In the 60's appeared weird schockers, most of the time badly written, shot and edited, but with few fun trash scenes. Remember Timothy Carey when he directed (and played) "the World's Greatest Sinner" or when he played in "Bayou", kind of movies George Cukor would never have directed. Well this "Right Hand of the Devil" is directed by Aram Katcher (sort of "Mad Love" Peter Lorre) who also plays the lead, and wrote and edited the movie, with no budget and no rhythm, the heist is quite ridiculous, one of the worst I've ever seen, but the interesting scenes are the murder scenes, not far from Herschell Gordon Lewis's "2000 Maniacs", but the year before. Should be cult for Z fans, ask Lux and Ivy.
5 Reviews
obscure, but effective, nastiness
goblinhairedguy4 February 2004
This is a bizarre but highly effective vanity project from a balding, thick-accented character actor named Aram Katcher. It's really a window on the sleazy late-50s/early-60s world of Mickey-Spillane-influenced misanthropy and a reflection of the disjointed, overblown independent filmmaking techniques characteristic of the period. Katcher's in-your-face non-style shows strong echoes of Blast of Silence, I the Jury and The Naked Kiss, and foreshadowings of Reservoir Dogs and The Usual Suspects. No masterpiece, but deserves a resurrection.
Strange Low Rent Noir
gordonl5613 May 2015
Warning: Spoilers
THE RIGHT HAND OF THE DEVIL – 1963
This low, low rent film heist film is from veteran character actor, Aram Katcher. Katcher wrote, produced and directed this strange noir like effort. There are bits of THE KILLING, BLAST OF SILENCE and several other noir sprinkled throughout the production.
Katcher plays a criminal who has come up with a plan for the perfect high end robbery. He is going to hit a strong-room of a Los Angeles sports arena after a big boxing match. He uses his underworld contacts to gather a crew together. He hires a wheel-man, Brad Trumbull, and several muscle types, James V Christy, Chris Randall and Monte Lee.
Now the smooth talking rat in a good suit wines and dines the older dame, Lisa McDonald, who is the chief cashier at the arena. A little too much scotch and a couple rounds of clutch and grab, soon has the old bitty hooked. Katcher plans on lifting the dame's cash room keys. Katcher and his crew will then hit the cash room after the next big event.
Miss McDonald though has tumbled to the real reason for Katcher's affections. She spills this to Katcher, who, quick on his feet, promises to take her to Rio after the job, if she plays along. McDonald is all smiles over this idea.
The day of the job comes and the crew burst into the strong-room. They tie up McDonald and several other cashiers as well as the guard. They grab up the cash and start walking calmly to the getaway car. The guard in the cash room however manages to trip the alarm. Now the men need to hotfoot it to said automobile.
One of the men trips up and sprains an ankle. Katcher stops, scoops up the fallen man's cash bag, then, puts two rounds in his head. Katcher joins the others in the getaway vehicle and they speed off. Up the road a bit they have a moving van parked. The getaway car is driven onto the moving van and off they go again. Next, they dump the moving van and grab a waiting great honking big Cadillac rag-top.
Back at the hideout, they all have a drink to celebrate before the cash split. Katcher has other ideas for the loot. For one thing, a much bigger cut for himself. Katcher has drugged the drinks he serves to the crew. He has also prepared an acid bath to dispose of the gang.
The take from the job turns out to be a cool 250 large. Now Katcher only needs to deal with the woman, McDonald. The woman was questioned by the Police and let go. No one believes she was in on the robbery.
Katcher has Miss McDonald pack a bag and they are soon on the road Mexico way. They are going to take a plane from there to Brazil. At least that is what Katcher informs McDonald. He brings along several bottles of booze which McDonald happily partakes of. Once McDonald is out cold, Katcher pulls off the road, grabs his gear, then pushes the car along with McDonald, over a handy seaside cliff.
Katcher is soon living the high life of wine, women and song in Rio. Katcher however is not as smart as he thinks he is. He is soon the victim of a couple of pretty ladies who make sure he is "overserved". They then clean him out of his cash except for a small roll. So it looks like it is back to the U.S.A. to beat up another score.
Back in LA, he hits "Dino's Lounge" for a few drinks. He is soon drawn to a woman sitting in the shadows. More than a few drinks later, the two retire to the "Happy, Happy" hotel. Kather is in for a rude surprise as the woman removes her wig and scarf. It is Miss McDonald. Though badly mangled, she survived the trip over the cliff. Katcher's eyes go wide as the woman yards a revolver and fires. McDonald then steps up and puts one in his head.
