The Beast with Five Fingers (1947) [Warner Archive Blu-ray review]

The Beast with Five Fingers deserves way more attention in the modern era than it receives. A disembodied hand stalks a small town in Italy. Where did it come from? Why is it killing? All these questions and more will be answered! Well, they were answered over 75 years ago. I’m just the goofball talking about it yet again.

Let’s talk death

I love a good Curt Siodmak script, but how come Beast with Five Fingers never jumps out of film history into the front of my brain? I mean, we’ve heard this kind of story several times before.

When Francis Ingram dies under suspicious circumstances, the vultures descend. They argue about inheritance, speculate about cause of death, and question each other’s motives. Suddenly, gruesome murders begin. Signs point to Ingram’s severed hand crawling about and strangling people. It’s bonkers. One might think it’s a typical B-movie gag. But the tension is real. Body count rises, illusions of sanity crack, and the question is: is the hand possessed, or is there a more rational explanation?

A bit of background on The Beast with Five Fingers

The Beast with Five Fingers was released by Warner Bros. at a transitional moment for horror cinema. Universal’s monster cycle was winding down. Audiences had seen Frankenstein, Dracula, the Wolf Man, and the Mummy in various crossovers. The tastes were shifting, with film noir in the spotlight. War-time anxieties still lingered, fueling a market for psychological thrillers. So the idea of a severed hand might have felt slightly dated, reminiscent of older, pulpier horror traditions. But with Robert Florey directing and Curt Siodmak scripting, it had the creative team to bring something fresh. But where was American Horror in 1947?

Where was horror in 1947? Well, American Horror

In 1947, you had movies like Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein on the horizon (1948), bridging horror and comedy. RKO was still releasing Val Lewton-produced psychological chillers like Bedlam (1946) or The Seventh Victim (1943, a few years earlier). Those were more psychological, with subtle spooks. Meanwhile, Universal’s monster cycle was sputtering with titles like House of Dracula (1945). Into that landscape arrives a severed hand story from Warner Bros. They weren’t the main horror house, so this film stands as a curiosity. It’s slightly comedic, somewhat gothic, and definitely overshadowed by bigger properties.

Nevertheless, it did decent business. Audiences enjoyed Lorre’s mania. The novelty of the hand was good for publicity. Posters promised terror from “the monstrous hand that kills!” or something along those lines. Some critics found it silly, while others praised the craftsmanship. Over decades, it’s been lumped in with second-tier 1940s horrors, but that’s partly because there was a glut of horror content. If you ask me, its unusual blend of noir lighting, comedic timing, and a disembodied limb stands out more than certain derivative mummy sequels from that era.

Peter Lorre is still my favorite goon

Lorre’s performance is a masterclass in uneasy energy. He darts glances around, stammers conspiracies about the hand, and recites astrological nonsense. It’s classic Lorre, enhanced by the fact that the script teases him as a prime suspect. Of course, that might be too obvious. The entire cast commits to the premise. Even small roles—like local police or lawyers—relish the film’s creepy environment. No one comes off as bored. That communal buy-in lifts the movie beyond cheap schlock.

Max Steiner is becoming my favorite composer as I get older

Max Steiner’s score underscores the surreal elements. Steiner, famous for scoring King Kong and Gone with the Wind, knows how to heighten drama. He uses strings and eerie flourishes that echo classical compositions. After all, our main character is a pianist. So the music lingers around that motif. Ingram’s heartbreak resonates in minor chords. The creeping hand gets dissonant cues, with shrill violins or abrupt percussion. If you’re paying attention, each kill or chase scene is prefaced by an unsettling musical phrase. This helps glue the Beast with Five Fingers’ comedic undertones to genuine tension.

The sound design, while simple by modern standards, stands out for its emphasis on scraping, tapping, and rustling. The squeak of a door or the hush of footsteps in a corridor gains an extra edge. The disembodied hand’s movement is often accompanied by a scraping effect that’s weirdly primal. It’s that scuttling sound that likely gave audiences chills in 1947. As you hear it approach, you share the characters’ dread, scanning the room for a pale, severed limb scurrying around.

This too has a fanbase now!

Modern fans treat The Beast with Five Fingers with a mixture of respect and amused affection. It’s not a top-tier masterpiece. But it’s a fine example of 1940s horror that’s fun to watch. Some critics highlight the ways it edges into the surreal. Others appreciate how it mixes comedic touches with genuine menace. In a broader sense, it’s recognized as part of the Peter Lorre canon worth exploring if you only know him from big titles like Casablanca or comedic cameo appearances. Lorre’s trademark style is fully unleashed here.

Final thoughts on The Beast with Five Fingers and its Warner Archive Blu-ray

The Beast with Five Fingers lives up to its name. It’s weird, suspenseful, at times silly, but consistently entertaining. The entire castle setting, with swirling shadows and ominous music, sets a stage for psychological meltdown. Lorre’s wide-eyed portrayal of Conrad is worth the price of admission alone. Add in memorable kills, stabs of comedic tension, a tortured backstory for Francis Ingram, and that unstoppable severed hand, and you’ve got a minor classic that straddles the boundary between horror tradition and noir aesthetic.

Warner Archive does right by The Beast with Five Fingers by providing a Blu-ray full of special features. Plus, the A/V Quality is quite expansive. You get a lush, vibrant 1080p transfer with a clean depth to it that you don’t see on the random TCM broadcasts. If that wasn’t enough, that DTS-HD 2.0 mono track feels oh-so supportive. Couple that with a classic commentary, cartoons and a trailer to wrap up quite an excellent Beast with Five Fingers package.

The Beast with Five Fingers is now available on Warner Archive Blu-ray at MovieZyng and other outlets

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