Customer Reviews

The Invisible Man

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Jack Griffin is a brilliant scientist who has some ideas that his peers think dangerous and unethical. Not one to be dissuaded, Griffin successfully experiments on himself, becoming the first human to be rendered invisible. Unfortunately, prolonged invisibility--or possibly the invisibility drug itself, as his peers had warned--begins to deteriorate Griffin's mind, and he soon becomes a power-hungry killer bent on revenge.

Though rarely seen in the film due to the special effects and costuming demanded by the part, Claude Rains does a dynamic job in the role of Jack Griffin. His gravelly voice and vocal histrionics serve perfectly in delivering to the audience Griffin's descent into emotional hell. And James Whale's direction is as brilliant as ever, creating the appropriate mood and atmosphere as we follow a madman's ravaging of the English countryside.

One of only four Horror films directed by James Whale for Universal, THE INVISIBLE MAN is a work that some historians and critics regard as a veiled allegory of the director's own publically covert homosexuality. While FRANKENSTEIN and BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN also depict societal outcasts in a sympathetic light, the eponymous character in THE INVISIBLE MAN is a character in a situation that is most like Whale's own--a respected genius in the public eye, but a person whose true self must remain invisible.

Even if you don't buy that particular historical perspective, THE INVISIBLE MAN still works as an allegory of any societal pariah. We all have traits that we sometimes hide from others; we all have masks that we wear. And at the times when we dwell on the things we keep hidden behind those masks, we may feel just a little "invisible" to others. So in watching THE INVISIBLE MAN, Jack Griffin becomes a metaphor for our own private identities, and we care about what happens to him. As with many of Whale's films, this pathos for the protagonist becomes a skeleton on which hangs the overall plot.

Compared to contemporary movies, the special effects in this film might seem a little dated. But the script is good, the directing is great, and the acting is superb. Anyone who enjoyes a well-crafted movie certainly won't be disappointed.

This review refers to "The Invisible Man"(1933) from the Universal Classic Monster Collection editions....

Not too many years before this "talkie" was made, movie stars had to convey the essence of the story, with body langauge, without words, as it was the era of the silent film. In this film, the star would act with only his words, his voice, to convey this frightening character, as he was...well...invisible through 99% of the film. So who better then a stage actor, one with a voice that gets our attention, to better portray "The Invisible Man".

The man with the voice and no body... the very distinguished Claude Rains(making his film debut). A voice that brought the brillant but megalomanical Dr. Griffen to life. Sometimes wrapped up in bandages, sometimes just a shirt, dancing around and taunting his victims, other times completely invisible, Rains is wonderful at scaring up a good time with this film. Not able to find a cure for himself, he goes insane and leaves a number of dead bodies in his wake.

So just how do you go about catching an invisible killer? Director James Whale("Frankenstein") makes the hunt fun. He includes great character actors like Una O'Connor who adds great comic relief as she runs around doing some great screams.
Even the police are humorous in their efforts to thwart the invisible one as he outfoxes them at nearly every turn. Other wonderful actors of the era included in the great cast are, Gloria Stuart(now famous again as the old Rose in James Cameron's "Titanic"), and Henry Travers("Clarence, the angel from "It's A Wonderful Life"). The screenplay based on H.G Wells' novel was given a fabulous treatment by R.C. Sherriff.

And just how does "The Invisible Man" LOOK on DVD?...He Looks fabulous! The film itself has quite a bit of scratches, but the picture is clear, the black and white images, sharp and bright, and the sound in Dolby Dig(2.0 mono) is great. All dialouge is crisp and clear in this 70 year old film. The DVD includes the very entertaining and insightful featurette, "Now You See Him: The Invisible Man Revealed". It's a lengthy look at everything about the film. The actors, the writer, the director, and best of all, how this technologically advanced film of the time, created all the wonderful special effects. Other features include commentary and production notes. The film may be viewed with English captions, and in Spanish and French languages(also with subtitles).

Get the popcorn ready.. Filmbuffs... add this one to your Monster Film Fest for Halloween...and Enjoy....Laurie

also recommended:
Alfred Hitchcock Presents volume 2
Sci-fi Channel Trivia Book. The Ultimate Trivia Challenge
The Movies: A Picture Quiz Book

James Whale's interpretation of the HG Wells book is abrilliant piece of cinema. The effects are, considering the time, anastonishing achievement that really help make this movie work. This is Claude Rains film debut and while we only see his face for a few minutes, he manages to create a powerful impression as the sympathetic mad scientist. Of the Universal horror collection, this can only be matched by Whales' "Bride of Frankenstein" in terms of acting, direction, plot, and using special effects effectively. While it should have been one of the first Universal horror DVDs, let's be thankful this gem is finally available. END

Delightful special effects, a good story, and a remarkable INVISIBLE performance by Claude Raines make this picture a SciFi classic that excites my imagination as much today as it did 60 years ago when I first saw it. I'll never forget it!

