HANDS OF A STRANGER (1962/Warner Bros.) is another version of THE HANDS OF ORLAC story-you know, the concert pianist loses his hands in a terrible accident and is given transplanted hands from a murderer, thus impelling him to become a murderer as well.

     It’s a great story that has not always been done particularly well. HANDS OF A STRANGER, in my opinion, is executed very well indeed.

     I have a hard time imagining a first-class ‘A’ treatment of this plot line. You know, huge production values, big name cast, etc. The subject matter inherently cries out for a low budget treatment with creativity and enthusiasm substituting for cash and flash. Well-known assistant director Newt Arnold gave directing (and in this case, writing) a try with this 1962 production. There are some wonderful noir-ish elements, particularly in the first scene when the unknown victim with the ‘powerful hands’ is gunned down in a mob-like killing on a deserted city street in the dead of night. There are some striking images throughout the film, but this scene really manages to set the tone. The dying victim’s clasping hands, clutching a streetlamp pole as he slides to the pavement, foreshadow the gruesome action to come.

     If there is a flaw to this film it is that some of the acting is pretty one-dimensional. Arguably the actors didn’t have much to work with in terms of character development. Yet I found the writing interesting. While working within the horror genre, Mr. Arnold managed to make astute observations about the role of the artist in society, the aesthetics of beauty and the moral dilemmas faced by the principal characters as they made decisions that affected others as well as themselves.

     What struck me about this film is that it seemed to be a labour of love. There’s a stunning backdrop of a wind-blown, leafless tree on the stage where the concert pianist performs what proves to be his last concert. The tree resembles a clutching hand. Hands figure prominently in both dialogue and imagery. This attention to detail, to the central imagery of the piece, indicates a concerted effort to make the film as ‘artistic’ as circumstances would allow.

     Look for a young Sally Kellerman in a later scene in the film. She is the only name I recognized in the cast. Although the protagonists could have been better played, there is almost an expectation of, shall we say, limited acting ability expected in films such as this which seems to add to their charm. It was not ‘bad acting’ to the point of distraction, thus pulling focus from the story. It was more like you recognized the limitations of some of the performers but accepted them within the genre and style of film.

     Nonetheless the HANDS OF A STRANGER more than makes up for this weakness with it’s pacing, shooting style (except for dialogue scenes, which looked a little stilted), lighting and art direction.

     There is one story element I questioned. The concert pianist murders those around him who participated in his accident and subsequent transplant. Perhaps there would have greater plot development if he had gone after the murderers of the owner of his ‘second-hand’ hands.

     HANDS OF A STRANGER is available from Woody Wise at Discount Video and it is well worth the purchase if you like B movies. The combination of horror/noir works very well in this case. There are some genuinely suspenseful moments and even if you watch this film with a nostalgic smile on your face, as I did, (although I hadn’t seen this film before) you are left with a sense of ‘they don’t make them like this anymore’.

     I don’t see the point of a ratings system. You either like a film or you don’t. The important thing is to know why you like/dislike it. Our critical faculties in this day and age are sadly underused for the most part. While we tend to understand ratings, compared to LAWRENCE OF ARABIA, HANDS OF A STRANGER is a minor film. And yet I thoroughly enjoyed it and have no hesitancy in recommending it. Some younger readers may be turned off by the fact that it is in black and white. Well-here’s hoping you outgrow that prejudice. Good black and white films have a quality many colour films do not. They seem more composed in their imagery. You’ve all seen the video box that says at the top ‘In glorious black and white’. I couldn’t agree more!

     For a great little black and white, suspenseful, artful, creative, imaginative and thoroughly enjoyable film, rent/buy HANDS OF A STRANGER. I’m glad I did.

Jon Ted Wynne