The Invisible Man

Keeping with this month’s theme of Classic Horror films, we’re looking at The Invisible Man released in 1933 by Universal. Written by R.C. Sheriff, based on the H.G Wells novel of the same name and directed by legendary director James Whale. Having already discussed the other three of his classic horror films, Frankenstein, The Old Dark House, and the Bride of Frankenstein and never having seen this one I felt it was a fitting addition to this month’s roster.

The film opens with Dr. Jack Griffin (Claude Rains) wrapped in bandages arriving at The Lions Head Inn during a snow storm. He’s greeted with suspicion, as is common of rural townsfolk in horror films. But manages to secure lodgings from the inns owner operators Mr. Hall (Forrester Harvey) and his Mrs. Hall (Una O’Conner). After a not paying his bill, Mrs. Hall sends her husband to collect. When he tries Griffin becomes violent, attacking him for touching his scientific equipment and for the treatment he’s received since arriving, rumors and prying eyes. Mr. Hall becomes injured in the fight and his wife sends for the town constable. When he arrives Griffin goes full tilt crazy removing his wrappings revealing himself invisible. He attacks the men and sets to terrorizing the small town. Meanwhile Griffins former employer Dr. Cranley (Henry Tavers) and his former co-worker Dr. Kemp (William Harrigan) start looking into his disappearance at the behest of Griffins fiance Flora Cranley (Gloria Stuart). They learn he was working with a dangerous drug and toxin Monocaine that has the ability to draw color out of things, but less known that when injected drives the host mad. After tiring of terrorizing the small town Griffin visits his friend Dr. Kemp with plans to work together in ruling the world. The way he plans to achieve this is through murder as no one can stop an invisible murderer. He coerces Dr, Kemp forcing him to join him on a trip back to the Inn to retrieve his journals. At the inn the towns folk have gathered by the police to explain what happened. The police officer in charge believes that the whole thing was a hoax. This sets off Griffin, who murders him after retrieving his books. This sends the country into an uproar as the police try to find the invisible man.   Dr. Cranley tries to get the police in time to warn them of Griffin and the drug but its too late and he learns of the policeman’s death. Feeling that Dr. Kemp has betrayed him Griffin states his plans to murder him before vanishing. Kemp seeks the aid of the police for protection, while Griffin now the Invisible Man’s reign of terror continues.

While the film is well acted featuring Claude Rains and Gloria Stuart, two actors that I simply adore. I still can’t bring myself to like this film and I feel it to be the weakest of the Universal Classics. This stems from the films ending, so SPOILER, as Griffin lays dying in the hospital, we’re supposed to feel bad for him. It tries to be a moving scene with Flora there as he dies and becomes re-visible. My issue is that while only a handful of murders happen on-screen his final kill count is around 122 and were suppose to feel bad for him. Oh, it’s not his fault he was driven mad by the invisibility serum. I don’t buy that, he commits terrible acts that includes the murder of a close friend and he’s the victim? Nope, can’t get behind that.

The effects are passable for the time. While the strings literally show at times the invisibility reveal is well done and very impressive. So that with the inclusion of a car explosion I did enjoy the technical side of the film far better than that of the story its self.

Final thoughts, blah. While the cast does a respectable job I couldn’t really warm up to any of them and the over acting does get tiresome. While I can see how this film is a sci-fi/horror classic it’s not one for me. This could have been different I suppose if they wouldn’t have tried to make Griffins character sympathetic by having him driven insane and kept closer to the book here, where he was insane to start with. I don’t see myself recommending this to anyone but already established fans of the earlier horror films. So The Invisible Man gets a depressing 4.5/10.

The Bride of Frankenstein

Released in 1935 by Universal Pictures, The Bride of Frankenstein saw Boris Karloff return to reprise is famous role as well as Colin Clive in the role of Henry Frankenstein. Started after the success of the first film the second installment was delayed for a number of years due to issues with the script. We also see the return of James Whale to the director’s chair after coming off the success of the Invisible Man. I actually feel that The Bride of Frankenstein is the best of the Classic Universal Frankenstein films that star Karloff.

Opening with a throw away scene with Mary Shelly (Elsa Lanchester) continuing her story of Frankenstein to Lord Byron (Gavin Gordon) and Percy Shelly (Douglas Walton). The film then resumes where the previous one left off. At the sight of the fire the Monster (Boris Karloff) has survived in the flooded basement. The father of drowned girl wanting to see the monster bones for closer stays behind as Henry Frankenstein (Colin Clive) is rushed away. He becomes the monster first victim in this installment and he is quickly followed by his wife, who the monster throws in the ruined basement. This is witnessed by Minnie (Una O’Conner) who flees in terror. She flees to the Frankenstein castle where Elizabeth (Valerie Hobson) is taking care of the injured Frankenstein and tries to warn everybody. But as normal the warning is unheeded. As Frankenstein recuperates he renounces his work on creating life and is visited by his former mentor Dr. Pretorius (Ernest Thesiger), who wishes for Frankenstein to return to his work and collaborate with him. Hesitant Frankenstein eventually relents and visits Pretorius’s lab to inspect Pretorius’s work. Pretorius has managed to create a menagerie of tiny people that he has grown from scratch. Henry relents and agrees to work with Pretorius with Pretorius growing the brain for the Monster Bride. While this is happening the Monster wandering the countryside saves a woman from drowning, but frighten she calls for help and the Monster is shot by a pair of hunters before he escapes. He later comes across the home of a blind hermit (O.P. Heggie), who takes the Monster in and befriends him. The two spend some time together and the hermit starts to teach the Monster to speak. This is ended when the lost hunters find the home and recognize the Monster. In the fight the creature accidentally sets fire to the home burning it down as the hunters lead the hermit to safety. Hiding from the mob that has followed him from the hermit’s home, he spies as Dr. Pretorius is working on gathering the “resources” for his and Frankensteins new ventures.  Pretorius meets the Monster taking him in and telling him of his plans to create a mate for him. Pretorius visits Frankenstein for him to perform his role in their collaboration, but Frankenstein refuses. Pretorius calls in the Monster again, Frankenstein refuses. So Pretorius sends away the Monster, who secretly goes and kidnaps Elizabeth. Now forced into helping Frankenstein does his part leading to the creation of The Bride and the explosive conclusion.

Ernest Thesiger is a major part of why I feel this film is superior to its predecessor. As a mad, self-described devil he plays very well off both Karloff and Clive. Thesiger’s character, Dr. Pretorius is comic and light-hearted attitude. His relationship with Frankenstein as well as the monster serve as a nice example of characters being coded-gay. A practice common then as it is now. Gay characters having to be implied via sub-text, but this is a subject for another time as it’s an expansive subject, Dating back to at least 1912 with Algie the Miner and 1919’s Different from the Others which had a progressively sympathetic message on the subject for the time.

Something I don’t understand is how the Bride became such a Cult Horror icon as she has a very small role in the movie its self. Not appearing until the end of the film and has no spoken lines, she just screams. I often get confused when people try to describe their relationship as romantic, as she ultimately rejects him. Which leads to her destruction as her character is not again seen in the Universal Classic films. It’s not until Mad Monster Party in 1967 that the character appears again on-screen.

Final thoughts, I love everything about it. The special effects are impressive for the time with Pretorius lab being a stand out scene. Frankenstein has a more noticeable character arc, even showing conflicting emotions. Karloff does an even more impressive job with the role. This is due to him having actual dialog. This is the film I would recommend to the casual horror fan who wants to get into the older Universal Classic. An endearing class and a film with not only worth remembering, but continued discussion. The Bride of Frankenstein gets an outstanding 8.5/10.