Not sure what the production budget on this was, but it cannot have been much. But, having said that, once the film got going I found myself drawn to continue watching. Even if it was just to see were the story was going.
This low, low rent film heist film is from veteran character actor, Aram Katcher. Katcher wrote, produced and directed this strange noir like effort. There are bits of THE KILLING, BLAST OF SILENCE and several other noir sprinkled throughout the production.
Katcher plays a criminal who has come up with a plan for the perfect high end robbery. He is going to hit a strong-room of a Los Angeles sports arena after a big boxing match. He uses his underworld contacts to gather a crew together. He hires a wheel-man, Brad Trumbull, and several muscle types, James V Christy, Chris Randall and Monte Lee.
Now the smooth talking rat in a good suit wines and dines the older dame, Lisa McDonald, who is the chief cashier at the arena. A little too much scotch and a couple rounds of clutch and grab, soon has the old bitty hooked. Katcher plans on lifting the dame's cash room keys. Katcher and his crew will then hit the cash room after the next big event.
Miss McDonald though has tumbled to the real reason for Katcher's affections. She spills this to Katcher, who, quick on his feet, promises to take her to Rio after the job, if she plays along. McDonald is all smiles over this idea.
The day of the job comes and the crew burst into the strong-room. They tie up McDonald and several other cashiers as well as the guard. They grab up the cash and start walking calmly to the getaway car. The guard in the cash room however manages to trip the alarm. Now the men need to hotfoot it to said automobile.
One of the men trips up and sprains an ankle. Katcher stops, scoops up the fallen man's cash bag, then, puts two rounds in his head. Katcher joins the others in the getaway vehicle and they speed off. Up the road a bit they have a moving van parked. The getaway car is driven onto the moving van and off they go again. Next, they dump the moving van and grab a waiting great honking big Cadillac rag-top.
Back at the hideout, they all have a drink to celebrate before the cash split. Katcher has other ideas for the loot. For one thing, a much bigger cut for himself. Katcher has drugged the drinks he serves to the crew. He has also prepared an acid bath to dispose of the gang.
The take from the job turns out to be a cool 250 large. Now Katcher only needs to deal with the woman, McDonald. The woman was questioned by the Police and let go. No one believes she was in on the robbery.
Katcher has Miss McDonald pack a bag and they are soon on the road Mexico way. They are going to take a plane from there to Brazil. At least that is what Katcher informs McDonald. He brings along several bottles of booze which McDonald happily partakes of. Once McDonald is out cold, Katcher pulls off the road, grabs his gear, then pushes the car along with McDonald, over a handy seaside cliff.
Katcher is soon living the high life of wine, women and song in Rio. Katcher however is not as smart as he thinks he is. He is soon the victim of a couple of pretty ladies who make sure he is "overserved". They then clean him out of his cash except for a small roll. So it looks like it is back to the U.S.A. to beat up another score.
Back in LA, he hits "Dino's Lounge" for a few drinks. He is soon drawn to a woman sitting in the shadows. More than a few drinks later, the two retire to the "Happy, Happy" hotel. Kather is in for a rude surprise as the woman removes her wig and scarf. It is Miss McDonald. Though badly mangled, she survived the trip over the cliff. Katcher's eyes go wide as the woman yards a revolver and fires. McDonald then steps up and puts one in his head.
Not sure what the production budget on this was, but it cannot have been much. But, having said that, once the film got going I found myself drawn to continue watching. Even if it was just to see were the story was going.
WHERE DO I FIND THIS MOVIE!?!
howard69027 December 2017
I saw part of this B&W movie on TV back when I was a little kid in the early 1970's. It terrified me! I vividly remembered the bad guy throwing a guy in a vat of acid and burning him alive. Then a disguised woman shows up and says, "You always liked my legs. Here have one!" and then she kicked a prosthetic leg at him and shot him dead. Only recently was I able to find the name of the movie. Now I need to find a copy to watch. Anyone know where I can find it?
Best death scene ever!
SADouglas13 March 2002
Warning: Spoilers
***SPOILERS*** ***SPOILERS*** 3 guys rob ticket seller at L.A. Sports Arena in a TR-3. Not enough room so one is shot by buddies. Pepe (Aram Katcher) kills other guy. Pepe picks up girlfriend (ticket seller) And pushes her over cliff in a convertible. (Fiery crash) Pepe loses all the money at races in South America, goes to Dino's on Sunset Blvd. and picks up old drunk lady. At motel drunk lady is old girlfriend. Throws wig and wooden leg at Pepe then shoots him a few times; the last one in his bald spot! Pepe wanders out and spends the last 5 minutes dying around a lampost. Wow, what a movie!!!!
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