Regular Price $19.98

Starring: Claude Rains,  Gloria Stuart,  William Harrigan,  Henry Travers,  Una O'Connor, 
Directed By: James Whale, 
Rated: Unrated
Release Date: 1933-11-13
Studio: Universal Studios
Format: Black & White,  Closed-captioned,  DVD-Video,  NTSC, 

Editorial Reviews and DVD Information about The Invisible Man

Description
Claude Rains delivers a remarkable performance in his screen debut as a mysterious doctor who discovers a serum that makes him invisible. Covered by bandages and dark glasses, Rains arrives at a small English village and attempts to hide his amazing discover. But the same drug which rends him invisible slowly drives him to commit acts of unspeakable terror. Based on H.G. Well' classic novel and direct by the master of macabre James Whale, The Invisible Man no only fueled a host of sequels but features some special effects that are still imitated today.

Amazon.com essential video
Claude Rains practically owns his film debut in The Invisible Man, despite the fact that his face (let alone his body) is seen only for seconds in the final moments. As the brilliant scientist who discovers the secret of invisibility, Rains steps into the film wrapped up like a mummy behind a layer of bandages and blanketed in heavy clothes. When he removes his garments, there's nothing underneath, a simple but effective bit of 1930s movie magic that, apart from a few glitches, works as well today as it did in 1933. Like Frankenstein, another cautionary tale of science gone horribly wrong, the consequences of the doctor's experiments are dire: the chemicals drive him insane. Director James Whale infuses the film with plenty of humor, much of it arising from the quaint quirks of the local villagers, but it turns to black comedy as the doctor transforms from an impish prankster upsetting bicycles and taunting tavern patrons to a megalomaniac bent on world domination. It's slow going even at 71 minutes, but full of delightful touches and boasts a terrific performance by the all but unseen Rains, whose rich, cultured voice envelopes the picture in a kind of omnipresent fog. Vincent Price took up the role in the sequel, The Invisible Man Returns. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews for The Invisible Man

Excellent film that needs to be seen!
This is a classic film. Bear in mind while watching it that this was done in 1933 and the effects are amazing for it's time. If you have read HG Well's book, upon which the movie was based, you will not be disappointed. While it is not a verbatum screen play, this movie is true to the spirit of the story and does follow the book closely. The additional features are nice too.The Invisible Man

One Of The Classics of Sci-Fi Horror
Although this film deviates somewhat from H.G. Welles novella this is an excellent adaptation that is still entertaining seventy years after its first release. The setting of England in winter is well conveyed though we know that in all probability the film was made on a Southern California sound stage. The special effects are amazing for 1933 and one can only imagine the marvel it was for 1930's film goers to see the invisible man's antics which at first are playful but evolve into murder. Much of the acting may seem melodramatic or "stagy" to modern viewers but if taken in the historical context it does not detract from the enjoyment of the film. My one quibble is the romance between "Jack" (the invisible "one") played by Claude Rains and "Flora" played by Gloria Stuart seems forced, unnecessary and unlikely.The Invisible Man

A CLASSIC UNIVERSAL PICTURE! RAINS & CO. SHINE!
The Invisible man is one of those old movies that gets lost in the crowd. This picture is one of Universal's best. The Invisible Man Legacy collection includes this film with the 2 sequels, plus two unrelated films about invisibilty. 'The Invisible Man' film is the only film from Universal's Invisiblity catalog that is available on a single DVD by itself but, it's well worth picking up the Legacy set to get all 5 films! Rains and Co. are great in this science fiction tale. Like most Universal horror films, this film has tons of atmosphere and some really creepy images and sets. One in paticular is a close up of Rains wearing bandages and goggles that is just fantastic! The sequels are very good and this set should be in every horror film buffs collection. The DVD transfer on both releases are really good!The Invisible Man

Don't Meddle with Nature!
On a snowy night a man visits "The Lion's Head" in Iping. He wants private room with a fire. [Jenny's hair style dates to the 1890s.] This visitor wants to be left alone. There is the usual gossip about any stranger. Next we see the place where Jack Griffen worked, a place that developed methods for food preservation. But Jack often worked alone in secret. There is a dispute when the visitor is behind in his rent. A policeman is called because of the assault. The wife of the tavern owner plays her part over the top for comic effect. They must arrest the stranger before he takes off his clothes. Being invisible gives great power; will it be handled responsibly?

