions\/64632"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=30092"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=30092"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=30092"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}