THE HANDS OF ORLAC / They Have A Life Of Their Own! - 1924

Here's a silent German classic from 1924, the story goes like this... A world-famous pianist, Paul Orlac, loses both hands in a train accident. When new hands are grafted on, Orlac doesn't know they once belonged to a man accused of murderer, and who was put to death just before the operation.

This flick stars Conrad (THE MAN WHO LAUGHS) Veidt, Alexandra (RASPUTIN, DEMON WITH WOMEN) Sorina, Fritz (THE GREAT LOVE) Strassny, Paul (THREE TALES OF TERROR) Askonas, Carmen (THE MAN WITH THE LIMP) Cartellieri, Hans (IMMORTAL MELODIES) Homma and Fritz (BLUEBEARD - 1951) Kortner.

Poor pianist Paul Orlac is in a horrendous train wreck. Well, at least he's alive, even though he probably won't be able to play the piano any more...

Paul gets a new pair of hands, grafted on by Dr. Serral after the accident. But, he can only play a Troll's Dirge, he seems to have no control over them!.. They suck!!

Orlac goes out and buys a newspaper. Check out that vintage newspaper stand, wow! So, he reads an article about himself and finds out that his new hands are those of a murderer named Vassuer!

Orlac is going crazy, he visits his doctor and tries to pull his hands off!!

Then, Orlac tries to write a note but Vasseur takes over in a maniacal manner.

Paul is to receive his father's estate, but he finds the old man dead on the floor! Problem is, did Paul kill him?!

Orlac is out wandering in the streets after he found his dead father, a dude named Nera is now stalking him.

Orlac and Nera go to a cafe and discuss a few things, like the fact that Vasseur's fingerprints were found at the scene of the crime...

Orlac has been arrested, but Nera has to take off his fake arms. From a voice in the shadows, a woman tells the police that Orlac is innocent, and, Nera is the real killer!

Now we know how Nrea did it, very scientific for an oaf!

Orlac is happy as Hell, his hands are clean! He acts like a total spaz the whole movie. You call that progress?.. Sheesh!

It's off to the zoo for Nera, he almost got away wif' it... Tune in Wednesday where we'll bring you another twisted installment, here, at The Dungeon!!..

NOROI NO YAKATA: CHI O SUU ME - "Lake Of Dracula" (1971)

 Tonight's Saturday Night Special is a 1970's vampire movie from Japan titled "Noroi No Yakata:Chi O Suu Me" or......

 ....."Lake Of Dracula."

Now I have to admit that I think the title "Lake Of Dracula" sucks, but this is actually a pretty good movie. It's a Toho film, so you know I'm probably right!

And yes, it's my understanding that it's also known as

"JAPULA!"  

(I'm really not kidding.)

 "Lake Of Dracula" starts off with a little girl looking for her small dog that has run off!

What really bothers me here is that, isn't that the ocean, not a lake?

I think the name should at least be "Ocean Of Dracula" or maybe "Sea Of Dracula!"

 What the little girl discovers is an olde creepy house!

 With an ever creepier owner!

 Aw, Hell No! I'm just getting started!

 

 Character actor Shin Kishida does a great job as Japula. He was also in the other 70's Japanese vampire movie, "Evil Of Dracula!"

 What it is, is a painting of a memory, or was it a dream?

That's the problem, distinguishing between the two!

 The Doctors can't quite figger out what happened here. I guess they never had time to go to the movies while they were in college!

 

 This gal decides to check out of the hospital on her own!

 Akiko, the haunted woman who doesn't know if she's dreaming or not is played by Midori Fujita. This was Midori's first film, and she was only in five more after it. It might have permanently scarred her!

 Japula is thrown off his deathlong mission by the glare of lights!

 Heroes is heroes, even if they don't understand everything!

 I'd be krazy too if this was my kitchen!!

Like, Wow!

 When you think of a Japanese movie with a dumbass title like "Lake Of Dracula," you don't expect much, but with this one, you might be surprised! All of a sudden, none of that matters! 

This guy really is Dracula!

 Drac's really busy!

 He wants this woman for a number of reasons I'm not allowed to elaborate on!

 Unfortunately, it's too late for her good lookin' Sister Natsuko!

(I just wrote that, and then looked up some bio info on Sanae Emi, the actress who played Natsuko, and found out she died at the age of 36 as the result of a homicide, but good luck finding out the real story).

What goes around, comes around!

 It wasn't a dream!

"Lake Of Dracula!"

Stupid name (Blame The Translation). Good movie!

 (Although, if you're any kind of vampire nut, you will see, and feel, the end coming!)

THE GHOST / The Black Sign Of Death Is On This House! - 1963

Here we go with another twisted Euro horror flick, this time from 1963. The story goes like this... A woman and her lover murder her husband. Soon thereafter though, strange things start happening, and they wonder if they really killed him, or, if he has returned from the dead to haunt them.

It stars Barbara (TERROR-CREATURES FROM THE GRAVE) Steele, Peter (I MARRIED A MONSTER FROM OUTER SPACE) Baldwin, Elio (SAMSON IN KING SOLOMON'S MINES) Jotta, Harriet (THE HORRIBLE DR. HITCHCOCK) Medin, Carol (only acting credit) Bennet and Carlo (THE WILD, WILD PLANET) Kechler.

Old Dr. Hitchcock is sick, his personal physician pays regular visits to tend to him. But, he has suspicions that wifey is up to no good with the visiting doctor, and tells her...

Handsome Dr. Charles Livingstone's definitely there for the bonus points! In fact, the two are madly in love and come up with a plan to get rid of the old fart.

As Margaret shaves her husband, she day dreams about slitting his throat!

The medical mumbo jumbo is complicated and I have no desire in trying to 'splain it, watch the movie. Anyway, they poison him and he's pronounced dead...

The housekeeper, Mrs. Wood, tells Margaret that the key to the vault (where the family jewels are located) may be hidden in the house somewhere. After the key cannot be located, she tells them that the key may be in the jacket of Dr. Hitchcock, so, they go to his tomb, open the coffin and find the key on him.

As they are ready to open the vault, Mrs. Wood calls for Margaret, so, she goes downstairs to talk with the housekeeper. When she goes back to Charles, he claims that there were no jewels in the vault! Margaret goes banana split bonkers over the revelation!

Then, guess who shows up?.. Old gruesome! Is he still alive, or, is he a... GH, GH, GHOST?!

Still treasure hunting, Margaret goes back to the tomb and pushes the coffin over on its top, then uncovers a hidden chest. When she opens it, it stabs her hand before she discovers that it only has a freakin' skull inside!

Then it happens, Charles wants to leave! Everything is going to Hell in a hand basket (what's a hand basket?) and he wants out, like, see you later toots! His suitcase spills onto the ground, revealing the goddamn jewels!! Remember, he claimed that the vault was empty. Maragret sees a razor amongst the jewelry, and grabs it!

And, the thief is cut to shreds before she drags him wrapped in a rug to the tomb and sets him on fire! Another story of true love gone awry...

The for real Dr. Hitchcock shows up, it was just a ruse of course. When a person has this look, you know that they have something especially evil and sadistic in mind!

For remaining loyal to him, he empties his revolver into the housekeeper's back as she walks away to do another task!..

By mistake, Hitchcock swallows a poisoned drink. Margaret, now in a wheelchair, offers to give him the antidote...

Then, drops it on the floor! Margaret gets the last word! Tune in tomorrow when we're back with more dusty old Dungeon Cargo!..