The Invisible Man Returns (1940)

The owner of a coal mining operation, falsely imprisoned for fratricide, takes a drug to make him invisible, despite its side effect: gradual madness.

Director:

Joe May

Writers:

H.G. Wells (characters), Joe May (story),

Stars:

Cedric Hardwicke, Vincent Price, Nan Grey

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Cedric Hardwicke	...	Richard Cobb
Vincent Price	...	Geoffrey Radcliffe
Nan Grey	...	Helen Manson
John Sutton	...	Doctor Frank Griffin
Cecil Kellaway	...	Inspector Sampson of Scotland Yard
Alan Napier	...	Willie Spears
Forrester Harvey	...	Ben Jenkins

Storyline

Framed for the murder of his brother, Geoffrey Radcliffe is scheduled to hang. After a visit from his friend Dr. Frank Griffin, he vanishes mysteriously from prison. Police inspector Sampson realizes that Griffin is the brother of the original Invisible Man and has given Geoffrey the formula to aid his escape. Can Geoffrey elude the police dragnet and track down the real murderer? More importantly, can Griffin discover an antidote before the invisibility formula drives Geoffrey insane?

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Plot Keywords:

murder | antidote | invisible man | madness | scotland yard | 

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 January 1940 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Volta do Homem Invisível

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

81 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Part of the original SHOCK THEATER package of 52 Universal titles released to television in 1957, followed a year later with SON OF SHOCK, which added 21 more features.

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Goofs

In The Invisible Man the invisibility drug had to be taken repeatedly over several weeks to be effective. Here (and in the later film Invisible Agent) it works instantly after only one injection but it has been nine years since Jack Griffin's death and all the while his brother Frank has been working on trying to improve the formula.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Mr. Cotton: I - I can't believe it's going to happen. Just two more hours, and they're going to kill him.

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Connections

Featured in Son of Svengoolie: The Invisible Man Returns (1940) (1981)

User Reviews

Presto Chango....ReAppear!

While certainly not as good as its original source(sans Claude Rains, sans James Whale), this sequel is very entertaining. It lacks the raw energy of the first film as well as the dark humour. The film begins with Geoffrey Radcliffe about to be executed for a crime we soon learn he did not do. How he gets out of his visit with the executioner is a little matter of drinking a potion given to him by a friend(the brother of the Claude Rains character in the original). In a matter of moments he(Vincent Price's voice) works toward finding his brother's true killer and fending off the madness that comes from drinking the invisibility solution. Price is in fine form though don't expect the hamminess you usually get(a bit disappointing for me). The rest of the cast is very good. Universal actress Nan Grey(from Dracula's Daughter) is lovely, and Cedric Hardwicke actually gives a convincing performance as a villain. Cecil Kellaway and Alan Napier also provide wonderful supporting help. The special effects really shine and are first-rate for their time.