Die blaue Hand (1967)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

Alfred Vohrer

Writers:

Herbert Reinecker (writer)
Edgar Wallace (novel)

Release Date:

1970 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Horror

Plot:

Scotland Yard is after a homicidal maniac called The Blue Hand, which is what he uses to kill his victims. |

Plot Keywords:

Snake | Murder | Insane Asylum | Twin | Secret Door

Cast

Harald Leipnitz	...	Inspektor Craig
Klaus Kinski	...	Dave Emerson / Richard Emerson
Carl Lange	...	Dr. Albert Mangrove
Ilse Steppat	...	Lady Emerson
Hermann Lenschau	...	Rechtsanwalt Douglas
Diana Körner	...	Myrna Emerson
Gudrun Genest	...	Schwester Harris
Albert Bessler	...	Butler Anthony
Richard Haller	...	Edward Appleton / Die Blaue Hand
Ilse Pagé	...	Miss Mabel Finley
Fred Haltiner	...	Wärter Reynolds
Peter Parten	...	Robert Emerson
Thomas Danneberg	...	Charles Emerson
Heinz Spitzner	...	Richter
Siegfried Schürenberg	...	Sir John

Also Known As:

Creature with the Blue Hand (USA)
The Bloody Dead (USA) (video title (recut version))

Runtime:

Germany:87 min | USA:72 min

Country:

West Germany

Language:

German

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Klangfilm-Magnetocord)

Certification:

Germany:12 (re-rating) (1991) | USA:GP | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

East Orange, New Jersey, USA

Company:

Rialto Film Preben-Philipsen

Trivia:

New Jersey horror director Warren F. Disbrow and his father Warren Disbrow Sr. worked with Samuel M. Sherman on the 1987 added scenes, which was sold as "The Bloody Dead".

Movie Connections:

Edited into Out of this World Super Shock Show (2007) (V)

enjoyable krimi, not especially horrific

The DVD I watched had both the Bloody Dead and the original Creature with the Blue Hand versions on it; I watched the latter. Presumably the latter isn't exactly the original since it has English language titles and dialogue. Additionally, during the opening credits there are twelve gunshots and twelve bloody stains that appear on the screen. In The Video Watchdog Book, it's mentioned that krimis begin with that and the letters E D G A R W A L L A C E appearing out of the blood. However, those letters don't emerge on the version on the DVD, though they're clearly arranged that way.

Dave (Kinski) is committed after being found criminally insane for the murder of the family gardener. He later escapes, and people are murdered by a figure dressed in black wielding an iron blue glove with retractable knives. His twin brother, two other brothers, mother and sister are all concerned about his escape. The police investigate. Lots of secret passages and a sinister doctor is in charge of the asylum.

Enjoyable, but the ending seemed sort of contrived. Still, I'd like to see more krimis and even read some Edgar Wallace.