"Director: JAMES WHALE"

• Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection | Blu Ray | (01/10/2012) from £32.95   |  Saving you £-14.00 (N/A%)   |  RRP £18.95

  For the first time ever, eight of the most iconic cinematic masterpieces of the horror genre are available together on Blu-ray as Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection. Digitally restored in perfect high-definition picture and perfect high-definition sound. This essential set includes a never-before-seen featurette about the restoration of Dracula and the first ever offering of Creature from the Black Lagoon in its restored Blu-ray 3D version. Includes: 44 Page Booklet 8 Exclusive Art Cards with Original Theatrical Posters DraculaThe original 1931 movie version of Bram Stoker's classic tale has for generations defined the iconic look and terrifying persona of the famed vampire. Dracula owes its continued appeal in large part due to Bela Lugosi's indelible portrayal of the immortal Count Dracula and the flawless direction of horror auteur Tod Browning. Bonus Features: Dracula: The Restoration - New featurette available for the first time! Monster Tracks: Interactive Pop-Up Facts About the Making of Dracula Dracula Archives Score by Philip Glass Performed by the Kronos Quartet Feature Commentary by Film Historian David J. Skal Feature Commentary by Steve Haberman Screenwriter of Dracula: Dead and Loving It Trailer Gallery FrankensteinBoris Karloff stars as the screen's most tragic and iconic monster in what many consider to be the greatest horror film ever made. Dr. Henry Frankenstein (Colin Clive) dares to tamper with the essential nature of life and death by creating a monster (Karloff) out of lifeless human body parts. Director James Whale's adaptation of the Mary Shelley novel and Karloff's compassionate portrayal of a creature groping for identity make Frankenstein a timeless masterpiece. Bonus Features: The Frankenstein Files: How Hollywood Made a Monster Karloff: The Gentle Monster Monster Tracks: Interactive Pop-Up Facts About the Making of Frankenstein Universal Horror Frankenstein Archives Boo!: A Short Film Feature Commentary with Film Historian Rudy Behlmer Feature Commentary with Historian Sir Christopher Frayling 100 Years of Universal: Restoring the Classics Trailer Gallery The MummyHorror icon Boris Karloff stars in the original 1932 version of The Mummy in which a team of British archaeologists accidentally revives a mummified high priest after 3,700 years. Alive again, he sets out on an obsessive - and deadly - quest to find his lost love. Over 50 years after its first release, this brooding dream-like horror classic remains a cinematic masterpiece. Bonus Features: Mummy Dearest: A Horror Tradition Unearthed He Who Made Monsters: The Life and Art of Jack Pierce Unraveling the Legacy of The Mummy The Mummy Archives Feature Commentary by Rick Baker, Scott Essman, Steve Haberman, Bob Burns and Brent Armstrong Feature Commentary by Film Historian Paul M. Jensen 100 Years of Universal: The Carl Laemmle Era The Invisible ManClaude Rains delivers an unforgettable performance in his screen debut as a mysterious doctor who discovers a serum that makes him invisible. Covered by bandages and dark glasses, Rains arrives in a small English village and attempts to hide his amazing discovery, but the drug's side effects slowly drive him to commit acts of unspeakable terror. Bonus Features: Now You See Him: The Invisible Man Revealed Production Photographs Feature Commentary with Film Historian Rudy Behlmer 100 Years of Universal: Unforgettable Characters The Bride of FrankensteinThe acclaimed sequel to the original Frankenstein has become one of the most popular horror classics in film history. The legendary Boris Karloff reprises his role as the screen's most misunderstood monster, now longing for a mate of his own. Colin Clive is back as the proud and overly ambitious Dr. Frankenstein, who creates the ill-fated bride (Elsa Lanchester). The last horror film directed by James Whale features a haunting musical score that helps make The Bride of Frankenstein one of the finest and most touching thrillers of its era. Bonus Features: She's Alive! Creating The Bride of Frankenstein The Bride of Frankenstein Archive Feature Commentary with Scott MacQueen The Wolf ManOriginally released in 1941, The Wolf Man introduced the world to a new Universal movie monster and redefined the mythology of the werewolf forever. Featuring a heartbreaking performance by Lon Chaney Jr. and groundbreaking make-up by Jack Pierce, The Wolf Man is the saga of Larry Talbot, a cursed man who transforms into a deadly werewolf when the moon is full. The dreamlike atmospheres, elaborate settings and chilling musical score combine to make The Wolf Man a masterpiece of the genre. Bonus Features: Monster by Moonlight The Wolf Man: From Ancient Curse to Modern Myth Pure in Heart: The Life and Legacy of Lon Chaney Jr. He Who Made Monsters: The Life and Art of Jack Pierce The Wolf Man Archives Feature Commentary with Film Historian Tom Weaver The Phantom of the OperaThis lavish retelling of Gaston Leroux's immortal horror tale stars Claude Rains as the masked phantom who haunts the Paris Opera House. A crazed composer who schemes to make beautiful young soprano Christine DuBois (Susanna Foster) the star of the opera company, the Phantom also wreaks revenge on those he believes stole his music. Nelson Eddy, as the heroic baritone, tries to win the affections of Christine as he tracks down the murderous, horribly disfigured Phantom. Bonus Features: The Opera Ghost: A Phantom Unmasked Production Photographs Feature Commentary with Film Historian Scott MacQueen 100 Years of Universal: The Lot Theatrical Trailer Creature from the Black LagoonCaptured and imprisoned for scientific study, a living amphibious missing link becomes enamored with the head researcher's female assistant (Julie Adams). When the hideous creature escapes and kidnaps the object of his affection, a crusade is launched to rescue the helpless woman and cast the terrifying creature back to the depths from which he came. Featuring legendary makeup artist Bud Westmore's brilliantly designed monster, Creature from the Black Lagoon is an enduring tribute to the imaginative genius of its Hollywood creators. Bonus Features: Creature from the Black Lagoon in Blu-Ray 3D Back to the Black Lagoon Production Photographs Feature Commentary with Film Historian Tom Weaver 100 Years of Universal: The Lot Trailer Gallery

