Mad Love (1935 film)

Mad Love is a 1935 American horror film adaptation of Maurice Renard's story The Hands of Orlac. Directed by German-émigré film maker Karl Freund, the film stars Peter Lorre as Dr. Gogol, Frances Drake as Yvonne Orlac and Colin Clive as Stephen Orlac. The plot revolves around Doctor Gogol's obsession over actress Yvonne Orlac. When Stephen Orlac's hands are destroyed in a train accident, Yvonne brings him to Gogol who is able repair them, or so he says. As Gogol's obsession over Yvonne leads him into doing anything to have her, Stephen Orlac finds that his new hands have made him into an expert knife thrower.

Mad Love was Karl Freund's final directorial assignment, and the American film debut of actor Peter Lorre. Critics on its release praised Lorre for his acting, but the film was unsuccessful at the box office. Though she found this film unsatisfactory, Pauline Kael later drew parallels between Mad Love and Citizen Kane, claiming much of the latter film's visual style was borrowed from Mad Love; cinematographer Gregg Toland was involved in the production of both films. Mad Love reputation has grown over the years and is now viewed in a more positive light by modern film critics.

Plot

In Paris, France at the 'Théâtre des Horreurs', after listening to her husband Stephen Orlac (Colin Clive) play the piano on the radio, actress Yvonne Orlac (Frances Drake) rests after her final performance at the theater and is greeted by Dr. Gogol (Peter Lorre). Dr. Gogol is upset as...
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