The Hand (1960 film)

The Hand is a 1960 British horror film directed by Henry Cass.[1] It begins during the Burma campaign (although, curiously, the film starts with '1946' overlaid on the action), with three captured soldiers threatened with torture if they do not divulge military information to their Japanese captors. Two refuse and have their hands chopped off. Forward to post-War London and a gentleman of the night is found with his hand surgically removed and £500 in his pockets. Thus begins a criminal investigation seeking the perpetrator, returning the plot to the film's opening situation. This British B film is noted for its nightmarish premise and opening scene of horror that belies its censorship certificate. It is sometimes broadcast on the Freeview channels movies4men and Talking Pictures TV.

The Hand
U.S. theatrical poster
Directed byHenry Cass
Produced byBill Luckwell
Written byRay Cooney
Tony Hilton
StarringDerek Bond
Reed De Rouen
Bryan Coleman
Music byWilfred Burns
CinematographyWalter J. Harvey
Edited byRobert Jordan Hill
Production
company
Distributed byButcher's Film Service (UK)
Release date
October 1960 (UK)
Running time
61 mins
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Cast
  • Derek Bond as Roberts / Roger Crawshaw
  • Reed De Rouen as Michael John Brodie
  • Bryan Coleman as George Adams
  • Walter Randall as Japanese Commander
  • Tony Hilton as Police Sergeant Paul Foster
  • Harold Scott as Charlie Taplow
  • Ray Cooney as Sergeant David Pollitt
  • Gwenda Ewen as Nurse Johns
  • Michael Moore as Dr. Metcalfe
  • Ronald Leigh-Hunt as Inspector Munyard
  • Ronald Wilson as Doctor
  • Garard Green as Dr. Simon Crawshaw
  • Jean Dallas as Nurse Geiber
  • David Blake Kelly as Jay Marshall
  • Reginald Hearne as Noel Brodie
  • Madeleine Burgess as Mrs. Brodie

Critical reception

Britmovie wrote, "this Ray Cooney scripted post-war revenge thriller opens promisingly enough but soon all tension and mystery is lost due to the predictable plot development and clumsy editing" ; [2] while Unseen Films wrote, "this is a neat little film that never fully makes 100% sense...I liked this movie a great deal. It's far from perfect, but it does hold your attention." [3]

References
  1. "The Hand". BFI.
  2. "The Hand". britmovie.co.uk.
  3. Steve Kopian. "Unseen Films". unseenfilms.blogspot.co.uk.
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