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The Invisible Man

The Invisible Man

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: I LOVE IT!!!
Review: This movie is spectacular! I did find some flaws but it's still a good movie and deserves to be as famous as Dracula and Frankenstein. I loved the movie, still do, and i enjoy watching it. Claude Rains makes the invisible man a frightening person with his talk of ruling the world. Mrs. Hall's high-pitched screams can get annoying at times but it's still good. Oh, classic horror... I love it, don't you?

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A lot of old "classics" can be slow and boring, but this was
Review: This movie is usually categorized as a horror film, but it is more of a sci-fi film than horror. There are also a few good comic moments (intentional) that work in this film. Oh, and Claude Raines also gives the performance of his career in the title role. I recently watched the dvd released from Universal of this film and I must say that I was quite impressed. I had not seen the movie in probably twenty years and it was really good! A lot of old "classics" can be slow and boring, but this was entertaining and I never even thought about fast forwarding through any of it, like I would in say, a Jess Franco film.

The movie starts out with a bang when a mysterious man appears at an inn during a howling snowstorm. He is bundled up and and demands a room and food. After he is settled in his room, we see (or don't see) the first glimpses of the invisible man.

The name of the mysterious invisible man we find out is Dr. Jack Griffin. He has a fiancee, Flora Cranley (played by Gloria Stuart who was nominated for an Oscar for her performance as the old woman in the Titantic), and Flora and her father are very concerned for the missing invisible man, but his former partner, Dr. Kemp, sees this as a chance try and move in on Flora, but Kemp's advances are rebuffed.

Later on Kemp is visited by the invisible guy and under duress, offers cloths, food and a place to sleep for Griffin. This is when Claude Raines really gets to shine, telling Kemp about his megolimania like plans to control the world through criminal mischief. The rest of the story is somewhat of a moral tale that mixes suspense and humor.

The film was released in 1933 and was right in the middle of James Whale's wonderful run of great movies for Universal. He directed the smash hit Frankenstein that was released in 1931 and followed that up with The Old Dark House which also starred Boris Karloff. They teamed up again in 1935 for the Bride of Frankenstein which ended up being the directors last great horror film. He did manage to direct some future great horror actors in Vincent Price and Peter Cushing in the late 30's, but his career was pretty much over by 1939.

The dvd is part of Universal Studios Classic Horror Collection which means that it includes a great documentary and also a commentary by film historian Rudy Behlmer. The special effects in this movie are great, especially considering they are 70 years old. I really can't recommend this dvd highly enough for anyone who cares for early classic horror or sci-fi. I got it as part of the 8 dvd Classic Monster Collection which is still available at amazon.com, but the individual dvd is currently out of print.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Universal is the king of monsters
Review: This one ranks up there with Frankenstein,Dracula,and the rest of the gang of monsters. Claude Rains does an out standing job as the Invisible one.A good supporting cast and good,even for today,special effects a must for all.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: "The Invisible Man"...Looks and Sounds Great on DVD
Review: 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

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A deserved classic
Review: Though this marvelous film was made 70 years ago, it holds up beautifully today. The primary reason is the riveting performance by Claude Rains, who is seen on screen full face for only a few seconds at the conclusion of the piece. His voice virtually carries the picture and his performance is dynamic, comic and quite masterful. In contrast, the weakness of the film are the supporting players, with the exception of those in the British tavern.

Gloria Stuart, recently "re-discovered" in her role as the elderly Rose in Cameron's "Titanic," is singularly awful in her role as the Invisible Man's (Jack's) girlfriend. Though beautiful, she overacts and puts on a childish display in every scene. She adds virtually nothing to the narrative except a pretty face. William Harrigan plays Jack's partner and reluctant accomplice and he is also dreadful and theatrical. Henry Travers is excellent and pay special attention to catch an uncredited Walter Brennan in a brief speaking role in the tavern.

The script is excellent and provides many hilarious moments. The special effects are similarly good and leagues ahead of their time. Though a trifle awkward in spots, one must remember this is 1933 and the effects must have stunned and delighted audiences of that era. This is a must-see classic movie, made memorable by the riveting concept and a seering performance by Claude Rains.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Classic piece of 30`s science fiction
Review: Trough science fiction in the 1930`s was less popular than horror on the screen, this film is really up to the standard of "Dracula" or "Frankenstein". Beside the superb performance (or "voice") by Claude Rains, who delivers his lines in an unbelievable clear accent, director James Whale manages to create the same kind of "fairytale world" he used to deliver in "Frankenstein". The images of the snowy English countryside, the inn, the dead trees behind windows and the lonely small town streets are unforgetable. But besides this the black humor and the fine "English" characters are wothy a movie admission alone. Just sit down on a quiet Winter evening and watch this science fiction vision from another time....

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A MAD DOCTOR!
Review: WELL... RAINS PLAYS A DISTORED DOCTOR IN A WAY. WHAT I MEAN IS THAT HE'S INVISIBLE! BASED ON THE BOOK BY H.G WELLS . THE INVSIBLE MAN IS A MOVIE YOU WILL NEVER NEVER FORGET.


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