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Haanden
Also known as The Hand in the USA
(1907) Denmark
B&W : Short film
Directed by (unknown)
Cast: Viggo Larsen, Oda Alstrup, Gustav Lund
Nordisk Films Kompagni production; distributed by Nordisk Films Kompagni. / Produced by Ole Olsen. Cinematography by Axel Sørensen (Axel Graatkjær). / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format. / The film was released in the USA by Great Northern Film Company in September 1908; [?] in a split-reel?
Drama: Crime.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? A gang of thieves have resolved to break into a famous actress’s house. They draw lots to decide who of them are to do the burglary and who of them to keep watch, and then they set to work. We see the actress come home, accompanied by her most ardent admirer, a smart young lieutenant. He sees her in, and they talk together for a few minutes, and then the lieutenant departs. The young lady is undressing in front of a mirror. She sees there a hand moving between the portieres behind her back. Terror-stricken, she turns around, but the hand is gone. She believes she has had a vision and turns around to continue. But as soon as she has glanced at the mirror, the hand is there again. Terrified, she turns around slowly. Yes, it is still there, a live hand presenting itself distinctly on the dark background of the portiere. Paralyzed with terror, she stands for a moment without moving, but at last, calling forth all her energy, she controls herself so far as to be able to plan how to get out of her dreadful position. She measures the distance from where she is standing to the key-board, where her latch-key is hanging and from there to the window, beneath which she knows the lieutenant is still walking up and down. She starts dancing and singing, as she moves toward the key-board, while her eyes are still staring terrified at the hand. Trembling all over, but still dancing, she passes by the hand and reaches the window, and throws the key out of it. And then she drops down on the floor, faint with terror and excitement. The thief comes forth: he quickly snatches her jewelry which the actress has laid by the mirror, but then, instead of rushing away with the spoil he stands quite still, overwhelmed with admiration for the handsome woman: yes, he even bends down to kiss her hand. But in that very minute the lieutenant comes back. As he sees the thief bending down over his sweetheart, he pulls out his sword and makes him prisoner, while he revives her. When she wakes and sees the possessor of the hand, the terror overwhelms her again for a moment, but when she sees her protector, she begs him to give the thief permission to go away. While she is then safe with her rescuer, a most peculiar thing happens: the thief returns, bringing back all the stolen things to replace them where he had taken them.
Survival status: The film is presumed lost.
Current rights holder: (unknown)
Listing updated: 20 November 2022.
References: Mottram-Danish p. 33 : Website-IMDb.
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