Hottoceame The Age of Commercialism

SpuffyWeb Sadly Over-hyped

Erica Derrick By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Marva It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

unbrokenmetal Rick Turner (Robert Alda) is engaged to Donna Trent (Ariadna Welter), but every night he has strange dreams of a beautiful woman in the skies. The owner of a doll shop, Francis Lamont (Neil Hamilton), introduces him - via a doll that looks exactly like the woman from his visions - to Bianca Milan (Linda Christian). When Rick meets Bianca, he realizes that she is "evil but beautiful", in fact, she is a witch who invites him to a cult worshiping the devil god Gamba. Francis Lamont happens to be the high priest of that cult. Rick has a love affair with the witch, but he realizes that they try to keep Donna away from him (and stick a long needle into her doll, voodoo style). Rick starts fighting the bad influence that Bianca and Lamont have over him...This movie looked already old-fashioned in the 1980s when people watched movies like Alan Parker's 'Angel Heart', much more gory and terrifying. 'The Devil's Hand' is pedestrian entertainment without the shocks, but for its time well done. Linda Christian as the witch is stunning. The story is built up well, first the dreams, then the dolls, leading to the cult. Recommendable for everyone who likes old b/w movies that didn't need a bucket of blood at the studio.

Red-Barracuda A man has strange visions of a mystery woman. One day he notices a doll in a shop window which exactly resembles the enigmatic lady who inhabits his dreams. He ventures in and is soon entwined in an underground voodoo cult.The Devil's Hand in another low budget offering from Crown International Pictures, who were one of the main B-movie producers of their time. This one is on the whole fairly standard stuff with not a huge amount to differentiate it from the crowd. It focuses on occult practices, yet, aside from the dastardly leader, we never really see the cultists do much in the way of evil. We see their ceremonies in action though, which consisted of a revolving sword device that members of the cult spun like they were trying to win money on a game-show. Not only that but there was also a seemingly ever-present bongo player who ensured that a voodoo vibe was maintained at all times. The dolls themselves were quite a cute idea and certainly were the most memorable part of the cult's practices. The film itself has an early 60's charm about it that buys it some credit, while it is short and fast-paced enough to never outstay its welcome. It should please those with a taste for old school horror flicks, at least some extent.

billoneil2 I first saw this film on WXYZ TV's "Scream Theater" in Detroit during the late 1970s. Back then, a movie made in 1961 was one of the more "recent" films showing on TV.I always loved this film. I love the fantastic opening theme by Baker Knight and the Knight-mares. I also like the immaculate B&W cinematography (you have to see a fine grain 35mm print to appreciate it). The mood throughout is excellent--with very few dollars at their disposal, the producers succeed in creating a stylish twilight world where evil magic is quite real. The finely sculpted voodoo dolls are very creepy and the incidental music adds to the film's eeriness.The actors are all good, although I always felt Robert Alda wasn't attractive enough for the role of "Rick." When I was in high school and this was showing up on late night TV, I felt he "just missed" being handsome. Sleazy-sexy Ray Danton would have been my choice—Ray was HOT.I remember when 1981 rolled around and "Devil's Hand" was scheduled to air one Friday night. TV Guide listed its release date as 1961 and I was shocked to think this movie was now 20 years old! Up until then, movies made in the early sixties were fairly recent history—everyone remembered them.Today, nobody remembers them. Marijuana-worshiping 21st century audiences sneer because the actors wore attractive clothes (not jeans & tank tops), had their hair done (no floppy Marcia Brady 'dos) and had their faces on before being photographed...what a concept! "The Devil's Hand" is more than a creepy, late-night thriller. It's a handsome time capsule which proves America was a LOT more attractive before the drug-fueled "cultural revolution." Goodbye 1961, we're going to miss you!

joekohlertrenton From the movie industry's beginnings and up through 1977, it was okay--even SOP--to make and watch "little movies." Occasionally a big budget, all-star affair would be produced, such as the biblical spectacles of the '50s or disaster films of the '70s, but "little movies" were the norm.Then "Star Wars" came along. Overnight, it wasn't okay for a picture to be anything less than a 50-million dollar, effects-filled extravaganza. I was in high school at the time and remember this phenomenon well. The mega-blockbuster-only culture in film making persists to the present day.For audiences too young to remember the pre-1977 world, movies like "The Devil's Hand" are little more than a source of ridicule. No laser blasts? No propane explosions? No skyscrapers with thousands of windows blowing out simultaneously? Well, then it's garbage.Happily, I do recall the pre-1977 film world and loved the intimacy and offbeat nature of its modest movies. "The Devil's Hand" is one of them.The story is set among a modern-day, urban cult of devil worshipers and their interesting powers (making quick money, obtaining the lover of their choice, etc.). Unwitting Rick (Robert Alda) is drawn into their shady circle by an elite member of the cult (Linda Christian). Although his life with them becomes supremely comfortable, their merciless practices and lethal vindictiveness makes him realize no one in their realm is safe.The film's strength is in its late-night atmosphere. It was produced in 1961, an attractive moment in US history. Everything looks great: the characters, their apartments, their cars and even the ceremonial back room. The music is befittingly mysterious and dreamy with the notable exception of the wonderful main-title theme by Baker Knight and the Knightmares. This rock 'n' roll number was recorded specifically for the film at the dawn of the twist craze and it charted at #37 on San Fransisco's hot 100 in August of 1961.I remember how "The Devil's Hand" turned up regularly on Detroit's "Scream Theater" Friday nights at 11:30pm during the late '70s and early '80s. I loved it then and I love it now--it's a gem.