Rating: 10/10
Here’s another old black and white classic. The Invisible Man from 1933 based on the story by H.G. Wells, and adapted for movie version by director James Whale (who also did Universal Frankenstein and its sequel the Bride of Frankenstein). My favorite character from the classics, and my favorite monster. As is often the case with the old Universal, here is also the story of a mad scientist, who also has a unique and unusual invention, invisibility! Invisibility in 1933! Yes, it is possible as well.
This movie impresses old fans all over the world with its effects, how well they did the invisible man and his invisibility. Everything where he does something as invisible (does he move something, does he play half-dressed, kills someone, etc…) it’s all well done, great effects. At the beginning of the film, there is a good old windbreaker with those ancient winds, and he is the only one in a suit, a hat, completely wrapped up, heading towards the town where there is an inn and an overnight stay. Also well done.
He hides there from the winter, and tries to make an “anti-poison” or something. People don’t give him peace because he’s weird, and he goes crazy, on rampage mode. He harasses people, creates chaos in the town. Later he starts killing. This character is the biggest killer of all the classics, although he’s not technically a monster like the others: He disabled the guard, pushed the lever and the train with wagons derailed, and everyone inside died. And so he made the biggest “score” of all classic in one movie!
Otherwise, my only complaint is that the character is seen at the end of the movie when he dies, and becomes visible finally. They should have made like in the later movies the scientist who tries it on himself and becomes invisible. It’s the only scene that’s missing, and it’s there in all the other parts. Director James Whale did amazing job with this movie, and Claude Rains portrayed fantastically this character Jack Griffin. Gloria Stuart also did good job as Griffin’s love of interest Flora Cranley.
Anyway, I give it a 10/10. Later, there are several more parts, The Invisible Man Returns, The Invisible Woman, Invisible Agent, The Invisible Man’s Revenge, series too. More recently, he has Hollow Man 1 and 2, and appears in The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. In March 2020, a new invisible man was released, although this one had technological suit for invisibility instead of good old serum, so it is completely different level of fear and character. Anyway, this classical one is a must for watch!
