The Amazing Transparent Man (1960)

A crazed scientist invents an invisibility formula. He plans to use the formula to create an army of invisible zombies.

Director:

Edgar G. Ulmer

Writer:

Jack Lewis (original screenplay)

Stars:

Marguerite Chapman, Douglas Kennedy, James Griffith

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Marguerite Chapman	...	Laura Matson
Douglas Kennedy	...	Joey Faust
James Griffith	...	Maj. Paul Krenner
Ivan Triesault	...	Dr. Peter Ulof
Boyd 'Red' Morgan	...	Julian (as Red Morgan)
Cormel Daniel	...	Maria Ulof
Ed Erwin	...	Drake (as Edward Erwin)
Jonathan Ledford	...	Smith
Norman Smith	...	Security Guard
Patrick Cranshaw	...	Security Guard
Kevin Kelly	...	Woman
Denis Adams	...	State Policeman (as Dennis Adams)
Stacy Morgan	...	State Policeman

Storyline

Paul Krenner, an ex-major with delusions of grandeur, has forced scientist Peter Ulof to develop a radiation-based technique to turn men invisible, with which process he plans to create an invisible army to sell to the highest bidder. He busts safecracker Joey Faust out of prison and forces him to undergo the invisibility treatment so he can steal more radium to further the experimentation. Plans go awry when Faust discovers there is a side-effect to the invisibility treatments he didn't count on.

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Plot Keywords:

psychotronic film | mushroom cloud | radio broadcast | low budget sci fi movie | invisibility | 

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Taglines:

What you can't see will kill you!

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Genres:

Horror | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

Final film of Marguerite Chapman.

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Goofs

When Drake uses binoculars to view what is left of ground zero for the lab explosion, the perspective of what he is seeing through the binoculars changes four times (one of the views is from ground up at a man in a fallout suit), all of which are technically impossible from his vantage point.

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Quotes

Dr. Peter Ulof: I did not agree to kill a man by deliberate radiation poisoning.

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Crazy Credits

Opening credits are shown on a gray prison wall.

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Alternate Versions

There have been three prints of this film:

• The original negative print by Miller Consolidated Pictures (MCP). The film opens with the MCP company logo, and retains the pre-credits prologue. The film does not have any end titles; it ends with Dr. Peter Ulof (Ivan Triesault) facing the camera, asking "What would you do?" And the film simply fades to black. This version is available on DVD by MGM Home Entertainment (with the MGM "Lion" logo added at the beginning and after the end).
• The theatrical release print by American International Pictures (AIP). The AIP logo (with ominous fanfare) replaces the MCP logo at the beginning, and is also added at the end (right after Dr. Ulof's "What would you do?" speech after fadeout). This is the version used on the movie-mocking TV series, "Mystery Science Theater 3000."
• A public domain print, possibly used for syndicated/local TV. The MCP logo and the film's prologue are omitted, and begins at the film's title. A "The End" title card (plain font placed within a four-square gray/screentone background) was tacked on (complete with a relieved, low-tone piano cue), fading in after Dr. Ulof's "What would you do?" speech, and fading out.

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Connections

References Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Invisible Man (1951)

User Reviews

Interesting plot-heavy take on the invisible man theme

Some aspects of Ulmer's Amazing Transparent Man are, in retrospect, pretty funny. James Griffith's poorly mimed fight with an invisible man, the occasional continuity disasters, and the infrequent technobabble are examples. This is not, however, quite funny enough or cheesy enough to have been good MST3K fodder. Underlying the mediocre special effects, the occasionally overblown dialog, and the uneven performances, the story line presents an interesting take on the invisible man theme.

The heavy, played without much verve by James Griffith, is an ex-Nazi spy who looks and speaks like Mr. Rogers. His plan, involving all manners of extortion, involves forcing refugee German scientist (Ivan Triesault) to use radiation to turn an escaped convict safe-cracker (Douglas Kennedy) invisible. His goal is ostensibly to steal money and radioactive materials to further his experiments. In the role of his co-conspirator and femme fatale we find Marguerite Chapman.

Chapman and Kennedy have some on-screen chemistry which is used to good advantage in the film, but Chapman's performance is below par. Kennedy does well in a role which used his experience well. Griffith's performance, given his credentials, is surprisingly poor. The ancient and experienced Triesault, the class of the acting talent in this film, steals the show to an extent, but is also the only really sympathetic character in the lot.

The movie has a somewhat plodding pace at first, but the character development is good enough to draw the audience in. The Amazing Transparent Man is no action film, but once the action begins, it doesn't really let up until the nicely climactic end. Despite all of the bad press this film has received here on IMDb, this film really isn't a bomb, and I recommend it to sci-fi and low budget b movie buffs.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

July 1960 (USA)

Also Known As:

Search for a Shadow

Filming Locations:

Berkshire Mountains, Massachusetts, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$100,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Miller Consolidated Pictures (MCP), Exclusive Roadshow Attraction

Technical Specs

Runtime:

58 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1