Monday, July 22 would have been director James Whale’s 124th birthday, and, as in previous years, the Thursday Horror Picture Show is acknowledging the fact by showing one of his quartet of horror films. Whether or not Whale would have entirely appreciated this is open to debate (though he’s yet to complain), since he never set out to be a horror-movie specialist. In fact, part of his reason for tackling Frankenstein in 1931 was that he felt he was in danger of being stereotyped as someone who only made war movies. (He’d directed the dialogue scenes for Howard Hughes’ Hell’s Angels in 1930, made Journey’s End the same year and followed those up with Waterloo Bridge in 1931, so the possibility was there.) It is unlikely that he ever imagined his legacy would — unfairly — rest on Frankenstein, The Old Dark House (1932), The Invisible Man (1933) and Bride of Frankenstein (1935). But that is the case.
However, choosing The Invisible Man would have pleased him, since it was his favorite of those films — and supposedly tied with Remember Last Night? (1935) as his overall favorite. He might even be pleasantly surprised to see what the film looks like in its new restoration — with a cleaner, sharper image and soundtrack. (And for the hardcore geeks among us, this version also restores the long-excised dance-band music playing on Dr. Kemp’s (William Harrigan) radio. Apparently, Universal finally ponied up for the ancillary rights to the music.) And as a side note, I should point out that it is Mr. Souther’s favorite James Whale picture.
Here’s my review from the last time this was run: The Invisible Man
The Thursday Horror Picture Show will screen The Invisible ManThursday, July 25, at 8 p.m. in the Cinema Lounge of The Carolina Asheville and will be hosted by Xpress movie critics Ken Hanke and Justin Souther.
Well, it’s certainly my favorite Claude Rains film. Though he was good in about everything. He certainly could do “menacing” quite well.
Definitely one of those Thursday night offerings that makes me pause to wonder how bad a day job could really be. Would be a fun one to see with an audience.
I’d call this my second favorite Whale feature, after Bride, and my second favorite Claude Raines film after Notorious.
Your previous review mentions the way the special effects still hold up for modern audiences, and I absolutely think that’s true. The film boasts a gleeful spirit and approach to “movie magic” that’s purely irresistible.
Bride strikes me as clearly the best, but I think I actually love The Old Dark House best. That’s nothing against The Invisible Man or Frankenstein or Show Boat or Remember Last Night? or Waterloo Bridge or One More River or The Kiss Before the Mirror, mind you.
I’ve always liked this film a lot, but in spite of the countless times I’ve seen it, the scene where Rains walks across the snow leaving shoe prints always stops me in my tracks. That bit of sanitizing seems so quaint today.
I don’t think it’s sanitizing. There are references to the fact that he’s naked. Plus, 1933 was the height of the pre-code film. I think it’s just a mistake.
The old TV show “The Invisible Man” handled it by having his clothing and shoes made of cotton and leather turn invisible too.
Though watching him use a laundromat might be amusing.
While I haven’t seen the TV show in probably 50 years, I don’t remember it as very good.