|
Variety,
November
23, 1933
The Invisible
Man (1933)
Universal Production
and release. Features Claude Rains, Gloria Stuart, William Harrigan,
Henry Travers and Dudley Digges. Directed by James Whale. From novel
by H.G. Wells; adaptation, R.C. Sheriff; photography, Arthur Edeson.
At old Roxy, N.Y., week Nov. 17. Running time, 70 mins.
| The
Invisible One |
Claude
Rains |
 |
| Flora
Cranley |
Gloria
Stuart |
| Doctor
Kemp |
William
Harrigan |
| Doctor
Cranley |
Henry Travers |
| Mrs.
Hall |
Una O’Connor |
| Mr.
Hall |
Forrester
Harvey |
| Chief
of Police |
Homes Herbert |
| Jaffers |
E.E. Clive |
| Chief
of Detectives |
Dudley
Digges |
| Inspector
Bird |
Harry Stubbs |
| Inspector
Lane |
Donald
Stuart |
| Milly |
Merle Tottenham |
Imagine a person
being able to do anything without being seen by the human eye. Add
to that the chance the man is a maniac, bent on murder. Mix it into
a story that has reasonable conviction, remember the theatrical
license something like this must demand, toss in a little love interest,
and you have "Invisible Man", a picture that develops
something new and refreshing in film frighteners.
Universal, which
has shown a liking for screamers, and had the nerve to put the first
one over, is delivering something here which will more than satisfy
audiences. Chillers were sometime ago presumed to have spent themselves
as box-office. That may be true and therefore require urgent campaigning,
but so far as entertainment value is concerned, "Invisible
Man" will take care of itself.
The strangest
character yet created by the screen roams through "Invisible
Man". Sometimes he is seen, dressed and bandaged up into a
fantastic, eerie-looking figure, at other times he is moving through
the action unseen. When not visible his presence is imparted by
a cleverly conceived and novel manner. At the same time this helps
to enrich the picture with the many laughs it contains, some of
them, perhaps, not intended by the producer.
As the invisible
madman is moving around the negative reflects the things he does,
such as rocking in a chair, smoking a cigarette, carrying something,
opening doors, or socking someone in the jaw with the impact felt
rather than seen. In one scene when the invisible man makes an escape
on a bicycle, the bike is viewed going down the street rider less.
Invisible wires
figure along with the invisible actor in such scenes and often bring
laughs. A majority of rib-tickling, as manifested by the Roxy audience
when caught, came when the invisible one removes his bandages and
clothes, leaving nothing but space. Another funny one was to see
him take off the bandages of what is the head, leaving on the pajamas
visible and going to bed that way.
First reel evokes
considerable comedy, also, in sequences at a small country inn where
the invisible one secures lodging and indulges in his first murder.
The innkeeper and his wife, Forrester Harvey and Una O’Connor,
respectively, are swell comedy types and make the most of the opportunity.
Miss O’Connor relies a lot on a very shrill scream.
Love interest,
odd for a picture of this type, is played down to one scene in which
the girl talks to the invisible man, and another at the finish when
he comes out of the ether that made him that way. At the outset
it is learned that a young chemist has discovered a terrible formula,
including a very dangerous drug, that makes human flesh invisible.
His interest had been strictly scientific but the drug had the effect,
after use, of turning him into a maniac. At about the time he starts
the murders he is looking for the antidote to bring him back to
a normal condition. That arrives as he'’ dying in a hospital
after being shot by police when his tracks in the snow give him
away.
In product,
story handling and direction, "Invisible Man" needs nothing
with it hasn’t got. Picture’s casting of English types
is also commendable. Photography and sets impart the gruesome atmosphere
a film of this type demands.
copyright ©
1933 Variety
|
Based
on H.G. Wells’ novel, the Invisible Man starred
a novice movie actor, Claude Rains. Carl Laemmle, the
studio head at the time, ordered a full-effort ad campaign
after viewing the initial rough cut of the movie. Even
H.G. Wells loved the film, and wrote director James
Whale to tell him so.