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Une critique du film, la toute première, parue dans le El Paso Times en 1966 le lendemain de la première projection du film.
"MADE IN EL PASO" MOVIE OPENS IN CAPRI
--By Barbra Funkhouser
"Manos, the Hands of Fate," a movie produced in El Paso with an El Paso cast and by El Paso residents, opened Tuesday night in the Capri Theatre. Because of these aspects, it is interesting.
Otherwise, this film, described as a horror-thriller-shocking-beyond-belief could have been, with some changes, a comedy. The audience, rather than being gripped with tension, ultimately laughed.
This is a cruel reward for those who have made this film and who sat in the audience for the premier showing. They worked hard on this movie and at moments, it was truly professional. They are sincere in their hopes for a new industry for El Paso and they have received professional encouragement.
As to the plot, the film's producers have asked that it not be discussed at any length but briefly.. it involves a vacationing young couple and their child who take a wrong turn and rather than arriving at some lodge, ended up in this world of horror ruled by the master.
Perhaps the most surprising aspect of the production is that Hal Warren, who wrote, directed and produced and starred in the movie, wrote for himself the worst part in the movie.
Warren's lines are unbelieveably hollow, and in his role, creates early doubt as to the plot by taking his wife and young child into a broken down house in the boon-docks guarded by a crippled, obviously demented old man, to spend the night.
To turn the tables, there is one truly great performance in this production and it is by the late John Reynolds. Reynolds played the role of this crippled old man, the weird keeper, and he was excellent. His performance in this film compares well with any professional actor in any serious role in any movie. It is a fine role, played most convincingly.
Diane Rystad, who played the wife, was less convincing, while little Jackie Neyman, as their small daughter, was exceptionally good. Tom Neyman, as the horror master, was satisfactory in looking and acting the part.
The comic relief written into this movie script was apparently to be provided by the young couple caught smooching in the boon-docks by the deputy sheriffs. It was this because after Sam Jenkins ran the couple off once, the audience whistled and clapped ala cowboy shoot-em-ups, in the repeat incidents.
One of the unusual scenes in the film is the master's harem of women scantilly attired in underclothing and filmy negligees wrestling in the sand between the mesquite bushes. It was a dandy fight.
All characters suffered at times from the lack of synchronization of lip movements with the sound which was dubbed in after the movie was completed.
While the musical soundtrack is excellent, done by Robert Smith and Russ Huddleston, it does not always make up for the lack of sound effects and certain times during the action. When a man is hit over the head and falls to the floor, the audience has come to expect a "thud."
The photography, and it is in color, was satisfactory when there was proper lighting which was most of the times. The opening scenes take on Scentc Drive and showing El Paso are excellent, otherwise the film was shot in the Lower Valley where lush fields meet the mesa.
For the first movie of a new company, it has merit. The producers have announced that negotiations are under way to produce four more so this lends authenticity to their endevaors. With technical refinements, a tighter plot and consistent strength in dialogue, they can succeed.
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