The Hidden Hand (1942)

This one deserves to be better known,  15 May 2020

Lorinda Channing helps her insane brother escape from an asylum.  She intends to use him to frighten her other relatives who she feels are only out to get her money.  Intending to leave the majority of her fortune to her secretary, Mary Winfield, Lorinda is convinced she’ll also need protection from her crazy family.  But can you really trust an homicidal maniac bent on killing again?  

I’m not really sure why The Hidden Hand isn’t better known.  It’s one of those Warner “B” films that seems to have unfairly dropped into relative obscurity.  I’m not sure I was even aware of its existence until last night.  Too bad, because it’s a ton of fun.  It’s got so much going for it.  First, Milton Parsons plays mad brother John perfectly.  He expertly alternates between hilarious and downright creepy.  To me, it looked as if Parsons was having the time of his life.  His name might not be familiar, but he’s a character actor that I’m sure most fans of 1940s-era films have run across.  Second is Willie Best.  I always feel it necessary to defend enjoying Best, so I’ll do so again.  While I do not appreciate the stereotypical and sometimes degrading roles he was given, he’s as good a comedian as you’ll find.  HIs timing is impeccable.  The missing sandwich bit near the beginning of the film had me just about laughing out loud.  In fact, he steals just about every scene he appears in.  Finally, as I’ve said countless times, I always enjoy an old, dark house movie.  This one comes complete with secret passages, moving panels, and other surprises.  Add to that a madcap script, dead bodies that appear and disappear, and an atmospheric thunderstorm and you’ve got a winner in my books.  

One last thing, being a Warner Brothers’ film - even a “B’ film - it all looks great.  Director Benjamin Stoloff and cinematographer Henry Sharp certainly knew what they were doing. 

7/10