The Clutching Hand (in full, The Amazing Exploits of the Clutching Hand) is a 15-episode serial produced by the Weiss Brothers in 1936, based on the final 1934 Craig Kennedy novel of the same name by Arthur B. Reeve.[1] A 70-minute feature film using a condensed version of the serial was also released in the same year.[2]
The Clutching Hand, Chapter 1: Who Is the Clutching Hand?
In it, the famous detective (portrayed by Jack Mulhall, who had portrayed the Black Ace in the serial The Mystery Squadron three years before) is assigned to solve the disappearance of Dr. Paul Gironda (Robert Frazer), a scientist who has developed a formula for synthesizing gold but vanishes before he has a chance to reveal it to his board of directors.[3]
The Clutching Hand was the last Craig Kennedy serial and the only one to be filmed as a talkie. One of the criminals, Hobart, is played by Charles Locher, who is better known nowadays as Jon Hall,[4] and it appears that Gironda is being held prisoner by Craig Kennedy's old foe, the Clutching Hand (a faceless presence apparently played by Bud Geary, an actor who was frequently cast in such roles, and voiced by Robert Frazer).
The serial was based very loosely on Arthur Reeve's final novel and in it, the Clutching Hand has a new secret identity: Dr. Paul Gironda, the very man whom Kennedy is looking for. Having almost exhausted the estate of his young ward Vera, he has come up with the idea of using a fake synthetic gold formula to recoup his losses on the stock market, but just before he disappears, one of his assistants steals the notebook containing the formula. Unable to find it, he fakes his disappearance and goes into hiding, assuming the identity of Craig Kennedy's foe, the Clutching Hand, who was seemingly disposed of in The Exploits of Elaine years before. (The Clutching Hand had a totally different identity in that serial.) Supposedly holding Gironda captive in an induced coma, the Hand demands the missing pages of the gold formula from his wife and "daughter." At the same time as Gironda vanishes, Mitchell -–Vera's real father and Mrs. Gironda's first husband – is released from prison after serving a full sentence on a blackmail charge, forcing the Hand to try to dispose of Mitchell before Vera can learn of her true identity.
Chapter Thirteen is titled "The Mystic Menace," and yet nothing mystical happens – it is a pretty standard serial chapter. However, the serial makers – the Weiss Brothers, in this case – could not alter the chapter titles for some reason.[citation needed] This was apparently the brothers' final serial and their last Craig Kennedy adaptation, although in 1952 the Weiss Brothers produced a television show called Craig Kennedy, Criminologist.
^Pitts, Michael R. Poverty Row Studios, 1929-1940: An Illustrated History of 55 Independent Film Companies McFarland & Co., 2005
^Rovin, Jeff (1987). The Encyclopedia of Supervillains. New York: Facts on File. p. 62. ISBN0-8160-1356-X.
^Vagg, Stephen (April 9, 2022). "The Campy, Yet Surprisingly Interesting Cinema of Jon Hall". Filmiink.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to The Clutching Hand.
