The Invisible Ray

19361936
ApprovedApproved
1h 20m

The Invisible Ray (1936)

Horror Sci-Fi Thriller

A scientist becomes murderous after discovering, and being exposed to the radiation of, a powerful new element called Radium X.A scientist becomes murderous after discovering, and being exposed to the radiation of, a powerful new element called Radium X.A scientist becomes murderous after discovering, and being exposed to the radiation of, a powerful new element called Radium X.

Director
- Lambert Hillyer
Writers
- John Colton(screenplay)
- Howard Higgin(original story)
- Douglas Hodges(original story)
Stars

See production, box office & company info

See production, box office & company info

See more at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 win

Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi in The Invisible Ray (1936)

Bela Lugosi, INVISIBLE RAY, THE, Universal, 1936, **I.V.

"Invisible Ray" Boris Karloff 1936 Universal **I.V.

The Invisible Ray (1936)

The Invisible Ray (1936)

The Invisible Ray (1936)

The Invisible Ray (1936)

The Invisible Ray (1936)

The Invisible Ray (1936)

Boris Karloff in The Invisible Ray (1936)

Ray Turner in The Invisible Ray (1936)

Boris Karloff in The Invisible Ray (1936)

Dr. Janos Rukhas Dr. Janos Rukh

Dr. Felix Benetas Dr. Felix Benet

Diana Rukhas Diana Rukh

Ronald Drakeas Ronald Drake

Violet Kemble Cooper

Mother Rukhas Mother Rukh

Walter Kingsford

Sir Francis Stevensas Sir Francis Stevens

Lady Arabella Stevensas Lady Arabella Stevens

Professor Meiklejohn (Mendelssohn in end credits)as Professor Meiklejohn (Mendelssohn in end credits)

Monsieur Noyeras Monsieur Noyer

Georges Renavent

Chief of the Sureteas Chief of the Surete
(as Georges Renevant)

Bystanderas Bystander
(uncredited)

French Newsboyas French Newsboy
(uncredited)

Mme. LeGrandas Mme. LeGrand
(uncredited)

Countermanas Counterman
(uncredited)

Ernest A. Bouveron

French Newsboyas French Newsboy
(uncredited)

Blind Girl's Motheras Blind Girl's Mother
(uncredited)

Infant's Motheras Infant's Mother
(uncredited)

Director
- Lambert Hillyer
Writers
- John Colton(screenplay)
- Howard Higgin(original story)
- Douglas Hodges(original story)
All cast & crew
See more cast details at IMDbPro

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Tower of London

6.7

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Visionary scientist Janos Rukh convinces a group of scientists and supporters to mount an expedition to the African continent to locate and study an ancient meteorite of great significance. He exposes himself to the highly toxic radiation of the meteorite, and while an antidote devised by Dr. Benet saves him from death by radiation poisoning, his naked touch causes instant death to others. Back in London, the benefits of the meteorite's controlled radiation offer Dr. Benet an opportunity to restore eyesight to the blind. The antidote's toxicity excites Prof. Rukh into paranoid rages as he seeks revenge against the members of his expedition, who he accuses of stealing his discovery for their own glory. —Sister Grimm <srgrimm@teleport.com>

psychotronic film eyesight restored scientist expedition antidote 80 more

Taglines
- Beware the Luminous Man!
Genres
Certificate
- Approved
Parents guide

Trivia
The church in which Frank Lawton and Frances Drake get married, though called the "Church of the Six Saints" in the film, is actually the set of Notre-Dame Cathedral recycled from the 1923 Universal production "The Hunchback of Notre-Dame," starring Lon Chaney, Sr.

Goofs
The film shows a clipping from a news magazine announcing that the principal characters have gone on an expedition to Nigeria to find the meteor containing Radium X. Yet in the earlier sequence showing the meteor landing on earth, it hit on the southwest coast of Africa over 1,000 miles away from Nigeria.

Quotes
Ronald Drake: [discussing Benet's plan to invite unwitting scientists to a lecture intended as a trap for Rukh] Do you think it's fair to expose them to the danger?
Dr. Felix Benet: There are only two people he wants to destroy. Two, or perhaps... three.

Crazy credits
At the end: "A Universal Cast is Worth Repeating." This credit appeared on many Universal films of that era, not just "The Invisible Ray". It did not, however, appear on the cast list for the 1936 "Show Boat", which Universal also made.

Connections
Edited into Mondo Lugosi - A Vampire's Scrapbook (1987)

Soundtracks
Bridal Chorus (Here Comes the Bride)
(1850) (uncredited)
from "Lohengrin"
Written by Richard Wagner
Played on an organ for the wedding

Top review

8/10

Delightful movie, great acting performance, laughable science

The Invisible Ray is an excellent display of both the acting talents of Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi. Karloff pulls off a flawless performance as a sullen and conflicted scientist who appears to put his scientific achievements ahead of his relationships with others, even his wife. His already loner personality becomes unbearable as he becomes paranoid.

Lugosi plays the consummate professional, who is passionate about his work but still finds time to maintain on good terms with everyone, but still seems to have no real close friends. This was one of his few roles as a good guy and he plays it very well. It is hard, however to hear his accent and believe he is French.

The biggest problem with the movie was that it was all based on "junk science" but, in a way, even the junk science makes it work well. Since the ideas and theories are completely idiotic, they are as "relevant" today as they were when the movie was made. And they are also as forward reaching- and always will be.

This is a perfectly delightful movie to watch again and again. I saw it maybe 5 times this weekend and I could easily sit through it five more times. The acting is marvelous and the science is amusing. I highly recommend it.

helpful•11

3

stevebob99
Nov 2, 2005

Release date
- January 20, 1936 (United States)
Country of origin
- United States
Languages
- English
- French
Also known as
- Tödliche Strahlen
Filming locations
- Backlot, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA
Production company
- Universal Pictures
See more company credits at IMDbPro

Runtime
1 hour 20 minutes
Color
- Black and White
Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1

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The Invisible Ray (1936)

Top Gap

By what name was The Invisible Ray (1936) officially released in Canada in English?

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