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The Hands of Orlac
The Hands of Orlac
1924
Sci-fi
Crime
1h 32m
A world renown pianist loses his hands in a train accident and gets a transplant from a convicted criminal. The hands, of course, take over... or do they? (IMDB Comments)
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The Hands of Orlac
1924
Sci-fi
Crime
1h 32m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 56.12% from 166 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews
(166)
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Rated 25 Oct 2020
58
48th
Unfortunately, this lesser German expressionist silent horror film didn't quite hold up for me. Simply put, the pacing felt dreadfully slow at times, especially the middle portion of the film. Although the film manages some impressive visuals and atmosphere, the pacing issues take a lot away from an otherwise interesting story. While the story has been remade and retold numerous times, as of right now, my favorite version is still when Homer gets that hair transplant from Snake in "Hell Toupée"
Rated 25 Oct 2020
Rated 23 Nov 2008
8
84th
A few really excellent sets, great acting (especially from an electrifying Veidt) and use of "the gaze" (eyes to die for, eyes worth killing for!) and a chilling atmosphere, where every explanation seems possible and nothing is ruled out. It is - unfortunately - a bit drawn out.
Rated 23 Nov 2008
Rated 03 Jun 2008
65
25th
Wiene perfectly nails the creepy atmosphere in this film that transitions from expressionism to a more realistic style. Big, sparsely furnished rooms where the corners fade into the shadows, and Conrad Veidt's hands contorted into strange and menacing positions. But the pacing is like molasses, with just about everything taking twice as long as it needs to. Personally, I don't think Caligari is all that great either, but its tighter construction makes it more enjoyable than this.
Rated 03 Jun 2008
Rated 29 May 2010
70
17th
Starts off really well and ends ok, but the middle of the film is a total drag. Serious pacing problems bring this down by about 5 tiers. Veidt was suitably anguished and expressive in the lead role but a few of the other characters were lacklustre. Good cinematography and music fitting with the period and genre. Could have been a great film if not for the terribly boring middle section.
Rated 29 May 2010
Rated 15 Mar 2010
60
21st
Hm...that was a major case of histronics (with lots and lots of silent-movie eyes). Starts out tremendously; unlike the 1935 remake, they get right to the train wreck. But the middle portion drags and droops (they definitely could've excised a half-hour or so in there somewhere). Very good score btw by Paul Mercer (for the DVD version).
Rated 15 Mar 2010
Rated 07 Oct 2016
89
92nd
Silents can be a bit of drag sometimes, and this one has a few pacing issues, but it's so great otherwise that it hardly matters. The story is both fun and creepy, and I love the turns it takes. The real highlight is the cinematography, as you'd expect from an Expressionist silent. Every shot does such a great job of establishing the dreadful atmosphere, and the performances enhance it further. It's great.
Rated 07 Oct 2016
Rated 19 Nov 2012
75
69th
Some slow pacing, but a good movie. The scenes of the train accident convey a sense anxiety, confusion and panic that are memorable.
Rated 19 Nov 2012
Rated 03 Dec 2011
65
23rd
The ending wrapped it up to my satisfaction and Veidt was pretty decent, but this movie kind of blew.
Rated 03 Dec 2011
Rated 10 Oct 2020
72
51st
Wiene use shadows very well to create a very atmospheric movie. The movie starts fabulous with a train wreck and ends also very good. But the plot in the second act moves way too slow, while the character development feels rushed.
Rated 10 Oct 2020
Rated 18 Aug 2020
60
35th
Nice and creepy early German film. As others have mentioned, the then-clever plot takes exceedingly long to build up to its twisted ending. And although it's quite common in silent films for the actors to be expressive with facial and bodily movements, this one really goes over the top (you almost think it is parodying itself).
Rated 18 Aug 2020
Rated 14 Oct 2021
75
72nd
Was a bit slow at times, and sometimes a bit daft, but this was atmospheric, tense and very watchable. My favourite character was the copper with INSANE fingerprint skills. The train crash was very impressive handled, and some of the (over)acting made for great viewing. The Eureka bluray I watched had an absolutely mad score which I'm sure turned this into a very different film - it gave me the fear. Maybe not for everyone, but worth a look.
Rated 14 Oct 2021
Rated 29 Jul 2020
76
68th
76.
Rated 29 Jul 2020
Rated 03 Aug 2019
69
71st
I had no idea that one of my favorite camp films (Body Parts) was derived from this. Its a bit too long and drags at time but this is a fun movie none the less. Highly recommended for horror fans and or fans of silent cinema.
Rated 03 Aug 2019
Rated 02 Jul 2021
75
84th
(Eureka blu-ray): A completely different experience at 93 minutes. The mix of expressionism and 'naturalism', for lack of a better term, is far more effective at a shorter length, rendering the strangely spare sets odd and alien, creating real tension, and the atmosphere is wonderfully gloomy. The plot itself is nothing special, but it is an impressive mood piece that shines in scenes that linger on Orlac's mental torment, and Veidt's affected trance like performance is commanding and bold.
Rated 02 Jul 2021
Rated 25 Jan 2021
3
9th
The Simpsons did it better.
Rated 25 Jan 2021
Rated 06 Jul 2022
65
71st
Despite striking moments (perhaps most effective when showing Orlac Sr.'s abode), Wiene can't quite rekindle the feeling of CALIGARI. There's something organologically true about the premise: that the notion that the head rules the hand is a kind of backwards metaphysical delusion. The irony is that when science finally caught up 74 years later, it was not the donor but the recipient who turned out to be a criminal, which proved to be a problem when the patient would not follow doctors' orders.
Rated 06 Jul 2022
Rated 05 Jan 2024
85
84th
Conrad Veidt invented acting. Love my German Expressionism extravagantly deranged but turns out its equally potent when cavernously sad. Entirely strong but the opening train crash spectacle is some cinemaaaaaa
Rated 05 Jan 2024
Rated 20 Feb 2019
79
6th
78.50
Rated 20 Feb 2019
Rated 18 Jun 2020
71
58th
It's pretty entertaining watching a hand-transplant patient constantly fighting the urge to commit murder with his new hands, and it's even funnier in retrospect after the twist-packed ending.
Rated 18 Jun 2020
Rated 11 Oct 2020
76
46th
A straightforward storyline with fewer dull moments that some silent drama films. Not really a horror movie, but a classic of German expressionism.
Rated 11 Oct 2020
Rated 23 Nov 2015
5
22nd
Veidt is better than fine a lot of times, but too melodramatic. This is watchable but rather silly in many ways. Sets seem to be a mix between expressionism and naturalism. And well done.
Rated 23 Nov 2015
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