The Hidden Hand

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

This is no "Halloween", but I really enjoyed this movie..not for the scares, but for the laughs. It was a great way to pass a couple of hours on a lazy Sunday afternoon in the middle of winter. Willie Best was really entertaining. The other characters did just enough and although it was very campy by today's standards, I can't fault any of them. At the end when the policemen all left the house satisfied that they had solved the crime (but left all the bodies in the hidden basement well), I laughed right out loud. I found this movie on the Turner Classic movie channel, where I watch most of the black and white movies I enjoy. If you just look at it as pure entertainment, you'd be sure to enjoy it.

A somewhat warped old lady, played by Cecil Cunningham, yes that's the actress' name, has a will giving the bulk of her estate to her personal secretary, in order that her greedy and selfish family not get their grubby hands on her money. Her brother has just escaped from an insane asylum and heads for home. Such begins a creepy and very morbid film, as bodies start dropping like flies. Willie Best is on hand as the chauffeur who is giving his usual wide-eyed and jumpy performance at all things spooky. Future "Peter Gunn" star Craig Stevens costars and Milton Parsons gives a particularly chilling and unforgettable performance as the crazy escapee. With hidden money, trapdoors, crevices, and clues to find it all, this film has everything you'd want for a macabre night of thrills and chills. A very complicated and intricate plot keeps the viewer glued to their seat and holding on for dear life. This film delivers like none other for a dark, rainy night. Just turn a light on afterwards, and watch your back....

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.