Despite being somewhat of a fan of Claude Rains, I hadn't watched this movie since I was a kid. So first, thanks to TCM for bringing a good version of the print back to television! The film begins with a great scene of the invisible man -- all bundled up, of course -- walking through a horrible winter's night toward an inn out in the country. The inn keeper's wife makes up a room for him, and that inn keeper is played by the classic Una O'Connor, just 3 years into her movie contract. What a hoot she is (although I remember her best from "Random Harvest").
The primary supporting cast is interesting. Gloria Stuart -- the 100 year old in "The Titanic" plays love interest Flora Cranley, and the venerable Henry Travers plays her father -- Dr. Cranley, a colleague of the invisible man. Considering the nature of many of Travers' later supporting roles, this is a bit of a surprise, but he actually does very well as a scientific doctor. Watch also for Walter Brennan in an uncredited role -- most visible (pun intended) in the scene were the detective is questioning people in the pub.
There are a number of good scenes in this film, and the cinematography is quite good for 1933. The special effects for 1933...stunning. The scene as panic spreads is very well done. And catching the invisible man in the snow...excellent.
For a 1933 film, I'm impressed. This is one of the better early horror films, and while it won't end up on my DVD shelf, I truly enjoyed seeing this film again. Recommended!
The primary supporting cast is interesting. Gloria Stuart -- the 100 year old in "The Titanic" plays love interest Flora Cranley, and the venerable Henry Travers plays her father -- Dr. Cranley, a colleague of the invisible man. Considering the nature of many of Travers' later supporting roles, this is a bit of a surprise, but he actually does very well as a scientific doctor. Watch also for Walter Brennan in an uncredited role -- most visible (pun intended) in the scene were the detective is questioning people in the pub.
There are a number of good scenes in this film, and the cinematography is quite good for 1933. The special effects for 1933...stunning. The scene as panic spreads is very well done. And catching the invisible man in the snow...excellent.
For a 1933 film, I'm impressed. This is one of the better early horror films, and while it won't end up on my DVD shelf, I truly enjoyed seeing this film again. Recommended!