The Devil's Hand (1962)

Director:

William J. Hole Jr.

Writer:

Jo Heims (screenplay)

Release Date:

13 September 1961 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

The men she loved lived to love no others!

Plot:

A man is haunted by visions of a beautiful woman. When he finally meets her, he winds up involved in a satanic cult.

Plot Keywords:

Doll | Cult | Music Score Features Flute | Liquor | Supernatural Horror

Cast

Linda Christian	...	Bianca Milan
Robert Alda	...	Rick Turner
Ariadna Welter	...	Donna Trent
Neil Hamilton	...	Francis 'Frank' Lamont
Gere Craft	...	Mary the Nurse
Jeanne Carmen	...	The Blonde Cultist (as Jeannie Carman)
Julie Scott	...	Cult Member
Diana Spears	...	Nurse
Gertrude Astor	...	The Elderly Cultist
Bruno VeSota	...	Lindell's Sponsor (as Bruno Ve-Sota)
Dick Lee	...	Cult Member
Jim Knight	...	Cult Member
Coleen Vico	...	Cult Member
Roy Wright	...	Doctor
Romona Ravez	...	Cult Member
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tony Rock	...	Cult Member (uncredited)

Directed by
William J. Hole Jr.

Writing credits
Jo Heims		(screenplay)

Produced by
Alvin K. Bubis	....	producer
Dave Carney	....	associate producer
Harris Gilbert	....	associate producer
Pierre Groleau	....	associate producer
Jack Miles	....	executive producer
Nick Newberry	....	associate producer (as Rick Newberry)
Rex Carlton	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Allyn Ferguson
Michael Terr		(as Mischa Terr)

Cinematography by
Meredith M. Nicholson		(photography) (as Meredith Nicholson)

Film Editing by
Howard Epstein

Art Direction by
Sherman Loudermilk		(as Sherm Lautermilk)

Makeup Department
Jack P. Pierce	....	make up (as Jack Pierce)

Production Management
Jack Miles	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Bill D'Arcy	....	second assistant director
Raoul Pagel	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Philip Mitchell	....	sound recordist (as Phil Mitchel)

Camera and Electrical Department
Jack McCoskey	....	camera operator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Marjorie Corso	....	wardrobe woman (as Marge Corso)

Music Department
Allyn Ferguson	....	orchestrator
Baker Knight	....	composer: dance theme
Michael Terr	....	music director (as Manuel Francisco)
Michael Terr	....	orchestrator (as Mischa Terr)

Other crew
Steve Blauner	....	technical advisor (as J. Steven Blauner)
Carl Earn	....	assistant to producer
Rene J. Hall	....	special arrangements (as Rene Hall)
Frank Remsden	....	script supervisor
Richard Slavin	....	technical advisor

Production Companies

• Rex Carlton Productions

Distributors

• Crown International Pictures (1962) (USA) (theatrical)
• VCI Home Video (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• Alpha Video Distributors (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Mill Creek Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Works Editora (2005) (Brazil) (DVD)
• BCI Eclipse (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• GoDigital Media Group (2009) (worldwide) (all media) (digital)
• Loonic Video (USA) (video)
• Something Weird Video (SWV) (199?) (USA) (VHS)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

71 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Unrated | UK:PG (re-rating) (2005) | UK:X (original rating)

Company:

Rex Carlton Productions

Quotes:

[first lines]
Rick Turner:Who're your friends?
Donna Trent:My *date* for the afternoon. You're twenty minutes late.
Rick Turner:Sorry.
Donna Trent:You hear that? He says he's sorry. Do you think I should marry a man who is late for his appointments?
Rick Turner:She's proposing again.
Donna Trent:Only for the seventeenth time.
Rick Turner:You've waited all your life for the perfect mate; what's twenty minutes more?
Donna Trent:You should get over that inferiority complex.

Movie Connections:

Featured in 100 Years of Horror: Witches (1996) (V)

Repeated watching adds a creepy ambiance to this little known genre flick.

I was introduced to this film when I stumbled across a VHS copy at a well known video retail store. At the time I was buying up and devouring as many B-movies as I could find. I think that in the same trip I purchased The Wasp Women, and Catwomen of the Moon in 3D.

The first couple of times I watched this movie, I didn't feel it was that spectacular, but I did particularly like the opening sequence theme music, a definite nod to Dave Allen and the Arrows. I was however, not able to quite pin down the plot at first because, admittedly, I fell asleep the first few times I saw it.

After several more viewings though, the film began to take on a strange, almost psychedelic feel and I realized that all of the confusion really lends itself to the themes of hypnotism and mind control in cults, which is I think the heart of the film. Whether or not this effect was obtained on purpose by the director, I can't say. It doesn't really matter. I still enjoy watching this one years later.