Hand of Death (1962 film)


Hand of Death is a 1962 American horror film starring John Agar and directed by Gene Nelson. It was Nelson's directorial debut.

Summary

Dr. Alex Marsh is secretly conducting experiments with nerve gas, hoping to create a weapon for the government. He creates a dangerous compound that theoretically will only paralyze, and then leave the subjects in an extended hypnotic state. But a laboratory accident causes his body to absorb a deadly, gaseous version of the chemical, leaving him with an instantly lethal touch that causes human flesh to mummify into a blackened mass. His body quickly assumes the bloated, mummy appearance of his victims, and in his physical pain and mental fear & paranoia, he becomes a fugitive in the streets of Los Angeles leaving victims in his wake.

Cast

Production

said the film started with an Eastern company that had a good association with 20th Century Fox. They passed the project on to Robert L. Lippert's Associated Productions, who made low budget movies for Fox. Eugene Ling wrote the script — Maury Dexter said Lippert "owed him a favor". According to Dexter, they could not find a director because the script was so bad. Gene Nelson had done some acting for Lippert and was keen to direct, so Lippert gave him the job of directing. Shooting took seven days.
Filming took place in Malibu and Santa Monica in August 1962. Agar said he thought Nelson "did a very good job". Paula Raymond was in a near-fatal accident after filming was completed.