The Beast with Five Fingers
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The Beast with Five Fingers is a 1946 film about a one-handed, wheelchair-bound pianist, with a strong belief in the occult, who is murdered.
- Directed by Robert Florey. Written by Curt Siodmak, based on the 1919 short story by William Fryer Harvey.
Your flesh will creep... AT THE HAND THAT CRAWLS!! (taglines)
Donald Arlington
[edit]- Eight bones has the carpus, five the metacarpus, fourteen the phlanges, all in all, all in all, twenty-seven all in all. Abracadabra.
Dialogue
[edit]- Francis Ingram: Hilary, do you know why you are here?
- Hilary Cummins: No, I don't. Some anniversary perhaps?
- Francis Ingram: No, no such thing. I merely want your testimony... that I am not insane. It's very important to me to be certain that not one of you thinks I am of unsound mind. Bruce, you are an artist, a musician, You've been with me a long time. You've been with me constantly; therefore you are in a position to speak. Are you convinced that there is nothing wrong with... with my mental balance?
- Conrad Ryler: Your mental balance is equal to mine, and while I consider that a tribute to your sanity, there are certain people in San Stefano who consider me... slightly eccentric. Perhaps they're right.
- Conrad Ryler: I know, Julie, you're afraid. He's holding you with his pain and helplessness. He draws his energy from your life. He'll never let you go.
- Julie Holden: But I must go.
- Conrad Ryler: Tell me, Signor Conrad, in a case like this, whom does one condole? To whom does one express his grief and sympathy?
- Ovidio Castanio: To me. I made a very fair living playing chess and gambling with him. Eating his food, drinking his wine. Now that he's gone, I'm without doubt the chief mourner.
- Julie Holden: I wish that we could leave right now.
- Conrad Ryler: It won't be long, only a few days. In the meantime, keep your chin up.
- Julie Holden: Why?
- Conrad Ryler: So that I can kiss you.
- Duprex: Would you like me to represent you in the matter?
- Raymond Arlington: Of course.
- Duprex: What would my share be?
- Raymond Arlington: Share? You mean your fee?
- Duprex: I said share.
- Raymond Arlington: What do you want?
- Duprex: A participation, or to say, one third. You understand, I would offer my services to Miss Holden, under the same circumstances.
- Donald Arlington: You mean you'd help her instead of us?
- Duprex: I am on the side of those who engage me.
- Ovidio Castanio: It was a dreadful accident, entirely unexpected.
- Conrad Ryler: Yes, accidents usually are.
- Ovidio Castanio: But of course, you are aware of the law that forbids the export of authentic antiques without a special permit?
- Conrad Ryler: Ma certa, Commissario. I am well aware of every law. I would not dream of dealing in authentic antiques.
- Ovidio Castanio: In my mind there is no doubt the hand is walking around.
- Conrad Ryler: You don't believe in things like that.
- Ovidio Castanio: Unfortunately for the peace of our souls, one cannot explain everything logically that happens in this world, Signor Conrad.
- Clara: The Devil's haunting this house! The Devil! Signor Ingram's hand!
- Giovanna: Quickly, before it catches up with us!
- Antonio: Ah, you're always imagining things. The night your grandmother died, you heard skeletons rattling.
- Clara: Well if you don't believe me, why are you running away?
- Antonio: Well, it can't hurt to be on the safe side.
- Hilary Cummins: Look, there they go. Giovanna, Antonio, and Clara. They're more afraid of ghosts than of the law.
- Ovidio Castanio: The law doesn't like it too much either. If I were not the Commissario, I would be right with them.
- Conrad Ryler: Isn't this your handwriting, Hilary?
- Hilary Cummins: No, it's Ingram's. His hand wrote it. Don't you see? The hand, it must be here! I have to find it, it must be somewhere!
Taglines
[edit]- Your flesh will creep... AT THE HAND THAT CRAWLS!!
- It walks like a spider... it stalks like a cobra!
- A Sensation of Screaming Suspense!
- You've never seen the like of it!
Cast
[edit]- Robert Alda — Bruce Conrad
- Andrea King — Julie Holden
- Peter Lorre — Hilary Cummins
- Victor Francen — Francis Ingram
- J. Carrol Naish — Commissario Ovidio Castanio
- Charles Dingle — Raymond Arlington
- John Alvin — Donald Arlington
- David Hoffman — Duprex
- Barbara Brown — Mrs. Miller
- Patricia White — Clara
- William Edmunds — Antonio
- Belle Mitchell — Giovanna
- Ray Walker — Mr. Miller
- Pedro de Cordoba — Horatio