• The Invisible Man | Blu Ray | (01/10/2012) from £14.99   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £14.99

  Claude Rains delivers an unforgettable performance in his screen debut as a mysterious doctor who discovers a serum that makes him invisible. Covered by bandages and dark glasses, Rains arrives in a small English village and attempts to hide his amazing discovery, but the drug's side effects slowly drive him to commit acts of unspeakable terror. Special Features: Now You See Him: The Invisible Man Revealed Production Photographs Feature Commentary with Film Historian Rudy Behlmer 100 Years of Universal: Unforgettable Characters

• Frankenstein | DVD | (17/01/2000) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £9.99

  Boris Karloff stars as the screen's most memorable monster in what many consider to be the greatest horror film ever made. Dr. Frankenstein (Colin Clive) dares to tamper with life and death by creating a human monster (Karloff) out of lifeless body parts. Its' director James Whale's adaptation of the Mary Shelley novel blended with Karloff's compassionate portrayal of a creature groping for identity that makes Frankenstein a masterpiece not only of the genre but for all time.

• Invisible Man: Complete Legacy Collection | Blu Ray | (10/06/2019) from £32.52   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  All 6 films from the legacy of the original Invisible Man. Includes The Invisible Man - 1933. The invisible Man Returns - 1940. The Invisible Woman - 1940. Invisible Agent - 1942. The Invisible Man's Revenge - 1944. Abbott and Costello Meet The Invisible Man - 1951. The original Invisible Man is one of the silver screen's most unforgettable characters and, along with the other Universal Classic Monsters, defined the Hollywood horror genre. The Invisible Man: Complete Legacy Collection includes all 6 films from the original legacy including the chilling classic starring Claude Raines and the timeless films that followed. These landmark motion pictures featured groundbreaking special effects and continue to inspire countless remakes and adaptations that strengthen the legend of the Invisible Man to this day. Bonus Features: Now You See Him: The Invisible Man Revealed Feature Commentary with Film Historian Rudy Behlmer Production Photographs Theatrical Trailers

• The Bride Of Frankenstein | DVD | (31/10/2005) from £5.25   |  Saving you £6.00 (150.38%)   |  RRP £9.99

