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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

(aka "The Hands of Orlac")

 

Directed by Robert Wiene
Austria 1924

 

Reuniting the star and director of Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari, The Hands of Orlac [Orlac’s Hände] is a deliciously twisted thriller that blends grand guignol thrills with the visual and performance styles of German Expressionism.

Based on a novel by medical-horror novelist Maurice Renard, it charts the mental disintegration of a concert pianist (Conrad Veidt) whose hands are amputated after a train crash, and replaced with the hands of an executed murderer. When Orlac’s father is murdered by the dead man’s hands, Orlac begins a steady descent towards madness.

***

Wiene spent the early '20s trying to repeat his surprise success with Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari. This adaptation of Maurice Renard's celebrated novel finds him exploring another 'horrific' theme, but using his repertoire of Expressionist effects more coolly. His version of the story (about a concert pianist who loses his hands in a train crash, and has the hands of an executed murderer grafted on in their place) opts for a 'realistic' denouement rather than a 'fantastic' one, but it still manages to generate some potent shocks from its confrontation between the hero and villain. Its most enduring quality is Veidt's tormented performance as Orlac.

Excerpt from TimeOut located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: September 24th 1924

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Review: Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

Box Cover

CLICK to order from:

Bonus Captures:

Distribution Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:34:28.162        
Video

1.40:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 46,709,820,181 bytes

Feature: 27,954,195,840 bytes

Video Bitrate: 33.02 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Bitrate Blu-ray:

Audio

LPCM Audio Score 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit
Commentary:

Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps

Subtitles English, None
Features Release Information:
Studio:
Masters of Cinema

 

1.40:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 46,709,820,181 bytes

Feature: 27,954,195,840 bytes

Video Bitrate: 33.02 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

Brand new feature length audio commentary with author Stephen Jones and author / critic Kim Newman
Brand new video essay by filmmakers David Cairns and Fiona Watson (26:23)
Alternate presentation of The Hands of Orlac [SD, 110 minutes] – Courtesy of the F. W. Murnau Foundation, a presentation of the film struck from a different print source, featuring alternate takes of certain scenes. Includes a musical score by Paul Mercer
Scene comparisons highlighting some of the differences between the two versions of the film (13:49)
PLUS: A Collector’s Booklet featuring new writing by Philip Kemp, and Tim Lucas


Blu-ray Release Date:
June 14th, 2021
Standard Transparent Blu-ray Case inside Limited Edition O-Card Slipcase [First Print Run of 2000 copies only]

Chapters 9

 

 

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Masters of Cinema Blu-ray (June 2021): Masters of Cinema have transferred Robert Wiene's The Hands of Orlac to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from "a restoration of the original film elements by Film Archiv Austria". It is, obviously, at the mercy of the surviving elements and shows quite a bit of damage, skipping in the first ten minutes (the train crash) but settle down nicely after that. It is still fraught with marks, jumping, shifting contrast levels but fully watchable and immensely enjoyable in 1080P.

NOTE: We have added 56 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Masters of Cinema use a linear PCM 2.0 channel track (24-bit) with a magnificent musical score by Johannes Kalitzke than has electronic input, eerie high-pitched violins and is wonderfully diverse echoing to the film expressionist elements. I though it added brilliantly to the film experience. Masters of Cinema offer original Austrian, German, French and even English language, intertitles with optional English subtitles (see many samples below) on their Region 'B'-locked Blu-ray.

The Masters of Cinema Blu-ray offers a new commentary by author Stephen Jones (A Book of Horrors) and author / critic Kim Newman (Nightmare Movies: Horror on Screen Since the 1960s.) They are very in-tune together sharing details of the other versions or similar film stories, Maurice Renard's novel (Kim cites differences), Robert Wiene's career etc. Jones takes a critical view of the film but over the course of the commentary - Newman has made him gain appreciation. There was quite a lot on the career of Conrad Veidt plus a few slight gaps to enjoy the film and score. I thought it was very good and you can hear their enthusiasm transferring to us about the era and genre. There is also a brand new, 26-minute, video essay by filmmakers David Cairns and Fiona Watson entitled "Extremities". It probes deeply discussing the struggle between body and mind as expressed in The Hands of Orlac. Masters of Cinema also include the longer 110 minute version of the film (addition 20-minutes) in SD format that starts with a Kino logo and is for English-language audiences (converted intertitles) offering no subtitles. It is courtesy of the F. W. Murnau Foundation - a presentation of the film struck from a different print source, featuring alternate takes of certain scenes. It has a score by Paul Mercer. Lastly, is a 14-minutes of 'scene comparisons' highlighting some of the differences between the two versions of the film. The package has a liner notes collector’s booklet featuring new writing by Philip Kemp, and Tim Lucas. It is housed with a limited edition O-Card Slipcase.    

Robert Wiene's The Hands of Orlac is very enjoyable as a silent era crime-horror-sci/fi-mystery in the vein of Fritz Lang. Many will enjoy and appreciate the expressionist touches and precisely realized film. It is hauntingly moody and is pioneering of one of the frequently  -repeated tropes involving switched body parts controlling the mind; include the iconic Frankenstein and Georges Franju’s horror classic Les Yeux sans Visage (Eyes Without a Face, 1959) plus many more. I was extremely pleased to see this reach Masters of Cinema Blu-ray. The Hands of Orlac is very creepy and best seen in this 1080P restoration. The detailed commentary, video essay, and booklet make this a strong recommendation!

Gary Tooze

 


Menus / Extras

 


CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

1) Masters of Cinema (Alternate presentation) -(SD) TOP

2) Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 


1) Masters of Cinema (Alternate presentation) -(SD) TOP

2) Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 


Subtitle Sample
 

 

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Box Cover

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Bonus Captures:

Distribution Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray


 


 

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