Matialth
Good concept, poorly executed.
Pacionsbo
Absolutely Fantastic
Kien Navarro
Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.
EnoVarma
I prefer this to Wiene's most famous film about a doctor called Caligari, which is a fine film, too. "Orlac" doesn't try to be as boldly expressive, but it's still visually a stunning work in service of arguably a better story. Another major reason to see this is the fantastic performance by Conrad Veidt (Casablanca). There are scenes in the film where he somehow makes the viewer feel as though his hands really aren't his. Also, even if the second act is often sluggish, the central love story is exceptionally powerful and beautiful.I had the good fortune of seeing this in a cinema, on film, with a wonderful live accompaniment, which added a lot to the picture.
Horst in Translation (filmreviews@web.de)
"Orlacs Hände" or "Orlac's Hands" is a black-and-white silent film from over 90 years ago. It was directed by Robert Wiene, the man behind the famous Caligari movie. In its original version, the film ran roughly 90 minutes, but the new version I saw has over 110 minutes, probably because of less frames per second. Anyway, Conrad Veidt is one of Germany's most known silent film actors, so he certainly can carry a film like this. His most known role is probably in "Casablanca". In my opinion, the idea was nice in here. A piano player has a terrible accident and loses both his hands. A surgeon gives him a new pair, but these are from a convicted and executed murderer. By now, you probably know that this is a mystery/horror film. The ending just takes it to another level. Yes it was fairly absurd that somebody else got the killer's head and now this was some meat puzzle story, but at least something interesting happened. This thrill near the end, however, is not enough to sit through almost 2 hours of this film. I am generally not the biggest silent film fan, so my opinion may be biased, but i found it a boring watch for the most part. This film did not get me interested in silent movies. Not recommended.
Robert J. Maxwell
I realize this movie was a true original. Well, kind of, anyway. Maurice Renard wrote the novel in 1920, and he wrote the original mixed-up transplant novel in 1908 about organs being transplanted not just from human to human but to animals, plants, and even machines. One wonders what it must have been like to be Maurice Renard's room mate. But, in fact, maybe the whole business began with Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" and lasted at least through the latest version of "The Fly" and "Robocop." Anyway, yes, I realize the film is an original and that it was directed by the same guy, Robert Wiene, who had earlier given us "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari," which I truly believe was dreamed up on some kind of amusement park ride.But, man, this is one slow slog. Example: Conrad Veidt as Orlac has discovered his hands have been transplanted from a murderer and he sits brooding on the couch. Behind him stands his wife, Alexandra Sorina, staring at him without his realizing that she's there. I tried to time the motionless scene in which she stares at his back and he sits, but my LED clock was in shadow and I couldn't read it. It must be thirty full seconds. Nothing happens. Finally she drops -- verrry slowwwly -- to her knees and creeps towards him until she's able to nuzzle his hand. Veidt jerks it away in disgust.I hate modern movies that are stylishly edited so that each shot lasts a fraction of a second, but this was like watching actors move inside a huge vat of corn syrup. Sorina overacts too. Everybody is expected to overact in a silent movie but this goes a bit over the edge. Veidt, the central figure, has a handle on his role and projects emotions exquisitely. The doctor too reins himself in, though that doesn't stop him from looking like a chump from the Keystone Cops.There's none of the loop-the-loop quality of "Dr. Caligari." There aren't any surprises in the set dressing or the story itself, once we get the picture. Although it's dark, it's been beautifully photographed. Superb use is made of lights in night-for-night shots. The musical score is hard to assess. It sounds like The World Saxophone Quartet for strings, full of extended shimmering dissonant chords and occasional weird shrieks and squeaks. I kind of enjoyed it.It was more or less remade ten years later as "Mad Love" with Peter Lorre in the role of a crazed doctor who performs the transplants. The victim is treated coincidentally. "Mad Love" goes nuts at the end. At least this one is grounded, given the initial fantastic premise.But, mind you, it IS slow.
dorian_willems
I saw Orlacs Hände at the Ghent filmfestival this year with a live score. I must say I thought it was very good, although I didn't agree with the new score all the time... The story is both simple and ridiculous (like any good scare movie): A world renown pianist loses his hands in a trainaccident and gets a transplant from a convicted criminal. The hands of course take over or do they. This film does not excell in great acting or storytelling but more in the subtle building of an atmosphere that becomes so haunting that it nearly becomes unbearable. If you like horror movies from the silent age, without blood or gore but with loads of atmosphere, then this is an absolute must-see.
