The Hand is a 1960 British horror film directed by Henry Cass and written by Ray Cooney and Tony Hilton. The film is memorable for its nightmarish premise and opening scene that belies its censorship certificate.
Plot
The story begins during the Burma campaign (mislabeled as '1946'), in which three captured British soldiers are threatened with torture if they refuse to divulge military information. Two refuse and have their hands chopped off.
Some time later, in post-War London, a gentleman of the night is found with his hand surgically removed and £500 in his pockets. This begins a criminal investigation, returning the plot to the opening situation.
Cast
Derek Bond as Roberts / Roger Crawshaw
Ronald Leigh-Hunt as Inspector Munyard
Ray Cooney as Sgt. David Pollitt
Reed De Rouen as Michael John Brodie
Bryan Coleman as George Adams
Walter Randall as Japanese commander
Tony Hilton as Police Sgt. Paul Foster
Harold Scott as Charlie Taplow
Gwenda Ewen as Nurse Johns
Michael Moore as Dr. Metcalfe
Ronald Wilson as Doctor
Garard Green as Dr. Simon Crawshaw
Jean Dallas as Nurse Geiber
David Blake Kelly as Jay Marshall
Reginald Hearne as Noel Brodie
Madeleine Burgess as Mrs. Brodie
Critical reception
Britmovie wrote, "this Ray Cooney scripted post-war revenge thriller opens promisingly enough but soon all tension and mystery is lost due to the predictable plot development and clumsy editing" ; while Unseen Films wrote, "this is a neat little film that never fully makes 100% sense...I liked this movie a great deal. It's far from perfect, but it does hold your attention."