The Amazing Exploits of the Clutching Hand at IMDb
The Clutching Hand at Internet Archive
The serial itself can be found at CamelotBroadcasting.com
The Clutching Hand complete Series on YouTube (public domain)
January 01, 1970
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The Clutching Hand in full The Amazing Exploits of the Clutching Hand is a 15 episode serial produced by the Weiss Brothers in 1936 based on the final 1934 Craig Kennedy novel of the same name by Arthur B Reeve 1 A 70 minute feature film using a condensed version of the serial was also released in the same year 2 The Clutching HandDirected byAlbert HermanWritten byArthur B Reeve novel George M Merrick adaptation Eddie Granemann adaptation Screenplay byLeon D UsseauDallas M FitzgeraldProduced byLouis WeissCinematographyJames DiamondEdited byEarl TurnerMusic byBernard B BrownLee ZahlerProductioncompanyWeiss ProductionsRunning time305 minutes 15 episodes CountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglish source source source source The Clutching Hand Chapter 1 Who Is the Clutching Hand In it the famous detective portrayed by Jack Mulhall who had portrayed the Black Ace in the serial The Mystery Squadron three years before is assigned to solve the disappearance of Dr Paul Gironda Robert Frazer a scientist who has developed a formula for synthesizing gold but vanishes before he has a chance to reveal it to his board of directors 3 The Clutching Hand was the last Craig Kennedy serial and the only one to be filmed as a talkie One of the criminals Hobart is played by Charles Locher who is better known nowadays as Jon Hall 4 and it appears that Gironda is being held prisoner by Craig Kennedy s old foe the Clutching Hand a faceless presence apparently played by Bud Geary an actor who was frequently cast in such roles and voiced by Robert Frazer Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Chapter listing 4 Notes 5 External linksPlot editThe serial was based very loosely on Arthur Reeve s final novel and in it the Clutching Hand has a new secret identity Dr Paul Gironda the very man whom Kennedy is looking for Having almost exhausted the estate of his young ward Vera he has come up with the idea of using a fake synthetic gold formula to recoup his losses on the stock market but just before he disappears one of his assistants steals the notebook containing the formula Unable to find it he fakes his disappearance and goes into hiding assuming the identity of Craig Kennedy s foe the Clutching Hand who was seemingly disposed of in The Exploits of Elaine years before The Clutching Hand had a totally different identity in that serial Supposedly holding Gironda captive in an induced coma the Hand demands the missing pages of the gold formula from his wife and daughter At the same time as Gironda vanishes Mitchell Vera s real father and Mrs Gironda s first husband is released from prison after serving a full sentence on a blackmail charge forcing the Hand to try to dispose of Mitchell before Vera can learn of her true identity Cast editJack Mulhall as Craig Kennedy Ruth Mix as Shirley McMillan Rex Lease as Walter Jameson Marion Shilling as Verna Gironda Mae Busch as Mrs Gironda Gaston Glass as Dr Louis Bouchard Bryant Washburn as Dr Denton Franklyn Farnum as Lab Tech Nicky William Farnum as Insp Gordon Gaunt Robert Walker as Joe Mitchell Charles Locher as Frank Hobart Reed Howes as Sullivan private eye Frank Leigh as Wickham the butler George Morrell as Jenkins the butler Yakima Canutt as Number 8 Bob Kortman as Number 6 Ray Cardona as Number 2 Joseph W Girard as Attorney Cromwell Knute Erikson as Capt Hansen Richard Alexander as Mate Olaf Robert Frazer as Dr Paul GirondaChapter listing editThis is a partial list of chapters Chapter 1 Who Is The Clutching Hand Chapter 2 Shadow Chapter 3 House of Mystery Chapter 4 The Phantom Car Chapter 5 The Double Trap Chapter 6 Steps of Doom Chapter 7 The Invisible Enemy Chapter 8 A Cry in the Night Chapter 9 Evil Eyes Chapter 10 A Desperate Chance Chapter 11 The Ship of Doom Chapter 12 Hidden Danger Chapter 13 The Mystic Menace Chapter 14 The Silent Spectre Chapter 15 The Lone Hand Chapter Thirteen is titled The Mystic Menace and yet nothing mystical happens it is a pretty standard serial chapter However the serial makers the Weiss Brothers in this case could not alter the chapter titles for some reason citation needed This was apparently the brothers final serial and their last Craig Kennedy adaptation although in 1952 the Weiss Brothers produced a television show called Craig Kennedy Criminologist Notes edit BBC Home Pitts Michael R Poverty Row Studios 1929 1940 An Illustrated History of 55 Independent Film Companies McFarland amp Co 2005 Rovin Jeff 1987 The Encyclopedia of Supervillains New York Facts on File p 62 ISBN 0 8160 1356 X Vagg Stephen April 9 2022 The Campy Yet Surprisingly Interesting Cinema of Jon Hall Filmiink External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to The Clutching Hand The Amazing Exploits of the Clutching Hand at IMDb nbsp The Clutching Hand at Internet Archive The serial itself can be found at CamelotBroadcasting com The Clutching Hand complete Series on YouTube public domain Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Clutching Hand amp oldid 1166791315, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
