Hands of a Stranger (1962): Cast & Plot
Hands of a Stranger is a 1962 horror thriller directed by Newt Arnold, starring James Noah as Vernon Paris (as James Stapleton), Joan Harvey and Paul Lukather. It runs 1 hour 25 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 25m (85 min)
- Director
- Newt Arnold
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Glenwood-Neve Productions
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Hands of a Stranger About?
The premise of Hands of a Stranger without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
After a car accident robs a celebrated concert pianist of his hands, a pioneering surgeon transplants a pair of donor hands onto him. The experimental procedure restores his ability to play, but the new hands seem to possess a will of their own, driving him toward madness and violent impulses.
Hands of a Stranger Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- psychotronic film
- hand transplant
- taxi
- taxi driver
- creature feature
- prologue
- scene during opening credits
- pianist
- car
- eccentric artist
- hand
- surgeon
+38 more Show fewer
- concert pianist
- car crash
- love interest
- kiss
- death
- wainscoting
- source music
- jazz
- jazz music
- boy
- woman on fire
- strangulation
- shot in the chest
- severed hand
- serial killer
- seeing eye dog
- screaming in fear
- revenge
- reluctant to marry
- reference to william shakespeare
- punched in the face
- police officer
- police lieutenant
- pipe smoking
- philosophical debate
- pair of gloves
- operating room
- nurse
- murder
- murder of a boy
- morgue
- maniac
- insane man
- mad scientist
- lamp post
- insanity
- grand piano
- glove
Hands of a Stranger Cast & Characters
James Noah leads the cast as Vernon Paris (as James Stapleton), with Joan Harvey as Dina Paris and Paul Lukather as Dr. Gil Harding. Directed by Newt Arnold; 13 actors are credited in all.
- Director Newt Arnold
- James Noah as Vernon Paris (as James Stapleton)
- Joan Harvey as Dina Paris
- Paul Lukather as Dr. Gil Harding
- Laurence Haddon as Lt. Syms
Also Starring in Hands of a Stranger
· 9 more- Elaine Martone Eileen Hunter
- Sally Kellerman Sue
- George Sawaya Tony Wilder
- Barry Gordon Skeet
- Michael Rye George Britton
- Ted Otis Dr. Ross Compton
- Irish McCalla Holly
- David Kramer Carnival Barker
- Michael Du Pont Dr. Ken Fry
More from Newt Arnold
More films directed by Newt Arnold, best-rated first: Bloodsport and Blood Thirst.
Hands of a Stranger Plot Summary
What happens in Hands of a Stranger from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Vernon Paris, James Noah, is a gifted pianist whose hands are destroyed in a taxicab accident. He undergoes a double hand transplant from a recent murder victim, a procedure overseen by Dr. Gil Harding, Paul Lukather, and initially declared a success. Yet Vernon is visibly unsettled, struggling to accept hands that feel foreign and carry another life’s memories. Lieutenant Syms, Laurence Haddon, from the police, questions the medical team about the victim and the secrecy surrounding the operating room, hinting at a troubling overlap between science and crime.
Full summary
The whole story of Hands of a Stranger, scene by scene
Hands of a Stranger Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Hands of a Stranger.
How Well Do You Know Hands of a Stranger?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is Vernon Paris's profession at the start of the film?
Cars in Hands of a Stranger
4 cars on screen, including the 1960 Chevrolet Impala and the 1958 Chrysler Windsor Town & Country.
-
1960 Chevrolet Impala Minor role -
1958 Chrysler Windsor Town & Country Minor role -
1960 Ford Fairlane Minor role -
1959 Plymouth Savoy Minor role
Hands of a Stranger Also Known As
2 alternative titles: “陌生的手” and “Le mani dell'assassino”.
- Also known as
-
- 陌生的手
- Le mani dell'assassino
Seen Hands of a Stranger?
Movies Like Hands of a Stranger
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Hands of Orlac, The New Hands and Hand of Death.
Hands of a Stranger FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Hands of a Stranger, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Hands of a Stranger?
Hands of a Stranger runs 1 hour 25 minutes (85 minutes).
When was Hands of a Stranger released?
Hands of a Stranger was released on April 22, 1962.
Who directed Hands of a Stranger?
Hands of a Stranger was directed by Newt Arnold.
More films by Newt Arnold Who is in the cast of Hands of a Stranger?
Hands of a Stranger stars James Noah as Vernon Paris (as James Stapleton), Joan Harvey as Dina Paris and Paul Lukather as Dr. Gil Harding, among 13 credited actors.
Does Hands of a Stranger have a post-credit scene?
No. Hands of a Stranger has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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