The Beast with Five Fingers

The Beast with Five Fingers is a 1946 film about a one-handed, wheelchair-bound pianist, with a strong belief in the occult, who is murdered.
 * Directed by Robert Florey. Written by Curt Siodmak, based on the 1919 short story by William Fryer Harvey.

Your flesh will creep... AT THE HAND THAT CRAWLS!! (taglines)

Donald Arlington

 * Eight bones has the carpus, five the metacarpus, fourteen the phlanges, all in all, all in all, twenty-seven all in all. Abracadabra.

Dialogue

 * Francis Ingram: Hilary, do you know why you are here?
 * Hilary Cummins: No, I don't. Some anniversary perhaps?
 * Francis Ingram: No, no such thing. I merely want your testimony... that I am not insane. It's very important to me to be certain that not one of you thinks I am of unsound mind. Bruce, you are an artist, a musician, You've been with me a long time. You've been with me constantly; therefore you are in a position to speak. Are you convinced that there is nothing wrong with... with my mental balance?
 * Conrad Ryler: Your mental balance is equal to mine, and while I consider that a tribute to your sanity, there are certain people in San Stefano who consider me... slightly eccentric. Perhaps they're right.


 * Conrad Ryler: I know, Julie, you're afraid. He's holding you with his pain and helplessness. He draws his energy from your life. He'll never let you go.
 * Julie Holden: But I must go.


 * Conrad Ryler: Tell me, Signor Conrad, in a case like this, whom does one condole? To whom does one express his grief and sympathy?
 * Ovidio Castanio: To me. I made a very fair living playing chess and gambling with him. Eating his food, drinking his wine. Now that he's gone, I'm without doubt the chief mourner.


 * Julie Holden: I wish that we could leave right now.
 * Conrad Ryler: It won't be long, only a few days. In the meantime, keep your chin up.
 * Julie Holden: Why?
 * Conrad Ryler: So that I can kiss you.


 * Duprex: Would you like me to represent you in the matter?
 * Raymond Arlington: Of course.
 * Duprex: What would my share be?
 * Raymond Arlington: Share? You mean your fee?
 * Duprex: I said share.
 * Raymond Arlington: What do you want?
 * Duprex: A participation, or to say, one third. You understand, I would offer my services to Miss Holden, under the same circumstances.
 * Donald Arlington: You mean you'd help her instead of us?
 * Duprex: I am on the side of those who engage me.


 * Ovidio Castanio: It was a dreadful accident, entirely unexpected.
 * Conrad Ryler: Yes, accidents usually are.


 * Ovidio Castanio: But of course, you are aware of the law that forbids the export of authentic antiques without a special permit?
 * Conrad Ryler: Ma certa, Commissario. I am well aware of every law. I would not dream of dealing in authentic antiques.


 * Ovidio Castanio: In my mind there is no doubt the hand is walking around.
 * Conrad Ryler: You don't believe in things like that.
 * Ovidio Castanio: Unfortunately for the peace of our souls, one cannot explain everything logically that happens in this world, Signor Conrad.


 * Clara: The Devil's haunting this house! The Devil! Signor Ingram's hand!
 * Giovanna: Quickly, before it catches up with us!
 * Antonio: Ah, you're always imagining things. The night your grandmother died, you heard skeletons rattling.
 * Clara: Well if you don't believe me, why are you running away?
 * Antonio: Well, it can't hurt to be on the safe side.
 * Hilary Cummins: Look, there they go. Giovanna, Antonio, and Clara. They're more afraid of ghosts than of the law.
 * Ovidio Castanio: The law doesn't like it too much either. If I were not the Commissario, I would be right with them.


 * Conrad Ryler: Isn't this your handwriting, Hilary?
 * Hilary Cummins: No, it's Ingram's. His hand wrote it. Don't you see? The hand, it must be here! I have to find it, it must be somewhere!

Taglines

 * Your flesh will creep... AT THE HAND THAT CRAWLS!!
 * It walks like a spider... it stalks like a cobra!
 * A Sensation of Screaming Suspense!
 * You've never seen the like of it!

Cast

 * Robert Alda — Bruce Conrad
 * Andrea King — Julie Holden
 * Peter Lorre — Hilary Cummins
 * Victor Francen — Francis Ingram
 * J. Carrol Naish — Commissario Ovidio Castanio
 * Charles Dingle — Raymond Arlington
 * John Alvin — Donald Arlington
 * David Hoffman — Duprex
 * Barbara Brown — Mrs. Miller
 * Patricia White — Clara
 * William Edmunds — Antonio
 * Belle Mitchell — Giovanna
 * Ray Walker — Mr. Miller
 * Pedro de Cordoba — Horatio