IMDb RATING
6.5/10
5.6K
YOUR RATING
The owner of a coal mining operation, falsely imprisoned for fratricide, takes a drug to make him invisible, despite its side effect: gradual madness.The owner of a coal mining operation, falsely imprisoned for fratricide, takes a drug to make him invisible, despite its side effect: gradual madness.The owner of a coal mining operation, falsely imprisoned for fratricide, takes a drug to make him invisible, despite its side effect: gradual madness.
- Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 2 nominations total
Cedric Hardwicke
- Richard Cobb
- (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke)
Ernie Adams
- Minor Role
- (uncredited)
Jimmy Aubrey
- Plainclothesman
- (uncredited)
Walter Bacon
- Fight Spectator
- (uncredited)
Billy Bevan
- Jim
- (uncredited)
Clara Blore
- Woman
- (uncredited)
Stanley Blystone
- Minor Role
- (uncredited)
Matthew Boulton
- Policeman
- (uncredited)
Chet Brandenburg
- Miner at Colliery
- (uncredited)
Louise Brien
- Dr. Griffin's Secretary
- (uncredited)
Charles Brokaw
- Minor Role
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis film's impressive visual effects, specifically the scene in which Vincent Price transitions from invisible to visible earned it an Academy Award nomination.
- GoofsIn The Invisible Man (1933) the invisibility drug had to be taken repeatedly over several weeks to be effective. Here (and in the later film Invisible Agent (1942)) 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.
- Quotes
Policeman: Orders to shoot on sight... I thought he said the bloke was invisible?
- Alternate versionsWhen originally released theatrically in the UK, the BBFC made cuts to secure a 'A' rating.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Shock!: The Invisible Man Returns (1958)
Featured review
There are a lot of reasons why this 1940 sequel is better than the original INVISIBLE MAN. In the first movie, the Invisible Man was a dilettante, a haughty scientist who shot himself up with the invisibility drug "for kicks." Claude Rains played the character with such a supercilious air that it was hard to care when he lost it all.
But in this well-written sequel, the Invisible Man is a true hero. Geoffrey Radcliffe is a wealthy gentleman with class, courage, and a sense of humor. Someone has framed him for murder, and with the help of his devoted girl friend and trustworthy company doctor, he sets out to make things right.
Vincent Price is perfect as Geoffrey. He gives this invisible man plenty of guts, along with goodness, humility, and a wonderfully self-deprecating sense of humor. When madness sets in, of course, Price can babble with the best of them. But this time around, you care. This is a man who ran his business empire for the benefit of the workers, a man who can tease his weeping girl friend about how "lucky" she is not to see his face.
Ladylike and innocent-looking Nan Grey is a horror legend for her bit role as the waif-like streetwalker in Dracula's Daughter. Here she gets to play the same gentle, sensitive type, only warmer and more womanly. Watching Helen Manson sit up all night watching over her suffering love, falling asleep in her chair, and fainting at the sight of his disfiguring bandages, you will fall in love with her yourself. It's easy to see why Geoffrey loves her enough to risk madness and death to be by her side, and why the villain was willing to stoop to murder for her sake.
Sir Cedrick Hardwicke is mostly remembered today for playing kindly, kingly old gentlemen in epics like THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. But here he is a ruthless, cold villain, a murderer who fights for greed and gain. The attraction to lovely Helen is only hinted at, just a glance here and a tender word there. But it gives just the right touch of depth and tragedy to an amazingly nuanced performance.
Just as many critics feel Dracula's Daughter was a deeper film than Dracula, so INVISIBLE MAN RETURNS may well be an improvement over the original classic.
Long live Universal Horror!
But in this well-written sequel, the Invisible Man is a true hero. Geoffrey Radcliffe is a wealthy gentleman with class, courage, and a sense of humor. Someone has framed him for murder, and with the help of his devoted girl friend and trustworthy company doctor, he sets out to make things right.
Vincent Price is perfect as Geoffrey. He gives this invisible man plenty of guts, along with goodness, humility, and a wonderfully self-deprecating sense of humor. When madness sets in, of course, Price can babble with the best of them. But this time around, you care. This is a man who ran his business empire for the benefit of the workers, a man who can tease his weeping girl friend about how "lucky" she is not to see his face.
Ladylike and innocent-looking Nan Grey is a horror legend for her bit role as the waif-like streetwalker in Dracula's Daughter. Here she gets to play the same gentle, sensitive type, only warmer and more womanly. Watching Helen Manson sit up all night watching over her suffering love, falling asleep in her chair, and fainting at the sight of his disfiguring bandages, you will fall in love with her yourself. It's easy to see why Geoffrey loves her enough to risk madness and death to be by her side, and why the villain was willing to stoop to murder for her sake.
Sir Cedrick Hardwicke is mostly remembered today for playing kindly, kingly old gentlemen in epics like THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. But here he is a ruthless, cold villain, a murderer who fights for greed and gain. The attraction to lovely Helen is only hinted at, just a glance here and a tender word there. But it gives just the right touch of depth and tragedy to an amazingly nuanced performance.
Just as many critics feel Dracula's Daughter was a deeper film than Dracula, so INVISIBLE MAN RETURNS may well be an improvement over the original classic.
Long live Universal Horror!
- Dan1863Sickles
- Aug 25, 2006
- Permalink
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Povratak nevidljivog čoveka
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $281,743 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 21 minutes
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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By what name was The Invisible Man Returns (1940) officially released in India in English?
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