  It appeared, at the end of the epochal 1931 horror movie Frankenstein, that the monster had perished in a burning windmill. But that was before the runaway success of the movie dictated a sequel. In Bride of Frankenstein, we see that the monster (once again played by Boris Karloff) survived the conflagration, as did his half-mad creator (Colin Clive). This remarkable sequel, universally considered superior to the original, reunites other key players from the first film: director James Whale (whose life would later be chronicled in Gods and Monsters) and, of course, the inimitable Dwight Frye, as Frankenstein's bent-over assistant. Whale brought campy humour to the project, yet Bride is also somehow haunting, due in part to Karloff's nuanced performance. The monster, on the loose in the European countryside, learns to talk and his encounter with a blind hermit is both comic and touching. (The episode was later spoofed in Mel Brooks's Young Frankenstein.) A prologue depicts the author of Frankenstein, Mary Shelley, being urged to produce a sequel by her husband Percy and Lord Byron. She's played by Elsa Lanchester, who reappears in the climactic scene as the man-made bride of the monster. Her lightning-bolt hair and reptilian movements put her into the horror-movie pantheon, despite being onscreen for only a few moments. But in many ways the film is stolen by Ernest Thesiger, as the fey Dr. Pretorious, who toasts the darker possibilities of science: "To a new world of gods and monsters!" --Robert Horton

• The Old Dark House | Blu Ray | (21/05/2018) from £14.29   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  A group of weary travelers, a spooky mansion, and a madman on the loose upstairs! Director James Whale's (Bride of Frankenstein, The Invisible Man) The Old Dark House is one of the best and most entertaining horror films of the 1930's. Dripping with atmosphere and packed to the brim with thrills, chills and gallows humor, it was considered lost for many years but is now being presented with a stunning new 4K restoration. Caught in a storm whilst journeying through a remote region of Wales, a group of travelers takes refuge in a sinister mansion inhabited by the bizarre Femm family and their mute butler, Morgan (played by the iconic Boris Karloff, Frankenstein, The Mummy). Trying to make the best of a bad situation, the group settles in for the night, but the Femm family have a few skeletons in their closet, and one of them is on the loose With an incredible cast, including Melvyn Douglas (Hud, Twilight's Last Gleaming), Gloria Stuart (Titanic) and Charles Laughton (Witness for the Prosecution, Ruggles of Red Gap), The Masters of Cinema Series is proud to present The Old Dark House in a special Dual Format edition, the first time the film has been available on Blu-ray in the UK. Features: Limited Edition O-Card (first pressing only) featuring artwork by Graham Humphreys created especially for the 2018 UK theatrical release Gorgeous 1080p presentation from the Cohen Media Group 4K restoration (with a progressive encoding on the DVD) Uncompressed LPCM audio (On the Blu-ray) Optional English subtitles An exclusive video essay by critic and filmmaker David Cairns Feature length audio commentary by critic & author Kim Newman and Stephen Jones Feature-length audio commentary by Gloria Stuart Feature length audio commentary by James Whale biographer James Curtis Daughter of Frankenstein: A Conversation with Sara Karloff Curtis Harrington Saves The Old Dark House - an archival interview with director Curtis Harrington about his efforts to save The Old Dark House at a time when it was considered a lost film Eureka! trailer for the 2018 theatrical release of The Old Dark House A collector's booklet featuring the new essay by critic Philip Kemp, as well as an abundant selection of archival imagery and ephemera.

• The Invisible Man | DVD | (14/10/2002) from £6.95   |  Saving you £3.04 (43.74%)   |  RRP £9.99

  Claude Rains delivers a remarkable performance in his screen debut as a mysterious doctor who discovers a serum that makes him invisible. Based on H.G. Wells classic novel it not only fuelled a host of sequels but features some special effects that are still imitated today.

• Universal Classic Monsters: Icons of Horror Collection | Blu Ray | (04/10/2021) from £38.70   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  From the era of silent movies through present day, Universal Pictures has been regarded as the home of the monsters. Universal Classic Monsters Icons of Horror Collection showcases 4 of the most iconic monsters in motion picture history including Dracula, Frankenstein, The Invisible Man and The Wolf Man. Starring Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney Jr. and Claude Rains in the roles that they made famous, these original films set the standard for a new horror genre with revolutionary makeup, mood-altering cinematography and groundbreaking special effects. Bonus Features 1931 Spanish Version Of Dracula Behind-the-scenes Documentaries Featurettes On Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff And Lon Chaney Jr. Feature Commentaries Theatrical Trailers And More! Note: Only 4K Disc is Region Free