The scientists talk about Jack's experiments. He used a little known drug that bleached color and also affected the material. Jack visits Kemp for help; he is tired, cold, and hungry. [The food eaten can be seen until it is digested.] Jack's commands shows his state of mind. Griffen tells of his obsessive search for the secret of invisibility. The drugs he took inflamed his brain; Griffen has great plans for personal power. But Griffen must return to retrieve his valuable notebooks. The police Inspector decided the story about an invisible man was a hoax; then an ink pot was thrown in his face!

Kemp is now a captive in his own home. The police send a thousand men to search for the invisible man; he will still leave tracks. They will search everywhere, no warrants will be needed. Will Kemp call the police to report Jack's presence? Had the invisibility drug driven Jack mad? His speech suggests this. The police arrive, Jack escapes but promises to kill Kemp that night. The police have a plan to capture this invisible man; it can't fail, can it? But Nature works against Jack Griffen when the police find his hiding place. Jack can be heard if not seen. Will a few pistol shots stop the invisible man? [Can doctors treat an invisible man?]

The moral is to not meddle in things that should be left alone. Yet Jack worked in preserving foods via chemicals. Is this an argument against chemical foods, or "genetic modification"? Or against experimenting with drugs? This film is a condensed and simplified version of the novel. The story has smoothed out the details of Jack's past life. I think the story in the book was better.
The Invisible Man

1933 Black and White Classic Movie based on H.G. Wells Novel has Stood the Test of Time!
This is the first movie made based on H.G. Wells' 1897 novel of the same name. This movie although having the same main character and set in one of the towns from the book is pretty much only about 20% following the storyline of Wells' novel. This movie has characters and scenes which aren't in the novel such as Griffin (the invisible man) having a fiancé (played by Gloria Stewart an actress who grew old to be that annoying elderly lady in Titanic) who also has a father, another scientist who isn't in the novel either. Griffin didn't burn down his apartment in this movie in fact the most interesting scenes from the Wells' book where Griffin recounts his adventures in the department store and the city of London when he first became invisible to Dr Kemp are not in this movie at all.

James Whale has also added a fair bit of humour to Wells' novel and a fair amount of new very entertaining scenes such as train crashes, Kemp's car cliff diving, and toying with and taunting the townsfolk which all make the 68 minute movie extremely enjoyable. The biggest difference is that Griffin's madness is more blamed on a drug called monocaine in this movie whereas in the Wells' book although Griffin was never the nicest guy, his desire for murder and mayhem was created by his disgusting treatment by the bigoted town folk as well as the betrayal and stealing of his possessions including his notes (the one's he dropped to Kemp out of the window in the film) which he needed to make himself a cure by those he enlisted to help him.

There is sensational debut acting by Claude Rains as Griffin, but also some bad overacting in the film especially Una O'Connor as the landlady (who reminds me of Granny from the Beverly Hillbillies rather than the landlady from Wells' book) and some pathetic attempts at English accents by bar patrons and towns folk, but other than that the movie has more than stood the test time. Special effects brilliantly pull of the illusion of invisibility and although you can tell Whale used model trains and the like this movie is done so much better than other horror/special effects movies made in the decades following which you watch today just to laugh at their cheesiness. This 1933 classic is a masterpiece, you have to see it!

The DVD has a nice documentary of the film, its actors and the director James Whale as well as the many sequel and spin off movies inspired by this film (in fact you can buy all these movies along with this movie in a DVD set which may be better value than just buying this movie alone depending on prices). The documentary on this one goes for about as long as the movie. You can also watch the movie with commentary or with English, Arabic, Hungarian, Turkish, Greek, Czech or Romanian subtitles.
The Invisible Man

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