The Amazing Exploits of the Clutching Hand (1936/I)

Director:

Albert Herman

Writers:

Arthur B. Reeve (novel)
George M. Merrick (adaptation) ...

Release Date:

18 April 1936 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Mystery

Tagline:

a Craig Kennedy Thriller In Fifteen Chapters

Plot:

A scientist discovers a formula for making synthetic gold.

Plot Keywords:

Serial | Kidnapping | Waterfront Bar | Barroom Brawl | Corporately Controlled Scientific Experiment

Cast

Jack Mulhall	...	Craig Kennedy
Rex Lease	...	Walter Jameson
Mae Busch	...	Mrs. Paul Gironda
Ruth Mix	...	Shirley McMillan
William Farnum	...	Insp. Gordon Gaunt
Marion Shilling	...	Verna Gironda
Bryant Washburn	...	Dr. Denton
Robert Frazer	...	Dr. Paul Gironda [Chs.1,4,8,13-15]
Gaston Glass	...	Dr. Louis Bouchard
Mahlon Hamilton	...	Montgomery [Chs.1,2,5,6]
Robert Walker	...	Joe Mitchell
Yakima Canutt	...	Number Eight - Garage-Owner and Chauffeur Thug / Bar-Brawling Sailor
Joseph W. Girard	...	Cromwell [Chs.1-3,6,7,15]
Frank Leigh	...	Wickham - Gironda's Butler aka Major Courtney
Jon Hall	...	Frank Hobart (as Charles Locher)

Also Known As:

The Clutching Hand (USA) (alternative title)

Runtime:

305 min (15 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #2102) (Chapter 15) | USA:Approved (PCA #2094) (Chapter 11) | USA:Approved (PCA #2096) (Chapter 13) | USA:Approved (PCA #2097) (Chapter 14) | USA:Approved (PCA #2095) (later: 12) | UK:U | USA:Approved (PCA #2066) (Chapter 1) | USA:Approved (PCA #2067) (Chapter 2) | USA:Approved (PCA #2068) (Chapter 3) | USA:Approved (PCA #2069) (Chapter 4) | USA:Approved (PCA #2083) (Chapter 5) | USA:Approved (PCA #2084) (Chapters 6 and 7) | USA:Approved (PCA #2086) (Chapter 8) | USA:Approved (PCA #2087) (Chapter 9) | USA:Approved (PCA #2093) (Chapter 10) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review)

Company:

Weiss Productions

Trivia:

Chapters: 1) Who Is the Clutching Hand? - 2) Shadows - 3) House of Mystery - 4) The Phantom Car - 5) The Double Trap - 6) Steps of Doom - 7) The Invisible Enemy - 8) A Cry in the Night - 9) Evil Eyes - 10) A Desperate Chance - 11) The Ship of Peril - 12) Hidden Danger - 13) The Mystic Menace - 14) The Silent Spectre - 15) The Lone Hand.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Warden [Ch.1]: [gives Mitchell a handful of cash] Here you are, Mitchell. You're going out into the world a free man. I hope you become a useful and law-abiding member of society.
Joe Mitchell: Aw, cut out the lecture, Warden.
Warden [Ch.1]: Bitterness won't get you anywhere, Mitchell. Now that you squared your debt...
Joe Mitchell: My debt ain't squared... not by a long shot. I got a lot of collectin' to do.

Movie Connections:

Edited into The Amazing Exploits of the Clutching Hand (1936/II)

Not Bad For a Poverty Row Indie!

"The Clutching Hand" is an above average independently produced serial. It has some excellent production values including set pieces such as the laboratory, the saloon and those oh so sharp vintage period cars. The direction by Albert Harmon is crisp, as he keeps the action flowing.

The "McGuffin" of this story is a formula for making gold developed by scientist Dr. Paul Gironda (Robert Frazier). Shortly after announcing its development, Gironda is kidnapped. Soon it is discovered that "The Clutching Hand" the shadowy villain with the maniacal laugh is responsible.

Famous detective Craig Kennedy (Jack Mulhall - not your usual handsome dashing hero) is brought into the case. Along with ace reporter Walter Jameson (Rex Lease) they set about to solve the case. They try in vain to find Dr. Gironda and to learn the identify of the Clutching Hand. As in all serials, there are many suspects, chief among whom are the Board of Directors of the International Research Foundation.

After making narrow escapes from the usual serial traps and pitfalls, Kennedy finally learns the identity of "The Clutching Hand" and solves the case in the final chapter. The identity of the villain caught me completely off guard.

Others in the cast include Mae Busch as Gironda's wife, Marion Schilling as their daughter Verna, William Farnum as Gaunt, Kennedy's chief, Ruth Mix as Gironda's secretary, Shirley McMillan and Franklyn Farnum as Gironda's assistant Nicky.

Lining up with the bad guys are Yakima Canutt, Robert Kortman, Dick Alexander, Tom London, Charles Lochner, Gaston Glass and Bryant Washburn. You can be sure that Canutt had a hand in the many fight scenes and other stunts.

William and Frankyn Farnum were not brothers as some believe, in fact they were not even related. William and Dustin Farnum were brothers, whose careers dated back to the early silent days. Charles Lochner would shortly change his name to Jon Hall and enjoy a lengthy career as a leading man.