This the French language version of the 1960 French/English co-production THE HANDS OF ORLAC starring Mel Ferrer. In his documentary, MY JOURNEY THROUGH FRENCH CINEMA, Bernard Tavernier praises the work of director Edmond T. Greville. On the evidence of this and of the director's other English film, BEAT GIRL, this praise might well be misplaced, although, of course I have not seen any of his French films. This is a dull version of Maurice Renaud's novel, previously filmed with Conrad Veidt in the silent era and Colin Clive in the Thirties. Mel Ferrer just doesn't have the dramatic acting chops for the character of Orlac who believe a murderer's hands have replaced his own. The supporting cast is mainly English with Christopher Lee, Felix Aylmer, Donald Wolfit, Peter Reynolds and Donald Pleasance. Glamour is provided by Dany Carrel and Lucile Saint-Simon. Rating : **
