A mad scientist named Dr Gogol is obsessively infatuated with the lead actress of a local grotesque play in Paris.
Though she is madly in love with a popular pianist, who sends her messages via code, when he knows his performances are being broadcast live on the radio.
They plan to move to England together; though, not if Gogol has any say in the matter...
Not only does he publicly molest her; he buys the wax statue made in her image; and formulates a sinister plot to ensure the object of his affection will never leave his sight.
Meanwhile, police are moving local thug and killer, Rollo- whose proficiencies involve knife throwing- to the place where he is to be executed.
Unfortunately, the train that both he, and the pianist, are in crashes...leaving the pianist with such severe injuries to his hands, that it will require their amputation.
Rollo is executed (after mentioning the "longest dam ever built in the world").
While the young actress is left so desperate, after the accident- that she turns to Gogol, hoping he can use his surgery skills to help her beloved.
But he plans to use this oppourtunity to his advantage.
He asks for the dead body of Rollo; from which he will harvest the hands; and transplant them onto the pianist.
After numerous forms of therapy, the operation finally takes...though, things aren't exactly the same...
...he can no longer play the piano, no matter how hard he practices.
He can, however, throw a knife with mean accuracy all of a sudden...which leads to the untimely death of his father.
Turns out that Gogol had also replaced Rollo's head using the same procedure...and he's still alive...just with fancy new metallic hands.
So, either his transplant hands are starting to take over his mind; or Rollo is somehow able to control his actions through his hands.
At least, that is what they are leading him to believe...though, things might not be exactly like they seem...
While not as good as Eyes Without A Face or House Of Wax...it's still a classic.
Even if the story is a bit implausible in retrospect.
Lorre's portrayal of Gogol is genuinely creepy.
6 out of 10.
Though she is madly in love with a popular pianist, who sends her messages via code, when he knows his performances are being broadcast live on the radio.
They plan to move to England together; though, not if Gogol has any say in the matter...
Not only does he publicly molest her; he buys the wax statue made in her image; and formulates a sinister plot to ensure the object of his affection will never leave his sight.
Meanwhile, police are moving local thug and killer, Rollo- whose proficiencies involve knife throwing- to the place where he is to be executed.
Unfortunately, the train that both he, and the pianist, are in crashes...leaving the pianist with such severe injuries to his hands, that it will require their amputation.
Rollo is executed (after mentioning the "longest dam ever built in the world").
While the young actress is left so desperate, after the accident- that she turns to Gogol, hoping he can use his surgery skills to help her beloved.
But he plans to use this oppourtunity to his advantage.
He asks for the dead body of Rollo; from which he will harvest the hands; and transplant them onto the pianist.
After numerous forms of therapy, the operation finally takes...though, things aren't exactly the same...
...he can no longer play the piano, no matter how hard he practices.
He can, however, throw a knife with mean accuracy all of a sudden...which leads to the untimely death of his father.
Turns out that Gogol had also replaced Rollo's head using the same procedure...and he's still alive...just with fancy new metallic hands.
So, either his transplant hands are starting to take over his mind; or Rollo is somehow able to control his actions through his hands.
At least, that is what they are leading him to believe...though, things might not be exactly like they seem...
While not as good as Eyes Without A Face or House Of Wax...it's still a classic.
Even if the story is a bit implausible in retrospect.
Lorre's portrayal of Gogol is genuinely creepy.
6 out of 10.