# 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.

## 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

## External links

* The Beast with Five Fingers quotes at the Internet Movie Database
* The Beast with Five Fingers at Rotten Tomatoes
* The Beast with Five Fingers at Allmovie