The Invisible Man Returns

USA 1940
produced by
Universal
directed by Joe May
starring Cedric Hardwicke, Vincent Price, Nan Grey, John Sutton, Cecli Kellaway, Alan Napier, Forrester Harvey, Ernie Adams, Jimmy Aubrey, Billy Bevan, Clara Blore, Stanley Blystone, Matthew Boulton, Ed Brady, Harry Cording, Paul England, Rex Evans, Edward Fielding, Mary Field, Mary Gordon, Frank Hagney, Frank Hill, Leyland Hodgson, Hugh Huntley, George Hyde, Ellis Irving, Colin Kenny, George Kirby, Bruce Lester, George Lloyd, Edmund MacDonald, Frank O'Connor, Frances Robinson, Ivan F.Simpson, Harry Stubbs, Denis Tankard, Cyril Thornton, David Thursby, Eric Wilton
story by Curt Siodmak, Joe May, screenplay by Curt Siodmak, Lester Cole, based on concepts by H.G.Wells, music by Hans J. Salter, Frank Skinner, musical director: Charles Previn, special effects by John P.Fulton

The Invisible Man, Universal's Invisible Man, Universal horror cycle

review by
Mike Haberfelner

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Geoffrey Radcliff (Vincent Price) is convicted to death for killing his own brother, even though he proclaims himself innocent and those close to him believe him - which leaves him no other way out than to, on the day of his execution - turn invisible with the help of his good friend Doc Griffin (John Sutton), escape prison and try to find the real killer, while the police and especially inspector Sampson (Cecil Kellaway) are still looking for him like nobody's business - but how can you look for someone invisible.

The bad thing about the invisibility serum Doc Griffin gave to Geoffrey - it slowly turns him mad (see The Invisible Man), and now he is hard pressed to find the real killer before he goes mad or the cops are catching up with him, while Griffin tries to find a serum that makes him visible and sane again.

Eventually though, Geoffrey finds a clue that leads to his mine's (he was a rich mine owner when still visible) crooked foreman Spears (Alan Napier) and his own even more crooked business partner Cobb (Cedric Hardwicke), and in a dramatic climax at the mine's premises he forces a confession out of him before Cobb dies in a related accident. Only then is the invisible man allowed to become visible again ...

1940 was definitely past the best films of Universal's horror cycle, and this film aptly proves it: A tired murder mystery with an invisible man thrown in who changes between innocent victim and dangerous maniac rather randomly and who has very little to do with H.G.Wells' original creation. And while James Whale's adaptation of Wells' novel was a wicked black comedy, its sequel (this film) is nothing but a boring and badly scripted B-movie that is about as quickly forgotten as it is forgettable.

Not really worth your while.

review © by Mike Haberfelner

 

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