Mad Love (1935)
An insane surgeon's obsession with an actress leads him to replace her wounded pianist husband's hands with the hands of a knife murderer--hands which still have the urge to throw knives.
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Don't listen to the Hype. It's awful
It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.
The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.
The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful
M notwithstanding, MAD LOVE is probably Peter Lorre at his very best: his bulging eyes and sinister whisper combine to make his ghoulish Dr. Gogol (whose obsessive patronage of the Grand Guignol theater leads in the end to disaster) very Strange- but also strangely Sympathetic. In M, his unsavory character stalked unsuspecting children; here, he moons for a beautiful woman he can never really hope to possess and it's an absolutely riveting performance- one of the finest in the history of Fright Films. Director Freund no doubt deserves a great deal of credit for what we see here, but it's Lorre at his bug-eyed best who commands center stage. An outstanding movie.
Mad Love is an absolute superb horror film from 1935 starring Peter Lorre as Dr Gogol. In this movie Dr Gogol has an object of affection called Yvonne. However there is a difficulty for him as she is married and does not care much for Gogol at all of his affections for her. As Dr Gogol says during the movie he can conquer science but he cannot conquer love. The frustration for the latter certainly is one that shared by many people around the world. Dr Gogol's frustration in not able to conquer love served as pivotal plot piece and which drives his madness in wanting Yvonne. This all served the movie superbly right up to its denouement and this all thanks in excellent form by Peter Lorre.
The Opening Scenes at the Grand Guignol Theatre are worth the Price of Admission, Startlingly Strange, Bizarre, Terrifying, and Unsettling. The Costumes, Sets, and Cinematography are Amazing and set the Tone for the rest of this Horror Movie that stills lies on the Fringe, Overshadowed by other Movies from Another Studio (Universal) and Sequeled Monsters.This one is just as good as Any due to a Combination of Story (The Hands of Orlac), Director (Karl Freund), and Star (Peter Lorre) that all Deliver one of the most Offbeat, Stylish Thrillers of the Decade. Almost every Scene is a Wonder and the only thing that keeps this from becoming a Certified Masterpiece is the Obligatory Comedy Relief.But Thankfully there isn't a whole lot of that, Certainly not enough to Detract from the Overall Sensationalism that this Film Embodies. It will most Likely be an Unforgettable Experience from Anyone Watching for the First Time, Even Today. Nothing quite like it and a Real Treat.
In Paris, creepy bald-headed Peter Lorre (as Doctor Gogol) visits the incredibly realistic wax museum figure of beautiful scream queen Frances Drake (as Yvonne). Later, Mr. Lorre is consumed with orgasmic desire as he watches the real Ms. Drake perform on stage as a tortured victim. Backstage, the actress is flattered by the renown surgeon's admiration. But, Lorre is devastated to learn Drake will be leaving for England with pianist husband Colin Clive (as Stephen Orlac).En route, Mr. Clive's hands are wounded in a train wreck. Called in to operate, Lorre decides to amputate Clive's hands and sew on the hands of a recently decapitated murderer. Poor Clive loses his piano-playing ability, but gains other talents The whole "hand transplant" machinations never grabbed me or aided in my suspension of disbelief; but "Mad Love" is stylish, has Karl Freund directing, and Lorre is an amazing sight for sore eyes. Also watch for the Yvonne's maid Sara Haden (as Marie), who can really hold her own.******* Mad Love (7/12/35) Karl Freund ~ Peter Lorre, Frances Drake, Colin Clive, Ted Healy