• Invisible Man: Complete Legacy Collection | DVD | (10/06/2019) from £21.85   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  All 6 films from the legacy of the original Invisible Man. Includes The Invisible Man - 1933. The invisible Man Returns - 1940. The Invisible Woman - 1940. Invisible Agent - 1942. The Invisible Man's Revenge - 1944. Abbott and Costello Meet The Invisible Man - 1951. The original Invisible Man is one of the silver screen's most unforgettable characters and, along with the other Universal Classic Monsters, defined the Hollywood horror genre. The Invisible Man: Complete Legacy Collection includes all 6 films from the original legacy including the chilling classic starring Claude Raines and the timeless films that followed. These landmark motion pictures featured groundbreaking special effects and continue to inspire countless remakes and adaptations that strengthen the legend of the Invisible Man to this day. Bonus Features: Now You See Him: The Invisible Man Revealed Feature Commentary with Film Historian Rudy Behlmer Production Photographs Theatrical Trailers

• Frankenstein: Complete Legacy Collection (DVD) | DVD | (08/05/2017) from £24.99   |  Saving you £-8.24 (N/A%)   |  RRP £16.75

  7 FILMS FROM THE LEGACY OF THE ORIGINAL FRANKENSTEIN Includes: FRANKENSTEIN (1931)- THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1935)- SON OF FRANKENSTEIN (1943)- THE GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN (1942)- FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLF MAN (1943)- HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1944)- HOUSE OF DRACULA (1945) The original Frankenstein is one of the silver screen's most unforgettable characters and, along with the other Universal Classic Monsters, defned the Hollywood horror genre. Frankenstein: Complete Legacy Collection includes 7 flms from the original legacy including the tragic classic starring Boris Karloff and the timeless flms that followed. These landmark motion pictures defned the iconic look of Henry Frankenstein's Monster and his Bride, and continue to inspire countless remakes and adaptations that strengthen the legend of Frankenstein to this day.

• Frankenstein: Complete Legacy Collection (BD) | Blu Ray | (08/05/2017) from £16.31   |  Saving you £3.68 (22.56%)   |  RRP £19.99

  ALL 8 FILMS FROM THE LEGACY OF THE ORIGINAL FRANKENSTEIN Includes: FRANKENSTEIN (1931)- THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1935)- SON OF FRANKENSTEIN (1943)- THE GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN (1942)- FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLF MAN (1943)- HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1944)- HOUSE OF DRACULA (1945)- ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN (1948) The original Frankenstein is one of the silver screen's most unforgettable characters and, along with the other Universal Classic Monsters, defined the Hollywood horror genre. Frankenstein: Complete Legacy Collection includes all 8 films from the original legacy including the tragic classic starring Boris Karloff and the timeless films that followed. These landmark motion pictures defined the iconic look of Henry Frankenstein's Monster and his Bride, and continue to inspire countless remakes and adaptations that strengthen the legend of Frankenstein to this day.

• Cult Horror Collection 2011 | DVD | (03/10/2011) from £17.05   |  Saving you £5.93 (42.18%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Titles Comprise:Dracula: Although there have been numerous screen versions of Bram Stoker's classic tale, Dracula, none is more enduring than this 1931 movie. Towering ominously among the shadows of the Carpathian Mountains, Castle Dracula strikes fear in the hearts of the Transylvanian villagers below. With the superb Bela Lugosi starring as the screen's most popular vampire Count Dracula, the film's eerie and chilling mood is enhanced by specialist horror director Tod Browning. Dracula remains a masterpiece not only of the genre, but for all time.Frankenstein: Boris Karloff stars as the screen's most memorable monster in what many consider to be the greatest horror film ever made. Dr. Frankenstein (Colin Clive) dares to tamper with life and death by creating a human monster (Karloff) out of lifeless body parts. It is director James Whale's adaptation of the Mary Shelley novel blended with Karloff's compassionate portrayal of a creature groping for identity that makes Frankenstein a masterpiece not only of the genre, but for all time.The Wolf Man: The original horror classic that introduced one of the screen's most infamous monsters! Lon Chaney Jr. portrays Larry Talbot, who returns to his father's (Claude Rains) castle in Wales and meets a beautiful woman (Evelyn Ankers). One fateful night, Talbot escorts her to a local carnival where Jenny's fate is revealed by a mysterious gypsy fortune teller. Today, over 65 years after it was first released, the dreamlike atmospheres and elaborate settings combined with a chilling musical score make The Wolf Man a masterpiece not only of the genre, but for all time!The Bride of Frankenstein: One of the most popular horror classics of all time, and an acclaimed sequel to the original Frankenstein. The legendary Boris Karloff reprises his role as the screen's most misunderstood monster who now longs for a mate of his own. Colin Clive is back as the overly ambitious Dr. Frankenstein, who creates the ill-fated bride (Elsa Lanchester). Directed by the original's James Whale (his last horror film) and featuring a haunting musical score, The Bride of Frankenstein ranks as one of the finest films not only of the genre, but for all time.

