This week’s mystery movie was the 1962 film Hands of a Stranger, with Paul Lukather, Joan Harvey, James Stapleton (Noah), Ted Otis, Michael Rye, Larry Haddon, Elaine Martone, George Sawaya, Michael duPont, Sally Kellerman, David Kramer and Irish McCalla. Introducing Barry Gordon.
Production manager Vernon Keays.
Edited by Bert Honey.
Camera operator James Stone.
Art direction by Ted Holsopple.
Set decoration by John Sturtevant.
Makeup by Charles Gemora.
Men’s wardrobe by Buddy Clark.
Women’s wardrobe by Ruth Hancock.
Hairstyles by Lorraine Roberson.
Music editor Lee Osborne.
Sound effects by Jack Cornell and George Eppich.
Assistant editor Jack C. May.
Script supervisor Diana Loomis.
Sound mixer Vic Appel.
Gaffer George Marquenie.
Key grip Tommy Thompson.
Property master Richard Brandow.
Technical advisor Dr. Robert Gans.
Executive secretary Sally Hamilton.
Assistant to the producers Gerald LeGrand.
Special effects by Howard A. Anderson Co.
Sound by Glen Glenn Sound Co.
Photographed by Henry Cronjager.
Music by Richard LaSalle.
How’s Your Mother by John Mosher, played by the Red Norvo Quintette.
Produced by Newton Arnold and Michael duPont.
Written and directed by Newton Arnold.
Further information about Hands of a Stranger is available from the AFI Catalog.
Hands of a Stranger is available on DVD from Critics’ Choice Video.
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After last week’s Fiesta, I thought it would be fun to do another movie involving a pianist. And here we are. I toyed with the idea of doing Hands of Orlac, but there are far too many screen shots on IMDB of the silent and sound versions.
I cannot imagine The New York Times reviewing Hands of a Stranger, but let’s see!
Nope, not even.
I had so much fun with last week’s mysterious pianist that I thought I would do another one!
Update: These are the hands of James Stapleton (Noah) or possibly a stand-in.
For “Tricky Tuesday,” we have a mysterious guest.
Update: This is James Stapleton (Noah) reflected in a funhouse mirror, possible at the Pike in Long Beach.
Brain Trust roll call: L.C. (mystery movie and mysterious cast) and Anne Papineau (mystery movie and Monday’s mysterious pianist).
For “Hm Wednesday,” we have some mysterious guests.
Update: This is Sally Kellerman and Michael duPont.
Brain Trust roll call: Anne Papineau (Tricky Tuesday’s mystery guest).
For “Aha Thursday,” we have a mysterious young man.
Update: This is Barry Gordon, the youth of many names in A Thousand Clowns, the voice of Donatello in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and former president of the Screen Actors Guild.
Brain Trust roll call: Stacia (mystery movie, Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s mysterious guests), Suz N Chaz (mystery movie, Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s mysterious guests), Benito (Wednesday’s mystery woman) and Anne Papineau (Wednesday’s mystery guests).
For Friday, we have a group of mysterious guests. Guess which one is our mysterious pianist!
Update: From left, Michael Rye, Joan Harvey, James Stapleton (Noah), Michael duPont, Paul Lukather and Ted Otis.
Brain Trust roll call: Roget-L.A. (mystery movie, Wednesday’s and Thursday’s mystery guests), Stacia (Thursday’s mysterious youth), Mike Hawks (mystery movie, Tuesday’s and Thursday’s mystery guests), Anne Papineau (Thursday’s mystery youth), Chrisbo (mystery movie, Tuesday’s, Wednesday’s and Thursday’s mystery guests), Sylvia (mystery movie an Thursday’s mysterious youth) and Megan and Thom (mystery movie, Monday’s and Wednesday’s mystery guests).
ladailymirror.com 
Oscar Levant?
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An excellent guess! But alas, I’m afraid not..
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Victor Borge?
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An interesting guess! But alas….
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Hands of a Stranger (1962) w/Paul Lukather, Joan Harvey, James Noah, Ted Otis Sr, Sally Kellerman, Laurence Haddon, Irish McCalla, Barry Gordon, Elaine Martone…
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Sp little snowflakes are going to keep us from silents?
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“Hands of a Stranger”
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Is that James Noah tickling the ivories?
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On Tuesday, James Noah visits The Fun House.
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That’s a young Sally Kellerman on Wednesday, so I think this is HANDS OF A STRANGER (1962). The guy must be Michael Du Pont. Tuesday’s distorted man would be James Noah and I have no idea who the pianist is, I assume a stand-in. All these piano movies make me think we’re gonna get a Liberace movie soon!
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George Maharis on Wed?
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An interesting guess! But alas, I’m afraid not.
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Today it’s Sally Kellerman and James Noah in 1962’s “Hands of a Stranger”
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Sally “confirmed blonde” Kellerman being manhandled today
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Hm Wednesday = Sally Kellerman and Michael Du Pont.
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You know, if I can deal with not knowing anyone in a crappy 50s/60s movie, then others can deal with not anyone in a silent movie.
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Wed: Sally Kellerman, Thu: Barry Gordon, Mystery Movie: Hands of a Stranger (1962)
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Barry Gordon on Thursday! I’m a big Barry Gordon fan
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James Noah and Barry Gordon in HANDS OF A STRANGER.
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A young Barry Gordon
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Aha! Barry Gordon. Hands of a Stranger, James Noah, Sally Kellerman
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Great thanks to Thursday’s mysterious young man, Barry Gordon. I loved it when on the Jack Benny Show, Barry played the part of Benny as a child. Hilarious.
Hands of a Stranger 1962
So far Mr Gordon is the only person I recognize. I’ve got the cast list but don’t know them, so I’ll just follow along
One review comment on IMDb got a laugh out of me.
“… dialogue so florid you could pin it on a prom date.” Overall though the reviewer liked the movie for allowing the characters to “not follow” the usual “crazed scientist breaks norms” patterns.
Director – Newton Arnold
I wondered if you picked this movie because of his work as Assistant director on the TV movie “Who is the Black Dahlia” 1975 with Luci Arnaz. It’s the only movie rendition I’ve ever seen. I think it also had Efraim Zimbalist Jr.
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Is our movie Hands of a Stranger with Sally Kellerman yesterday and James Noah for Monday?
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“Mild suspense”? Damned by faint praise!
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