"The Hidden Hand" is one of the Warner Brothers combination comedy, mystery and horror movies made in the early 1940s. This one is quite good as a mystery, even with the early introduction of the mad John Channing. Naturally, everyone thinks he is the culprit here. There are several murders. Nothing grotesque, but enough to convince one that the Channing family may all be crazy.
The comedy is provided by Willie Best who was a very good African-American actor. He was in many films during Hollywood's golden era, but died of cancer at age 48 in 1962. The screenplay is just fair, and the mystery is the best part of the film. The hidden hand is actually part of the comedy, because it frequent comes out of the wall from behind a picture and swipes sandwiches or turns off lights, etc.
The cast doesn't include any prominent actors of the day, and none of these roles are more than standard. The mystery aspect keeps one interested to see how the escaped asylum inmate, mad John Channing will be caught. But it has some surprises toward the end. A fair film with enough different twists to keep one interested.
The comedy is provided by Willie Best who was a very good African-American actor. He was in many films during Hollywood's golden era, but died of cancer at age 48 in 1962. The screenplay is just fair, and the mystery is the best part of the film. The hidden hand is actually part of the comedy, because it frequent comes out of the wall from behind a picture and swipes sandwiches or turns off lights, etc.
The cast doesn't include any prominent actors of the day, and none of these roles are more than standard. The mystery aspect keeps one interested to see how the escaped asylum inmate, mad John Channing will be caught. But it has some surprises toward the end. A fair film with enough different twists to keep one interested.