• Classic Frankenstein Triple | DVD | (04/06/2007) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £14.99

• Frankenstein | Blu Ray | (01/10/2012) from £12.13   |  Saving you £2.86 (19.10%)   |  RRP £14.99

  Boris Karloff stars as the screen's most tragic and iconic monster in what many consider to be the greatest horror film ever made. Dr. Henry Frankenstein (Colin Clive) dares to tamper with the essential nature of life and death by creating a monster (Karloff) out of lifeless human body parts. Director James Whale's adaptation of the Mary Shelley novel and Karloff's compassionate portrayal of a creature groping for identity make Frankenstein a timeless masterpiece. Special Features: The Frankenstein Files: How Hollywood Made a Monster Karloff: The Gentle Monster Monster Tracks: Interactive Pop-Up Facts About The Making of Frankenstein Universal Horror Frankenstein Archives Boo!: A Short Film Feature Commentary with Film Historian Rudy Behlmer Feature Commentary with Historian Sir Christopher Frayling 100 Years Of Universal: Restoring the Classics Trailer Gallery

• The Bride of Frankenstein | Blu Ray | (01/10/2012) from £12.49   |  Saving you £2.50 (20.02%)   |  RRP £14.99

  The acclaimed sequel to the original Frankenstein has become one of the most popular horror classics in film history. The legendary Boris Karloff reprises his role as the screen's most misunderstood monster, now longing for a mate of his own. Colin Clive is back as the proud and overly ambitious Dr. Frankenstein, who creates the ill-fated bride (Elsa Lanchester). The last horror film directed by James Whale features a haunting musical score that helps make The Bride of Frankenstein one of the finest and most touching thrillers of its era. Special Features: She's Alive! Creating The Bride of Frankenstein The Bride Of Frankenstein Archive Feature Commentary with Scott MacQueen

• Frankenstein / The Bride Of Frankenstein | DVD | (11/10/2004) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £9.99

  Frankenstein: Boris Karloff stars as the screen's most memorable monster in what many consider to be the greatest horror film ever made. Director James Whale's adaptation of the Mary Shelley novel blended with Karloff's compassionate portrayal of a creature groping for identity make it a classic to be watched time and time again! Bride Of Frankenstein: One of the most popular horror classics of all time and an acclaimed sequel to the original Frankenstein. Boris Karl

• Classic Horror Volume 2 (Frankenstein, The Wasp Women, The Ghoul, Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde) | DVD | (31/03/2014) from £14.83   |  Saving you £-1.84 (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Frankenstein (1931): Henry Frankenstein is a brilliant scientist who has been conducting experiments on the re-animation of lifeless bodies. He has conducted experiments on small animals and is now ready to create life in a man he has assembled from body parts he has been collecting from various sites such as graveyards or the gallows. His fianc�e Elizabeth and friend Victor Moritz are worried about his health as he spends far too many hours in his laboratory on his experiments. He's ...

