THE INVISIBLE MAN RETURNS

US, 1940, 81 minutes, Black and white.
Cedric Hardwicke, Vincent Price, Nan Grey, John Sutton, Alan Napier, Cecil Kellaway.
Directed by Joe May.

The Invisible Man Returns is an entertaining sequel to the classic The Invisible Man from 1933 which introduced Claude Rains. This time the invisible man is Vincent Price - materialising only at the end. The villain is Sir Cedric Hardwick. There is a good supporting cast including John Sutton as the sympathetic doctor and Cecil Kellaway as the inspector from Scotland Yard. Alan Napier, who usually aristocratic Britons, is a drunken colliery worker. The film has an interesting atmosphere of Britain of the '30s, the focus on science and its glorification (perhaps the influence of author H.G.Wells). The film is a melodrama - and, perhaps, if it did not have the invisible man it would seem very trite. However the process photography for the exploits of the invisible man are still entertaining after many decades despite more sophisticated developments since.

One of the interesting films to come from Universal Studios with its '30s tradition of horror thrillers.

1. The sequel to The Invisible Man? As successor (and using Claude Rains' photo at one point)? As an entertainment in itself?

2. Black and white photography, atmosphere of England? The colliery? The importance of the processes for filming the invisible man and his activities? Effects? Stunt work? Audience fascination with these processes? The film offering audiences enjoyment and delight? Working stunts into the plot? musical score and atmosphere?

3. The scientific explanation of invisibility? The search for a serum to return visibility? The scenes of the return - of the guinea pigs in the laboratory, of Sir Geoffrey? The possibility of such processes?

4. The use of such processes - to help the condemned man escape? To elude discovery by Scotland Yard? The sinister side (from the original) of invisibility, power and the possibility of controlling people and organisations? The berserk aspects of invisibility?

5. The central murder plot: the beginnings with the focus on Geoffrey's condemnation and execution? Richard and the doctors and their trying to help him? The doctor and his giving Geoffrey the serum? Geoffrey and the search for the villain? The doctor and his dilemmas? Helen and her support of Geoffrey? Richard and his growing fear? His being unmasked? The struggle between the invisible man and Richard? Death and confession? The return of Geoffrey to normality? B-grade material - in the service of the theme of invisibility?

6. Geoffrey and his background, the death of his brother, the condemnation? Leaving the condemned cell? His escape, putting on clothes? Visiting Helen? Their love? The eluding of the police - with all the effects? Fights? The madness and the drive for power? His wanting to be killed if he went berserk? The unmasking of Richard, the confrontation, Spiers and his death? The final struggle with Richard on the coal trucks, his being shot? The talk with the scarecrow and the clothes? His return to normality by his new blood?

7. Sir Cedric Hardwicke sinister as Richard, his villainy, suave manner, Helen? Using Spiers - and his being unmasked and letting Spiers die? The fight with Geoffrey? His wanting to be taken into protective custody? His flight, the coal trucks, his struggle and death? Confession?

8. Helen as the romantic lead? Love for Geoffrey and helping him? Discovery of the truth about Richard?

9. The doctor and his relationship with the original invisible man? His laboratory work? The investigations of Samson? Helping Geoffrey? Trying to get the serum? The finale and restoring Geoffrey?

10. Spiers and the leadership of the people at the colliery, his drinking, his being used by Richard Cobb? His being attacked by Geoffrey, hung up? His confession and death?

11. Samson and his sense of humour, timing? Devices to make Geoffrey visible? The police and Geoffrey attacking them, assuming their costume? The police search of the house, using gas etc.? The final confrontation and Samson solving the case?

12. Enjoyable touches of British background, class struggles, workers in the colliery, Scotland Yard and its operations? The world of novels - translated to the screen entertainingly?