the beast with five fingers (1946)

"I merely want your testimony that I am not insane."
A pianist dies after falling down some stairs, possibly murdered. After his death, the villagers come to believe that a recently deceased pianists estate is cursed, as strange things start happening including some murders. Could it be that his severed hand is stalking the mansion looking for revenge.
Lorre holds this Gothic tale together.

the cocoanuts (1929)

"Three years ago I came to Florida without a nickel in my pocket. Now I've got a nickel in my pocket."
Hammer (Groucho Marx) runs a hotel in Florida, badly. Things can only get worse when Harpo and Chico turn up and a lady's diamond necklace goes missing. A script that betrays its stage origins, throwing in some chorus line work and some songs between the Marx Brothers quickfire patter, in their first outing on the big screen.
Whilst the musical interludes offer nothing much, it's the Marx Brothers that you come for and they offer up some tried and tested routines that never fail to entertain.

the beast with five fingers (1946)

"I wish you would keep your hands off my books."
A pianist (Victor Francen) in a small Italian village makes some associates certify he is not insane, but he clearly is when he tries to strangle Hilary Cummins (Peter Lorre). Following this incident he dies in a accident and his relatives gather for the funeral and the reading of the will and they throw Cummins out, calling him a freeloader. Then the murders begin and the villagers come to believe that the pianist's severed hand is responsible.
A old style classic horror, with a twist ending for those who want to play detective. What would be a run of the mill horror is enlivened by Lorre's performance as he runs away with the film.

the face behind the mask (1941)

aka Behind the Mask.
Janos (Peter Lorre) is a nieve immigrant to America. The day he arrives he's caught in a hotel fire and hideously disfigured. With his face in this condition he finds it impossible to find work and is driven to contemplate suicide. Just at moment he meets the only person who will talk or even look at him, Dinky (George E Jones). Dinky shows Janos real kindness, and also how to rob! Something that Janos is unhappy about, but out of necessity finds he is very good at. Soon he's made enough money to get himself a lifelike mask made to cover his features and heads up a gang of thieves. Then he meets a blind girl, Helen (Evelyn Keyes) who he falls for, deciding to give up crime. Unfortunately some of the gang believe he has set them up and decide to take revenge.
This is a fascinating character study of a man who goes through the gamit of emotions due to his changes in circumstances, centred around a beauty and the beast love story. There's no slack in this tale, with performances to match; one worth seeing if you like a tight, and compelling story.