The Hidden Hand

Possibly my comments won't fit with other viewers' comments as I saw this film in 1942 when it was issued, and I was 7 years old.

As a 7 year old I found it scary, interesting, and sometimes comic.

I realize 62 years later the film would probably not frighten me now in the least. I think the story was original. Milton Parsons I remember well. His funereal manner was fascinating and his appearance is vivid in my memory. I remember him as a good little cameo actor from the 1940s, as well as one unfortunate, Rondo Hatton, who was not an actor but appeared as a monster due to his acromegaly. Bring back the films of the 1940s and early 1950s!

There was a time when every major studio turned out "B" movies, 60 minute quickies to fill a double bill. "The Hidden Hand," for example. It features a group of credible, little-known actors (aside from Craig Stevens who had not yet played Peter Gunn) and keeps the budget slim by using only one set, a mysterious mansion where members of a greedy family gather to be knocked off. Why are there a pair of homicidal hands behind the painting in the living room? How come the carpet nearby hides a quick dip in a watery grave?? And how did the mistress of the manor get out of the crypt in which she was interred to plot the demise of her house guests? At least, the cast includes Milton Parsons who is either the funniest or scariest butler to escape an insane asylum. In short, a surprisingly entertaining throwback.

This is an example of the Dark and Stormy Night motif. A maniac from an insane asylum escapes and makes his way to the house of his wealthy sister. Once there, she enlists him in playing a nasty prank on several heirs to her fortune. She uses a drug to make her look dead with the idea of being revived later. This will force the vultures to attack one another. Meanwhile, the nut case brother begins a little killing spree. The down side is the black servant who is treated like dirt. Of course, he is a mass of stereotypes, typical of the time period.

"The Hidden Hand" is an interesting twist on the familiar old dark house thrillers. But, like so many similar films in this genre in this era, it has Willie Best on hand...as if there was some unwritten law that he be on hand in each of these films!!

The film begins with a madman escaping from the sanitarium. It seems that John Channing (Milton Parsons) was assisted in his escape by his sister, Lorinda (Cecil Cunningham). She seems pretty unconcerned about her murderous brother's antics and wants his help in throwing an interesting party. She has invited her relatives there and she knows most of them are real swine....and she and John are going to make sure the deserving ones don't leave the house alive!

There are many nice twists in the film...but I don't want to discuss them because it would spoil the film. Overall, it's fun and quite entertaining...and well worth seeing.

Lorinda Channing helps her insane brother escape from an asylum. She intends to use him to frighten her other relatives who she feels are only out to get her money. Intending to leave the majority of her fortune to her secretary, Mary Winfield, Lorinda is convinced she'll also need protection from her crazy family. But can you really trust an homicidal maniac bent on killing again?

I'm not really sure why The Hidden Hand isn't better known. It's one of those Warner "B" films that seems to have unfairly dropped into relative obscurity. I'm not sure I was even aware of its existence until last night. Too bad, because it's a ton of fun. It's got so much going for it. First, Milton Parsons plays mad brother John perfectly. He expertly alternates between hilarious and downright creepy. To me, it looked as if Parsons was having the time of his life. His name might not be familiar, but he's a character actor that I'm sure most fans of 1940s-era films have run across. Second is Willie Best. I always feel it necessary to defend enjoying Best, so I'll do so again. While I do not appreciate the stereotypical and sometimes degrading roles he was given, he's as good a comedian as you'll find. HIs timing is impeccable. The missing sandwich bit near the beginning of the film had me just about laughing out loud. In fact, he steals just about every scene he appears in. Finally, as I've said countless times, I always enjoy an old, dark house movie. This one comes complete with secret passages, moving panels, and other surprises. Add to that a madcap script, dead bodies that appear and disappear, and an atmospheric thunderstorm and you've got a winner in my books.

One last thing, being a Warner Brothers' film - even a "B' film - it all looks great. Director Benjamin Stoloff and cinematographer Henry Sharp certainly knew what they were doing.

7/10