The Hands of Orlac (1924)

A world-famous pianist loses both hands in an accident. When new hands are grafted on, he hears rumors that the new appendages once belonged to a murderer...

Director Robert Wiene, already famous for The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari (1920) and Genuine (also 1920) tackles identity, body dysphoria and the human soul in this 153 minute Expressionist film based on the Maurice Renard novel. Despite the masterful camerawork, fluid motion and frankly amazing shadowplay at work in this feature, a movie such as this lives or dies on its actors-and with such players as Alexandra Sorina, Fritz Strassny and Fritz Kortner present, this film is in good hands (so to speak, ahem). But the horror of this film is a deeply personal one-and of course the astonishing Conrad Veidt (who has never IMHO given less than his all to a part) lends his talent to showing Paul Orlac at his most helpless, despairing and fearful, truly pulling the audience headlong into the story alongside him... On its U.S. release in 1928, Variety wrote "Were it not for Veidt's masterly characterization, The Hands of Orlac would be an absurd fantasy in the old-time mystery-thriller class".

This film was re-released upon a full restoration in 1995, with new a score by composer Paul Mercer, and once again made available to the viewing public...enjoy! Silent, B&W.