The Invisible Man (film)
"The Invisible Man" is a 1933 horror film directed by James Whale, based on the novel by H.G. Wells. Universal Pictures acquired the film rights in 1931 and assembled a diverse team of writers, including R.C. Sherriff, with Whale ultimately directing. The film features Claude Rains in the titular role, despite him being a relatively unknown actor at the time, following his previous work primarily in theater. Rains' performance is notable as he spends much of the film obscured by bandages or as a disembodied voice, with his face appearing only briefly at the conclusion. The film is recognized for its innovative visual effects, which were groundbreaking for its time, and it became one of the top-grossing films of 1933. "The Invisible Man" garnered critical acclaim, including a Special Recommendation for Whale at the Venice Film Festival, and it inspired several sequels and adaptations, such as "Hollow Man" in 2000. The success of the film significantly enhanced the careers of both Rains and the visual effects artist John P. Fulton, with the latter winning two Academy Awards for his work.
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Subject Terms
The Invisible Man (film)
Identification Film adaptation of a novella by H. G. Wells
Director James Whale
Date Released in 1933
The story of a scientist who makes himself invisible and subsequently goes insane, The Invisible Man was one of the great horror films produced at Universal Studios during the 1930’s and one of the top films, both commercially and critically, of 1933.
Universal acquired the film rights to The Invisible Man in 1931. At least nine writers worked on the script, including John Huston; James Whale, the director of Frankenstein (1931); R. C. Sherriff, actually listed as the writer in the credits; and Preston Sturges. Three other directors were considered until producer Carl Laemmle chose Whale.
Boris Karloff, who played the monster in Frankenstein, was Universal’s first choice to play the character of the Invisible Man, but he was disputing his contract with Universal at the time. Colin Clive, who played the title character in Frankenstein, turned down the role. Whale had worked with English stage actorClaude Rains a decade earlier in London and recommended him for the role. Rains had previously appeared in only one film, a silent one at that, so he was a risky choice. In one of the oddest starring roles of all time, Rains spent most of his on-screen time covered in bandages and some of it as a disembodied voice. Moreover, the most spectacular scenes used a stunt double. Rains’s face is shown clearly for only about twenty seconds at the end.
Featuring state-of-the-art visual effects by John P. Fulton, The Invisible Man was one of the top-grossing films of that year. The New York Times named it one of the ten best films of 1933, and Whale received a Special Recommendation from the 1934 Venice Film Festival.
Impact
The Invisible Man inspired four sequels and many imitations, including Hollow Man (2000). The film boosted the film careers of Rains and Fulton. Rains later earned four Academy Award nominations for acting, and Fulton earned five, winning two for visual effects.
Bibliography
Curtis, James. James Whale: A New World of Gods and Monsters. Boston: Faber and Faber, 1998.
Mallory, Michael. Universal Studios Monsters: A Legacy of Horror. New York: Universe, 2009.