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     The Invisible Man
1933  NR  SCIENCE FICTION  1h 11min
CAST— Claude Rains, Gloria Stuart
MUSIC— Heinz Roemheld  DIRECTOR— James Whale  BASED ON— The Invisible Man (novel), by H. G. Wells

     A maniacal, though mostly unseen, performance by Claude Rains dominates this entertaining sci-fi thriller. Scientist Rains has done the impossible: using a concoction of drugs he’s rendered himself invisible. The downside is he’s now unable to return to a visible state (there’s also the fact that he’s going murderously bonkers, but what’s that?). While not acting the scientist the Invisible Man is having a blast frightening locals with pranks that steadily turn more and more malicious. He forces a fellow doctor to carry out his every whim, otherwise it’ll be curtains for the doc. Terrified, the doctor seeks help from the police. Uh oh. Rains vows revenge, escapes the police time and again and kills countless innocents with destructive deeds. The police comb the countryside, but all for naught. What are the good guys to do? This tale starts out fun, almost slapstick-like, but the increasingly wicked acts performed by the Invisible Man turn him from comical character to all out killer. The film boasts some pretty impressive (for 1933) effects that leave this a memorable production. Deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” by the United States Library of Congress National Film Registry.
OUR RATING— ** ½
FOLLOWED BY— The Invisible Man Returns (1940)