The Invisible Man is a great flim! It stars Claude Rains as thne invisible one, Griffin. And during the end of the middle his partner calls the police while his is staying in his house. Then Griffin promised to kill him the next day at 10:00p.m. And that is a PROMISE! I wont say anything more. People would say why would he go mad? He only turned invisible but during the movie it says in the chemicals he uses there is a drug and mixed with the other chemicals it abvously creates invisibility. But the drug can hurt people drive them a little mad. This happens to Griffin. This was found by anciet times when they used this drug and the other assitiant points out thats why they have not used it since. This movie has an ending that makes you say how was there two sequels to The Invisible Man unless the invisible man is not Griffin or there was a miricle but otherwise this movie is TERRIFIC. So I highly reccomend this movie to anyone who spots a good eye on it. So may I end this review in:
This Movie Was Terrific

For those of you who have read my reviews, you may ask why a hard core English Major who sticks to Marlowe, Shakespeare, Milton, Hawthorne, and Dickens finds this old horror movie so important. I am glad to answer this. In this modern movie world of special effects and gore, I feel the true meaning of horror has been lost. This movie is an obvious example of the true meaning of horror. Rains' character was a good and decent man who could not stay behind the line of 'this far and no further.' (Resembles Marlowe's techniques.) He crossed the line and made himself invisible and was unable to reverse the formula. (This passes plausibility, but with all of this film's merits, it is easy to overlook.) For a while Rains actually has fun with his power, and the events are very comical. (Not unlike Marlowe's Dr. Faustus.) However, the invisibility is NOT what presents us with horror. What DOES fill us with horror is the degeneration of this good and decent man into a psychotic killer obsessed with power. His former friend Kemp turns into an enemy (and we can scarcely blame him). Even Rains' former employer (who wants to help him) is expressed by Rains as having 'the mind of a tapeworm.' Eventually, Rains' character goes on a mindless and random killing spree. So Rains has gone from being an intelligent decent man, to a prankster, to one who alienates his friends, to one who rebukes people who want to help him, to killing randomly and mindlessly. The effects are simple and do not overshadow the true horror of this. I tip my hat to Claude Rains for displaying one of the most frightening things so well. (The gradual degeneration of a human being.)

One of the most curious things about this otherwise memorable DVD package is the fact that it offers little information on Gloria Stuart--and nothing at all in the way of a personal interview. Given that Stuart is the only cast member still alive, this seems a terrible oversight. It is only when one discovers that there was no love lost between Claude Rains and Gloria Stuart that the reasoning becomes apparent: in such documentaries as UNIVERSAL HORROR, Stuart has had many positive things to say about director James Whale, the cast in general, and the production as a whole--but she has never hidden her dislike for Rains, and claims that Whale often had to step in to prevent Rains from deliberately upstaging her during filming.

Even though the absence of Gloria Stewart is conspicuous, like all classic horror DVDs released by Universal the bonus package for THE INVISIBLE MAN is a superior collection, with production photographs, production notes, and biographical notes. The audio commentary track by Rudy Behlmer is occasionally dry but often quite interesting, and the making-of documentary ("Now You See Him: The Invisible Man Revealed") is exceptional, featuring interviews with the likes of Rains' daughter and the various technicians who worked to create the special effects.

The film, of course, is based on the H.G. Wells novel, and although it differs quite a bit from the original and lacks the novel's overall social-commentary bite, it was indeed approved by H.G. Wells himself. The here concerns a scientist (Rains) who has discovered a drug that will make him invisible--but fails to realize that the drug has sinister side effects: it also induces madness. And with delusions of taking over the world, he engages in everything from practical jokes to outright murder.

The great thing in this film are the special effects, which were truly amazing for the early 1930s and which still hold up extremely well today. But of equal importance is the weird twist of horror and humor with which director Whales endows the piece. And as in his later THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN, this film would contain a number of coded messages: Whale was homosexual, and like most gay men of his era he felt that society valued him for his sensibilities but at the same time disenfranchised him as a person. In a very real sense, THE INVISIBLE MAN is the ideal Whale vehicle: it offers a portrait of someone locked outside of the system.

The cast is extremely good, with the aforementioned Claude Rains (making his American screen debut) and Gloria Stuart as the leads--and the ever-memorable Una O'Connor screaming, whooping, hollering, and generally running riot to tremendous comic effect. She would give her role in THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN a similar spin, but she was never was so wildly, so enjoyably over the top as she is here. The rest of the cast is equally fine, and includes such memorable character actors as Henry Travers, Bill Hall, and Holmes Herbert as well.

