NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Warner Archive Blu-ray (April 2025): Warner Archive has transferred Robert Florey's The Beast with Five Fingers to Blu-ray. This restoration - cited elsewhere as "4K scan of the original nitrate camera negative" - marks a significant improvement over previous releases, such as the 2013 DVD-R from Warner Archive, reviewed by Gregory HERE, which suffered from marks, minor debris, and artifacting. Contrast is a huge improvement and there is more information in the frame from the lackluster DVD. The gothic Italian villa’s shadowy corridors, grand staircases, and ornate interiors are rendered with impressive clarity, showcasing the texture of stone walls, polished piano keys, and worn furniture. There is even depth in the 1080P visuals.

NOTE: We have added 76 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE.

On their Blu-ray, Warner Archive uses a DTS-HD Master dual-mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. The ambient soundscape of the villa - creaking floors, rustling curtains, ticking clocks - is vividly rendered, complementing Wesley Anderson’s (Pillow to Post, Love and Learn) shadowy wide shots. The hand’s scraping fingers, thudding attacks, and the piano’s echo are sharp and impactful - emphasis on scraping and rustling adds a “weirdly primal” edge, enhancing the horror. Max Steiner’s (Mildred Pierce, Key Largo, Casablanca, The Caine Mutiny, Bird of Paradise, Beyond the Forest, Pursued, etc.) score on The Beast with Five Fingers, featuring strings, piano, and percussive elements, is presented with eerie motifs - mimicking the hand’s playing - and shrill violins during attack scenes, which are crisp, enhancing the gothic horror aspects. It sounds exceptionally clean, clear, and resonant via the lossless. Warner Archive offers optional English subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

The Warner Archive Blu-ray offers a commentary by Dr. Steve Haberman (Gothic for Radicals: The Horror Films of Gordon Hessler and Christopher Wicking) and Constantine Nasr (The Journal of Classic British Horror Films.) They explore the film’s status as Warner Bros.’s only 1940s horror film, its psychological horror elements, and its Freudian subtext, including castration anxiety tied to the hand. They discuss Curt Siodmak’s (1941's The Wolf Man, I Walked with a Zombie, Earth vs. the Flying Saucers, Donovan’s Brain) screenplay, emphasizing his role in elevating horror through character psychology, touch on Florey’s direction, the tonal inconsistencies, and the cast’s contributions. The commentary also addresses the film’s production history (including a deleted climax scene) and differences from W.F. Harvey’s original short story. It offers a scholarly lens that enhances appreciation of the film’s historical and thematic significance. This commentary is a standout, balancing academic analysis with engaging insights, making it a valuable addition for horror fans and cinephiles. There are also two 1947 Merrie Melodies cartoons directed by Friz Freleng: The Foxy Duckling and The Gay Anties. These are disconnected from the film, limiting their value beyond nostalgia, but do provide a nostalgic glimpse into 1940s animation. Lastly is the original theatrical trailer in SD.

Robert Florey's The Beast with Five Fingers is delightfully unique 1940s horror-mystery. The film excels in creating a chilling, gothic atmosphere that immerses viewers in its eerie setting. The Warner Archive Blu-ray is a pristine restoration of a cult classic. The Beast with Five Fingers is a compelling blend of gothic horror and psychological expressionism, defined by Wesley Anderson’s black-and-white cinematography and Robert Florey’s direction. The wide shots of the Italian villa, low-key lighting, and tilted angles create a shadowy, disorienting world, while close-ups of the hand and Peter Lorre’s face heighten the terror and intrigue. The monochrome palette enhances the film’s tactile textures and symbolic contrasts, fitting its 1940s horror context. This Warner Archive Blu-ray is a must-own for collectors and fans of the era's horrors, delivering a definitive restoration of a quirky, yet influential gem. This is an absolute keeper for me. Strongly recommended.

Gary Tooze