The Invisible Man (1933)

Director:

James Whale

Writers:

H.G. Wells (novel) and
R.C. Sherriff (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

13 November 1933 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

Catch me if you can!

Plot:

A scientist finds a way of becoming invisible, but in doing so, he becomes murderously insane.

Plot Keywords:

Scientist | Test Tube | Beaker | Invisibility | Chemical

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Claude Rains	...	The Invisible Man
Gloria Stuart	...	Flora Cranley
William Harrigan	...	Dr. Arthur Kemp
Henry Travers	...	Dr. Cranley
Una O'Connor	...	Jenny Hall
Forrester Harvey	...	Herbert Hall
Holmes Herbert	...	Chief of Police
E.E. Clive	...	Const. Jaffers
Dudley Digges	...	Chief detective
Harry Stubbs	...	Insp. Bird
Donald Stuart	...	Insp. Lane
Merle Tottenham	...	Millie
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Robert Adair	...	Detective Thompson (uncredited)
Ted Billings	...	Villager Playing Darts (uncredited)
Walter Brennan	...	Bicycle Owner (uncredited)
Robert Brower	...	Farmer (uncredited)
John Carradine	...	Villager Suggesting Ink (uncredited)
D'Arcy Corrigan	...	Villager (uncredited)
Dwight Frye	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Mary Gordon	...	Screaming Woman (uncredited)
Tiny Jones	...	Townswoman at Pub (uncredited)
Violet Kemble Cooper	...	Woman (uncredited)
Crauford Kent	...	Doctor (uncredited)
John Merivale	...	Newsboy (uncredited)
Monte Montague	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Bob Reeves	...	Detective Hogan (uncredited)
Jack Richardson	...	Official (uncredited)
Tom Ricketts	...	Old Farmer with Barn (uncredited)
Kathryn Sheldon	...	Orphanage Worker (uncredited)
Emma Tansey	...	Old Woman Listening to the Radio (uncredited)
Jameson Thomas	...	Hospital Physician (uncredited)
Bert Young	...	Railroad Switchman (uncredited)

Directed by
James Whale

Writing credits
H.G. Wells		(novel)
R.C. Sherriff		screenplay
Preston Sturges		uncredited
Philip Wylie		uncredited

Produced by
Carl Laemmle Jr.	....	producer

Original Music by
Heinz Roemheld		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Arthur Edeson

Film Editing by
Ted J. Kent		(as Ted Kent)

Art Direction by
Charles D. Hall

Makeup Department
Jack P. Pierce	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Joseph A. McDonough	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Wally Kirkpatrick	....	property master (uncredited)

Sound Department
William Hedgcock	....	sound recordist (uncredited)
John Kemp	....	assistant sound recording engineer (uncredited)
Gilbert Kurland	....	sound supervisor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
John P. Fulton	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
John J. Mescall	....	miniature photographer (uncredited)
Frank D. Williams	....	visual effects supervisor (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Peter Abriss	....	chief grip (uncredited)
Jack Eagan	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Arthur Edeson	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Roman Freulich	....	still photographer (uncredited)
King D. Gray	....	camera operator (uncredited)
John J. Mescall	....	director of photography: additional photography (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Maurice Pivar	....	supervising editor (uncredited)

Music Department
W. Franke Harling	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Heinz Roemheld	....	conductor (uncredited)
William Schiller	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Carl Laemmle	....	presenter
Carl Laemmle	....	president: Universal Pictures

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1933) (USA) (theatrical)
• Realart Pictures (1947) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Screen Gems (1957) (USA) (TV)
• M.P.E.A. (1951) (Austria) (theatrical)
• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (2004) (UK) (TV) (BBC2)
• Continental Home Vídeo (Brazil) (video)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (USA) (VHS)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)
• Net5 (2004) (Netherlands) (TV)
• Universal Home Entertainment (USA) (DVD)

Runtime:

71 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved (certificate not issued at release) | Spain:13 | West Germany:16 | Australia:M (DVD rating) | Australia:PG (original rating) | Germany:16 | UK:PG | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Although the actor under the bandages was usually Claude Rains, particularly in the sequence set at the inn, often it was a double. You can tell him apart from the real Claude Rains because he is taller and has aquiline features, with a nose so prominent that it is visible even through the bandages. Rains's dialogue was all pre- or post-recorded and dubbed onto the soundtrack.

Goofs:

Continuity: Although the Invisible Man makes a note of having to be naked to be invisible, the footprints he leaves in the snow at the end of the film are those of a man wearing shoes.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Man in Pub: Did you hear about Mrs. Mason's little Willy? Sent him to school and found him buried ten-foot deep in a snow drift.
Man in Pub # 2: How did they get him out?
Man in Pub: Brought the fire engine 'round. Put the hose pipe in, pumped it backwards and sucked him out.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Prodigy (2005)

Soundtrack:

Hearts and Flowers

Classic horror

I actually saw The Invisible Man (1933) shortly after I saw the James Whale bio-pic Gods and Monsters (1998), starring Ian MacKellan and Brendan Fraser. So it was with that image of the director in my head that I watched this film. Claude Rains (Casablanca) is perfectly cast as the mad scientist/invisible man. The remainder of the cast, though not really challenged much, are more than serviceable in what they are required to do. As has been mentioned by most of the other posters, the special effects hold up rather well even today. An amazing feat considering the film is over 70 years old! The DVD has several interesting documentaries / commentaries that made me appreciate not only this film's entertainment value but its historical significance as well.