• Universal Classic Monsters Collection: Limited Edition Coffin | Blu Ray | (01/10/2012) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £59.99

  Limited Edition coffin containing eight of the most iconic cinematic masterpieces of the horror genre. Digitally restored in perfect high-definition picture and sound. Coffin includes a never-before-seen featurette about the restoration of Dracula and the first ever offering of Creature from the Black Lagoon in its restored Blu-ray 3D version.DraculaThe original 1931 movie version of Bram Stoker's classic tale has for generations defined the iconic look and terrifying persona of the famed vampire. Dracula owes its continued appeal in large part due to Bela Lugosi's indelible portrayal of the immortal Count Dracula and the flawless direction of horror auteur Tod Browning.FrankensteinBoris Karloff stars as the screen's most tragic and iconic monster in what many consider to be the greatest horror film ever made. Dr. Henry Frankenstein (Colin Clive) dares to tamper with the essential nature of life and death by creating a monster (Karloff) out of lifeless human body parts.The MummyHorror icon Boris Karloff stars in the original 1932 version of The Mummy in which a team of British archaeologists accidentally revives a mummified high priest after 3,700 years. Alive again, he sets out on an obsessive-and deadly-quest to find his lost love.The Invisible ManClaude Rains delivers an unforgettable performance in his screen debut as a mysterious doctor who discovers a serum that makes him invisible. Covered by bandages and dark glasses, Rains arrives in a small English village and attempts to hide his amazing discovery, but the drug's side effects slowly drive him to commit acts of unspeakable terror.The Bride Of FrankensteinThe acclaimed sequel to the original Frankenstein has become one of the most popular horror classics in film history. The legendary Boris Karloff reprises his role as the screen's most misunderstood monster, now longing for a mate of his own. Colin Clive is back as the proud and overly ambitious Dr. Frankenstein, who creates the ill-fated bride (Elsa Lanchester).The Wolf ManOriginally released in 1941, The Wolf Man introduced the world to a new Universal movie monster and redefined the mythology of the werewolf forever. Featuring a heartbreaking performance by Lon Chaney Jr. and groundbreaking make-up by Jack Pierce, The Wolf Man is the saga of Larry Talbot, a cursed man who transforms into a deadly werewolf when the moon is full.Phantom Of The OperaThis lavish retelling of Gaston Leroux's immortal horror tale stars Claude Rains as the masked phantom who haunts the Paris Opera House. A crazed composer who schemes to make beautiful young soprano Christine DuBois (Susanna Foster) the star of the opera company, the Phantom also wreaks revenge on those he believes stole his music. Nelson Eddy, as the heroic baritone, tries to win the affections of Christine as he tracks down the murderous, horribly disfigured Phantom.The Creature From The Black LagoonCaptured and imprisoned for scientific study, a living amphibious missing link becomes enamored with the head researcher's female assistant (Julie Adams). When the hideous creature escapes and kidnaps the object of his affection, a crusade is launched to rescue the helpless woman and cast the terrifying creature back to the depths from which he came.

• Frankenstein / The Bride Of Frankenstein | DVD | (31/05/2010) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Frankenstein: Boris Karloff stars as the screen's most memorable monster in what many consider to be the greatest horror film ever made. Director James Whale's adaptation of the Mary Shelley novel blended with Karloff's compassionate portrayal of a creature groping for identity make it a classic to be watched time and time again! Bride Of Frankenstein: One of the most popular horror classics of all time and an acclaimed sequel to the original Frankenstein. Boris Karloff reprises his role as the screen's most misunderstood monster who now longs for a mate of his own.

• The Invisible Man | DVD | (28/03/2016) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £14.99

  Claude Rains practically owns his film debut in The Invisible Man, despite the fact that his face (let alone his body) is seen only for seconds in the final moments. As the brilliant scientist who discovers the secret of invisibility, Rains steps into the film wrapped up like a mummy behind a layer of bandages and blanketed in heavy clothes. When he removes his garments, there's nothing underneath, a simple but effective bit of 1930s movie magic that, apart from a few glitches, works as well today as it did in 1933. Like Frankenstein, another cautionary tale of science gone horribly wrong, the consequences of the doctor's experiments are dire: the chemicals drive him insane. Director James Whale infuses the film with plenty of humour, much of it arising from the quaint quirks of the local villagers, but it turns to black comedy as the doctor transforms from an impish prankster upsetting bicycles and taunting tavern patrons to a megalomaniac bent on world domination. It's slow going even at 71 minutes, but full of delightful touches and boasts a terrific performance by the all but unseen Rains, whose rich, cultured voice envelopes the picture in a kind of omnipresent fog. Vincent Price took up the role in the sequel, The Invisible Man Returns. --Sean Axmaker