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 | invisibility | army | 

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Taglines:

WARNING! Joey Faust, escaped convict, THE AMAZING TRANSPARENT MAN, has vowed to "appear" invisibly IN PERSON at every performance of this picture!

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Genres:

Horror | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was shot back-to-back with Beyond the Time Barrier (1960). The combined shooting schedule was only two weeks. They became Edgar G. Ulmer's last American films.

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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

Laura Matson: I know what I've been, Joey, but I can change all that. What are you doing?
Joey Faust: Giving you your split. You're on your own, Baby!
Laura Matson: But you... you said we would be together!
Joey Faust: Honey, right now I need a car more than I need you. You can start walking anytime.
Laura Matson: But you can't just go off and leave me... Joey?
Joey Faust: Goodbye, Laura!

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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

Featured in Out of this World Super Shock Show (2007)

User Reviews

Now You See Me, Now You Don't

Another early black and white sci-fi film with some promise........at least in the beginning. Mad dictator "wanna be" springs bank robber from prison to use him in his plan for taking over the world with an invisible army. Sound outrageous? You bet! The sets are cheesy, the story is pretty stupid, the actors either overact or can't act at all, the ending is over the top.......these are all part of the elements that make low budget films fun to watch. Besides, it was directed by Edgar Ulmer, who did some fascinating work. But for some reason, this one is disagreeable.

There are holes in the plot as big as Rhode Island and there is something very sleazy about all the actors, even though a couple of them are mainstays of "B" films, and in the case of Ivan Treisault, "A" list big productions ("Notorious", for example.)And there is that constant bickering........it seems that 75% of the dialogue is shouted. The special effects......well, I've seen worse, much worse, even though you can see the wires. We've seen wires in films before. So what is it that makes this little programmer unpleasant? It just doesn't seem to gel but I don't know why. Maybe it was that Wurlitzer organ in the middle of the living room! So catch it on MST3K with Mike and the 'bots.....without them, it is pretty damn dismal.

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