The Black Hand Review
Inspired by actual events from the turn of the century but not beholden to the details, The Black Hand is a surprisingly good gangster film. One says "surprisingly" because the idea of the very Irish Gene Kelly and J. Carrol Naish playing Italian-Americans causes one to assume that Black is simply not going to make the grade. But the leads turn in excellent performances that bolster the film substantially. Granted, Kelly in particular doesn't convey the proper ethnic flavor, but his acting is so good that it doesn't really matter. Divorced from his typical song-and-dance setting, Kelly demonstrates that he has significant dramatic talent and could handle a greater range of parts than he was usually allowed. Naish is also aces, playing the seasoned pro detective like the seasoned pro actor he is. And Teresa Celli is also quite good, so much so that one wonders why her career was so short. Richard Thorpe directs with maximum tension and atmosphere, and Luther Davis' screenplay, while somewhat familiar, pushes all the right buttons. All in all, a taut and gripping thriller that deserves to be better known. Craig Butler, Rovi
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