HAND OF DEATH (1962) JOHN AGAR

Re: HAND OF DEATH (1962) JOHN AGAR

feeds@yuku.com (Jameson281) — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 12:18:16 GMT

Any movie in which Joe Besser dies a horrible death can't be all bad!

Re: HAND OF DEATH (1962) JOHN AGAR

feeds@yuku.com (emoore7) — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 06:19:42 GMT

Count me in as a fan of Hand of Death. I like it.

A good DVD (like a Midnite Movies twofer maybe) sure would be nice. I'd definitely buy.

You get a former Stooge and a future Munster, I like that crazy music, it's short and to the point, plus the whole thing seems a bit creepy to me (being gassed)...it works imo.

Re: HAND OF DEATH (1962) JOHN AGAR

feeds@yuku.com (Bill Warren) — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 14:35:37 GMT

There was speculation when the film was first released, even, that the Fantastic Four's Thing may have been partly based on Agar's face in this movie, but Jack Kirby was drawing critters like that for years before the FF made their debut.

Re: HAND OF DEATH (1962) JOHN AGAR

feeds@yuku.com (voyttbots) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 21:12:34 GMT

I like the first half hour. Second half not so much.

Re: HAND OF DEATH (1962) JOHN AGAR

feeds@yuku.com (TheAmazingLarry) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 19:59:16 GMT

I just watched it a couple weeks ago for the first time. It was all right. Best part of watching it for me was the idea, acquired by having read it somewhere--maybe CHFB?--that Stan Lee and/or Jack Kirby might have been influenced by the trenchcoated lumpy Agar when creating Ben Grimm/The Thing!

Re: HAND OF DEATH (1962) JOHN AGAR

feeds@yuku.com (Terry Pace) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 19:02:17 GMT

I'm right there in the not-so-silent minority with Tom. Not a classic, but thoroughly enjoyable for the same reasons he mentioned (plus a pre-Munsters appearance by little Butch Patrick near the end). John was a good friend and a super-nice guy, and he seemed to like this film, in spite of the rigors and perils of the monster suit.

Speaking of John, I just saw him today in the "Farmer With a Badge" episode of Bat Masterson. He was the principal guest...

Re: HAND OF DEATH (1962) JOHN AGAR

feeds@yuku.com (Rakshasa) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 18:48:25 GMT

I have never seen this flick, though I've read about it and seen a few photos.

Perhaps I'll have to track down a gray market copy just to be able to say "I've seen it".

Re: HAND OF DEATH (1962) JOHN AGAR

feeds@yuku.com (Bill Warren) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 17:58:39 GMT

It's tolerable. The last time I saw it, Agar was in the room, which made for a somewhat unusual viewing experience. The main reason a kind of mystique grew up around it is that rather abruptly, it became very difficult, nearly impossible to see--after being available for rent in 16mm from at least one very busy company, Budget Films. And it turned up on TV fairly often then, too. But then the great iron door slammed shut. I don't know why, though I assume the...

Re: HAND OF DEATH (1962) JOHN AGAR

feeds@yuku.com (evilskippy) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:17:11 GMT

I taped this off of AMC when they ran it. Had planned to transfer it onto a dvd-r minus the commercials. However the rassin frassin thing is copyguarded! ACK!

I kinda like it too. The short running time does help a lot.

Re: HAND OF DEATH (1962) JOHN AGAR

feeds@yuku.com (TomWeaver999) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 12:50:05 GMT

I'm in the minority, I like it. It's got John Agar, Paula Raymond, Joe Besser, a monster, sufficient running-around, it's quite short ... what's not to like? (Well, except Steve Dunne, that is.)

Re: HAND OF DEATH (1962) JOHN AGAR

feeds@yuku.com (Professor Von X) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 11:51:42 GMT

SOMEONE has to put this out on a DVD. I've got to see it, even though I'm not expecting much.
Professor Von X

Re: HAND OF DEATH (1962) JOHN AGAR

feeds@yuku.com (gbbooks) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 00:41:50 GMT

I agree, hardly a great film, but I enjoyed watching it on AMC, a year or two ago. Dr John's devil-may-care lab disciplines I found entertaining, along with a somewhat off beat music score and a goofy monster man catches a cab scene. I was interested in seeing John Alonzo, who played Agar's assistant. He went on to photograph Chinatown, Scarface, a number of well known films. I met him and he talked about his career in front of the camera with some amusement.

PS: I think...

Re: HAND OF DEATH (1962) JOHN AGAR

feeds@yuku.com (TServo4) — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 12:36:09 GMT

Never in its original CinemaScope aspect ratio, unfortunately.

On the other hand, I don't foresee even the mintiest of transfers helping. I rarely say this, but this film IS pretty lousy and has never lived up to any of my friends' expectations.

Re: HAND OF DEATH (1962) JOHN AGAR

feeds@yuku.com (gbbooks) — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 11:39:23 GMT

AMC has broadcast this film.

HAND OF DEATH (1962) JOHN AGAR

feeds@yuku.com (FMOFCFQ) — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 09:57:53 GMT

On this , the sixth anniversary of John Agar's death , I'm wondering if Hand of Death is available. Fox Movie Channel aired it once several years ago , I believe, but I missed it.