The Invisible Woman (1940)

Director:

A. Edward Sutherland

Writers:

Curt Siodmak (story) &
Joe May (story) ...

Release Date:

27 December 1940 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Horror | Romance | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

IT'S A Ghost-to-Ghost HOOK-UP!

Plot:

An attractive model with an ulterior motive volunteers as guinea pig for an invisibility machine.

Plot Keywords:

Invisibility | Model | Revenge | Professor | Invisible Woman

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Virginia Bruce	...	Kitty Carroll
John Barrymore	...	Professor Gibbs
John Howard	...	Richard Russell
Charles Ruggles	...	George (as Charlie Ruggles)
Oskar Homolka	...	Blackie
Edward Brophy	...	Bill
Donald MacBride	...	Foghorn
Margaret Hamilton	...	Mrs. Jackson
Shemp Howard	...	Frankie
Anne Nagel	...	Jean
Kathryn Adams	...	Peggy
Maria Montez	...	Marie
Charles Lane	...	Growley
Mary Gordon	...	Mrs. Bates
Thurston Hall	...	Hudson

Runtime:

72 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #6945) | Finland:S

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Margaret Sullavan, who owed Universal one picture on an old contract, was originally assigned the starring role. With more attractive roles being floated her way, she balked at appearing in the film, feeling it was beneath her. When she failed to appear for the rehearsals, the studio slapped her with a restraining order preventing her from working anywhere. Eventually she agreed to fulfill her contract by appearing in Back Street (1941) and Virginia Bruce stepped into the role.

Goofs:

Continuity: At the lodge, the invisible Kitty puts on stockings so Dick can "see" her but moments later when she faints she's completely undressed again.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Attorney: Where is he? Where is he? Get up! Get up!
George: I am up. I was up. And I've been up all night. I would have stayed up if you hadn't knocked me down.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Now You See Him: The Invisible Man Revealed! (2000) (V)

Cooky Sci-Fi Romp which anticipates later B-Movie Genre

This is the Great Profile's(John Barrymore's) next to penultimate film. It's an enjoyable romp through some sci-fi shenanigans. A wonderful cast co-stars & supports ie: Carol Bruce, Charlie Ruggles, Margaret Hamilton, Charles Lane, Oscar Homolka, Shemp Howard...S-H-E-M-P H-O-W-A-R-D! and even a young unknown Maria Montez before all of the 'Ali Baba' type technicolor spectaculars. You really have to look at the row of models at Carol's job to spot Maria. I really enjoyed this film. It's like the serious original with Claude Rains but albeit with comic twists thrown in. The whole family can go to the theater and have some laughs. The techniques for making Carol Bruce invisible are really well done here but it should have been expected as Universal made the classic original in 1933. Someone mentioned that this could be remade with Charlize Theron. I agree. And it could also be remade with Barrymore's own granddaughter Drew. This movie has a pretty good A list cast. Barrymore was still a name to reckon with. The flick IMHO sort of anticipates the B-movie cheese factor sci fi movies soon to come in the 50s & 60s and even kiddie Saturday morning 70s fair like the Sid & Marty Krofft's 'Dr Shrinker'.