The Invisible Man (1933)

Director:

James Whale

Writers:

H.G. Wells (novel) and
R.C. Sherriff (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

13 November 1933 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

Catch me if you can!

Plot:

A scientist finds a way of becoming invisible, but in doing so, he becomes murderously insane.

Plot Keywords:

Scientist | Test Tube | Beaker | Invisibility | Chemical

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Claude Rains	...	The Invisible Man
Gloria Stuart	...	Flora Cranley
William Harrigan	...	Dr. Arthur Kemp
Henry Travers	...	Dr. Cranley
Una O'Connor	...	Jenny Hall
Forrester Harvey	...	Herbert Hall
Holmes Herbert	...	Chief of Police
E.E. Clive	...	Const. Jaffers
Dudley Digges	...	Chief detective
Harry Stubbs	...	Insp. Bird
Donald Stuart	...	Insp. Lane
Merle Tottenham	...	Millie
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Robert Adair	...	Detective Thompson (uncredited)
Ted Billings	...	Villager Playing Darts (uncredited)
Walter Brennan	...	Bicycle Owner (uncredited)
Robert Brower	...	Farmer (uncredited)
John Carradine	...	Villager Suggesting Ink (uncredited)
D'Arcy Corrigan	...	Villager (uncredited)
Dwight Frye	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Mary Gordon	...	Screaming Woman (uncredited)
Tiny Jones	...	Townswoman at Pub (uncredited)
Violet Kemble Cooper	...	Woman (uncredited)
Crauford Kent	...	Doctor (uncredited)
John Merivale	...	Newsboy (uncredited)
Monte Montague	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Bob Reeves	...	Detective Hogan (uncredited)
Jack Richardson	...	Official (uncredited)
Tom Ricketts	...	Old Farmer with Barn (uncredited)
Kathryn Sheldon	...	Orphanage Worker (uncredited)
Emma Tansey	...	Old Woman Listening to the Radio (uncredited)
Jameson Thomas	...	Hospital Physician (uncredited)
Bert Young	...	Railroad Switchman (uncredited)

Directed by
James Whale

Writing credits
H.G. Wells		(novel)
R.C. Sherriff		screenplay
Preston Sturges		uncredited
Philip Wylie		uncredited

Produced by
Carl Laemmle Jr.	....	producer

Original Music by
Heinz Roemheld		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Arthur Edeson

Film Editing by
Ted J. Kent		(as Ted Kent)

Art Direction by
Charles D. Hall

Makeup Department
Jack P. Pierce	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Joseph A. McDonough	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Wally Kirkpatrick	....	property master (uncredited)

Sound Department
William Hedgcock	....	sound recordist (uncredited)
John Kemp	....	assistant sound recording engineer (uncredited)
Gilbert Kurland	....	sound supervisor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
John P. Fulton	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
John J. Mescall	....	miniature photographer (uncredited)
Frank D. Williams	....	visual effects supervisor (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Peter Abriss	....	chief grip (uncredited)
Jack Eagan	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Arthur Edeson	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Roman Freulich	....	still photographer (uncredited)
King D. Gray	....	camera operator (uncredited)
John J. Mescall	....	director of photography: additional photography (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Maurice Pivar	....	supervising editor (uncredited)

Music Department
W. Franke Harling	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Heinz Roemheld	....	conductor (uncredited)
William Schiller	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Carl Laemmle	....	presenter
Carl Laemmle	....	president: Universal Pictures

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1933) (USA) (theatrical)
• Realart Pictures (1947) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Screen Gems (1957) (USA) (TV)
• M.P.E.A. (1951) (Austria) (theatrical)
• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (2004) (UK) (TV) (BBC2)
• Continental Home Vídeo (Brazil) (video)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (USA) (VHS)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)
• Net5 (2004) (Netherlands) (TV)
• Universal Home Entertainment (USA) (DVD)

Runtime:

71 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved (certificate not issued at release) | Spain:13 | West Germany:16 | Australia:M (DVD rating) | Australia:PG (original rating) | Germany:16 | UK:PG | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Although the actor under the bandages was usually Claude Rains, particularly in the sequence set at the inn, often it was a double. You can tell him apart from the real Claude Rains because he is taller and has aquiline features, with a nose so prominent that it is visible even through the bandages. Rains's dialogue was all pre- or post-recorded and dubbed onto the soundtrack.

Goofs:

Continuity: Although the Invisible Man makes a note of having to be naked to be invisible, the footprints he leaves in the snow at the end of the film are those of a man wearing shoes.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Man in Pub: Did you hear about Mrs. Mason's little Willy? Sent him to school and found him buried ten-foot deep in a snow drift.
Man in Pub # 2: How did they get him out?
Man in Pub: Brought the fire engine 'round. Put the hose pipe in, pumped it backwards and sucked him out.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Prodigy (2005)

Soundtrack:

Hearts and Flowers

Somewhat Shocking!

Oh! What a wonderful film! The Invisible Man is fraught with witty dialogue, excellent character acting, inventive and creative special effects, insightful direction, and solid, tight scripting. The story is about a scientist that develops a serum which turns himself invisible, for good intent initially. The serum has negative side effects, one of which is turning the scientist into a raving,mad megalomaniac bent on conquering mankind and the world. What is most surprising about the film is its rather perverse sense of black humour(a James Whale specialty) and its cruelty. The Invisible Man is not a benign horror monster but rather a frightening, destructive force capable of acts of violence, madness, and viciousness. The direction is the real star of the film as Whale combines script, acting, mood, and setting amidst the background of ground-breaking special effects that are still impressive to this day. Whale laces his special humour throughout, and this film has no shortage of dark comedic moments. The acting all around is very good with people like Henry Travers, Gloria Stuart, Una O'Connor and William Harrigan especially as a jealous doctor giving all the support they can to a formless Claude Rains. Rains's voice is magnificent and one senses he was made to play the part that would make him famous. Look for Dwight Frye in a small role. A wonderful film experience!