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 [show more]
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Please note this is a region 2 DVD and will require a region 2 or region free DVD player in order to play A MUST-HAVE MOVIE - BASED ON THE NOVEL BY HG WELLS Claude Rains delivers a remarkable 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 at a small English village and attempts to hide his amazing discovery But the same drug which renders him invisible slowly drives him to commit acts of unspeakable terror Based on HG Wells classic novel and directed by the master of macabre James Whale The Invisible Man not only fueled a host of sequels but features some special effects that are still imitated today
Claude Rains makes his (largely unseen) big screen debut in this adaptation of H.G. Wells' classic novel, directed by horrormeister James Whale. When a bandaged stranger arrives in the English village of Ipping, taking rooms at the inn, he soon arouses the interest of the inquisitive locals. Angered that he is not allowed to conduct his 'experiments' in peace, the stranger finally reveals his secret to the villagers, unwrapping his facial bindings to reveal... nothing. He is a scientist who has rendered himself invisible, and is now becoming a megalomaniac through the drugs he works with. Not satisfied with playing pranks on the locals, the invisible man's actions now begin to take a murderous turn.
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