While Whales would direct more commercially and critically successful films, and while THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN is arguably his most personal statement, THE INVISIBLE MAN is tremendous fun for fans of classic horror. If you're one of them, grab this DVD before it disappears!

--GFT (Amazon Reviewer)--

Among classic horror movies, "The Invisible Man" has never really loomed as large as Dracula, Frankenstein or the Wolf-Man. However, this classic adaptation of H.G. Wells' sci-fi novel is still a pretty entertaining affair, with an increasingly crazed Claude Rains chewing the scenery with invisible teeth. I just wish they hadn't added a token love interest.

A strange man (Rains) arrives at a hotel in Iping, wrapped up in goggles, bandages, scarves, and heavy clothes. He spends most of his time hidden away in his room, doing odd scientific experiments -- but after a fight with his landlord, he reveals that he is actually invisible. Up next: After shedding his clothes and bandages, he goes on a rampage through the town... still totally unseen.

The invisible man -- aka Dr. Jack Griffin -- escapes to the house of Dr. Kemp, a former coworker whom he turns into his frightened "partner." Just like anybody who's turned invisible would, Griffin plans a reign of terror over the entire world. As the police begin a country-wide hunt for a man they're unable to see, there is only one way that Griffin can be drawn out...

"The Invisible Man" isn't quite as well-known as Universal's vampires, monsters and werewolves, mainly because he's just an average guy who turned invisible. It's still a freaky idea, though -- not only is Griffin unable to become visible again, but ordinary people are being tormented by a criminal that could literally be anywhere. Except a paint factory.

And classic director James Whale manages to insert plenty of ghastly moments, such as a crazily laughing Griffin removing his false nose and goggles, turning his bandaged face into a skull-like mask. And he maintains some of the weird humor from H.G. Wells' original story, which you pretty much expect from a person who's invisible -- at one point Griffin dances down the street, wearing only a pair of pants and singing "Here we go gathering nuts in May!"

The downside? Some of the deviations from Wells' original story weaken the movie badly, especially the inclusion of Gloria Stuart as Griffin's girlfriend. All she does is cry, mope and make doe eyes. Seriously, what was the point of that character?

Fortunately, Claude Rains manages to single-handedly carry the entire movie -- he's grandiose, insanely malicious, and chews the scenery with unseen teeth. He's a little hammy at times, mainly because his face is invisible for 99% of the movie, but it's a truly spellbinding performance. There are a lot of good smaller performances among the villagers and the police, although that landlady's grating screech makes me wish the Invisible Man had bandaged HER head.

"The Invisible Man" isn't quite as memorable as the other Universal monster flicks, but it's still an effective piece of sci-fi horror -- and Claude Rains puts in a great performance without showing his face.

The Invisible Man is another gem of a classic horror film, with Claude Rains (mostly in voice) as the chemist who devices a method of becoming invisible, but in doing so experiences a power rush and madness that turns him into a ruthless villain. While the film is not very faithful to the novel, it still is quite an enjoyable film just as a horror, as it has effective mood and solid characters (other than the screaming lady at the inn).

There are several scenes that really strike me as memorable. The opening scene sets the mood, with Claude Rains' character journeying in the blustery, bitter cold and interrupting the boisterous, joyful scene inside the inn, as he tromps in with bizarre, other worldly spectacles and get up. Everyone literally stops in their tracks. Another is when the Invisible Man follows fellow chemist Kemp after he's asked to be protected by the police; this scene really illustrates the diabolical nature Rains is able to drum up in keeping with character.

Rains steals the show, as you really, really hate his character by film's end. He adds a shockingly unconventional viciousness that surpasses a typical classic villain. He is bizarre, unreasonable, unnerving, power-hungry, and makes everyone around him uncomfortable. Meddling in experiments he should have left alone, he goes beyond the limits of Nature, but, unlike many other villains, it is all for him (as he proclaims, "An invisible man can rule the world!"). He bullies Kemp to help him try to hatch out his master plan, and the police uses a public outcry and manhunt to try to take down the invisible madman. Where the Wolfman and Frankenstein we sympathize with in some regard, Rains' Invisible Man we do not.

If there was one thing I didn't care for (other than the screaming lady at the inn), it was the thrown in love relationship with Flora. It seemed a little forced, and tried to romanticize the film a little too much.

The Invisible Man is a classic monster tale, one that sits with many of the other greats.

The Bottom Line:

The best Universal horror picture, for my money, after Bride of Frankenstein, The Invisible Man benefits from special effects whose seams still aren't showing, a wickedly sinister performance by Rains in the lead (even if we hardly ever see him) and an intelligence to the screenplay missing in many contemporary horror films; you'll probably like it even if this type of film usually isn't your cup of tea.