The Invisible Man

Like Robert Louis Stevenson's Dr Jekyll, H.G. Wells's Dr. Jack Griffin, aka "The Invisible Man" goes too far with science and plays the price. As directed by James Whale, best known for the original Frankenstein (1931), this story is, however, more camp than tragic, and more suited for laughs than reflection on the human condition .

How, after all, can anyone take seriously a character who runs around the English countryside in the middle of winter creating mayhem whilst being, albeit invisible, stark naked. This was English actor Claude Rains' American and talking movie debut. Rains got the role because Boris Karloff turned it down, amusingly because he was concerned that he wouldn't be seen. Rains however, who is best known for his urbane characters (most notably as Louis in Casablanca (1942) with his distinctive voice manages to stamp an identity on a character that we only get to see in the last few moments of the film.

Whale treats the story with good-natured levity, in particular, poking fun at the local constabulary and, running with the obviously faked special effects, although the actual invisibility including having the invisible man's footprints appear in the snow is quite well done. Both John Carradine and Walter Brennan have minor speaking roles.

FYI: Paul Verhoeven's Hollow Man (2000) is a remake of sorts although no credit is given to either Wells or Whale.

 

Want something different?