The Invisible Menace (1938)

Director:

John Farrow

Writers:

Ralph Spencer Zink (play)
Crane Wilbur (screenplay)

Release Date:

22 January 1938 (USA)

Genre:

Mystery | Comedy

Plot:

Army Private Eddie Pratt smuggles his new bride into camp in hopes of having a happy wedding night. Instead they discover a murder...

Plot Keywords:

Army | Murder | Doctor | Gunrunner | Gunfire

Cast

Boris Karloff	...	Mr. Jevries / Dolman
Marie Wilson	...	Sally Wilson Pratt
Eddie Craven	...	Pvt. Eddie Pratt
Regis Toomey	...	Lt. Matthews
Henry Kolker	...	Col. George Hackett
Cy Kendall	...	Col. Bob Rogers
Charles Trowbridge	...	Dr. Brooks
Eddie Acuff	...	Cpl. Sanger
Frank Faylen	...	Al (private of the guard)
Phyllis Barry	...	Mrs. Aline Dolman
Harland Tucker	...	Ted Reilly
William Haade	...	Pvt. Ferris
John Ridgely	...	Pvt. Innes (scenes deleted)
Jack Mower	...	Sgt. Peterson
Anderson Lawler	...	Pvt. Abbott (as Anderson Lawlor)

Also Known As:

Without Warning

Runtime:

55 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #3719)

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

In Feb. 1938, Warner Brothers distributed this film on a double bill with Swing Your Lady (1938).

Movie Connections:

Version of Murder on the Waterfront (1943)

Neat Little Mystery Thriller Featuring The Great Boris Karloff

This is a very watchable programmer centering on a murder mystery that takes place at an island army arsenal. Director John Farrow (husband of Maureen O'Sullivan/father of Mia Farrow)wisely keeps this thriller short and breezy. The only part of the movie that sometimes falls flat today is the humor, which I'm sure was much better received by the audiences in 1938. Marie Wilson tries to be a Gracie Allen clone. This persona worked much better years later when she played My Friend Irma opposite Martin and Lewis. Eddie Craven does fine as Marie Wilson's comedy partner but again much of the humor is dated.

It's good to see the great Boris Karloff strut his stuff. His bad guy/monster image kept him from receiving deserved recognition as one of Hollywood's most capable actors. This image is used in an interesting way in "The Invisible Menace" but I won't go into detail and spoil the movie for you. The flashback scene when Karloff is on the island of Haiti fits well into the story but also provides variety in what could have become a boring film since all the action takes place in a confined setting. A talent such as Hitchcock could overcome such a setting as he did in his classic "Lifeboat," but Farrow was not that adept although a skilled director.

All in all a gem for fans of the genre.