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7/09/2024

The Invisible Man (1933) - Rains mounts the screen in Whale's memorable adaptation

 

Sinister darkness and experimental menace hangs heavy over this fine poster for James Whale's The Invisible Man

A mad scientist is discovered to be an invisible man, hidden in a house in a village. Soon his pranks on his fellow men turn deadly.

 

The Invisible Man is written by R.C Sherriff (Miss Mabel (1958, TV movie)), with Preston Sturges (The Great Moment (1944)) contributing elements, adapting H.G. Wells' (Love and Mr Lewisham (1900)) same-titled 1897 novel, and directed by great English-born American filmmaker James Whale (Journey's End (1930)).

Wells' story of a scientist's clandestine hunt for success and power is the stuff of myths, and Whale has supplied fun supporting performances, rapidly edited action and high production values. Not least due to the perfect special effects, which are both amusing and far ahead of their time, The Invisible Man is a blast. Claude Rains (Naked City (1960, TV-series)) rules in the title part that changed his trajectory from a theater career that he was ready to vacate at this point, into major movie stardom.

 

Related posts:

James WhaleThe Bride of Frankenstein (1935) - The magnificent and mysterious monster bride

Frankenstein (1931) - Whale's iconic, dark horror classic 




Watch a trailer for the film here

 

Cost: 328k $

Box office: Unknown

= Uncertain

[The Invisible Man premiered 31 October (Colorado) and runs 70 minutes. Several writers, directors and stars were attached to the film prior to production, and Universal Pictures were in bad shape at the time and had locked down completely for many weeks in early 1933. Shooting took place from June - August 1933 in California. The film opened to strong reviews and big audience interest, although the total gross is regrettably not known. Whale returned with By Candlelight (1933). Rains returned in Crime without Passion (1934); Gloria Stuart (Titanic (1997)) in Roman Scandals (1933). The Invisible Man is certified fresh at 95 % with an 8.40/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]


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