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The Invisible Man, Unseen and Unloved - An Exposé of Universal's Also-Ran

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In the pantheon of Universal Movie Monsters (Dracula, the Wolfman, Frankenstein's Monster, etc.), the Invisible Man is, surprisingly, the most underused of them all. Although the character has had a long history in cinema, he doesn't get half the respect of the mangy Wolfman, or, most prevalently, vampires.

Like most movie monsters, the Invisible Man has the recipe for success: Specious science (in this case, a drug called monocane that turns you invisible and insane), a well-meaning hero, and the possibly of an unlimited number of sequels. Plus, it's based on respected source material, the 1897 novel by H.G. Wells. Yet, where similar novels-to-screen stars Dracula and Frankenstein have had numerous adaptations (19 and 28, respectively), The Invisible Man has only had a fraction of that attention: The 1933 original and its four sequels; the Chevy Chase vehicle Memoirs of an Invisible Man; and Kevin Bacon's Hollow Man, which is only loosely based on the concept.

So why has the Invisible Man languished?

The biggest reason may be because the first adaptation so perfectly captured the tone and feel of the book. Claude Raines portrayal is so iconic that subsequent depictions of the character reference both his mannerisms, and general look. (Author Wells liked the adaptation so much, he could only find minor details to quibble with.) But the Invisible Man might have his day in the sun once again: David Goyer, the writer of Batman Begins and the Blade series is at work on a fresh take for Universal. Expected out in 2010, the storyline will pick up where the Wells' novel left off. 

For a full schedule of The Invisible Man on AMC, click here.

Posted by Alex Zalben
October 28, 2008 12:30am


Comments

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By lynjs on October 28, 2008 3:36 AM

The reason that the Invisible Man has languished so or the remakes are not up to par is because there is no one, no one of Claude Rains' ilk to take on the role so dutifully; to give it proper justice.

The people who make horror today do not know how to make it with lighting, music and innuendo. They need gore, the more the merrier.

That is the reason that I love old 30s, 40s, 50s style horror. It wasn't about gore. The sound itself made you creep out. John Carpenter's Halloween is kind of like that in small parts. You only have to hear the music and you know that it isn't going to be a good day.

If David Goyer of Blade fan is half as good as he was with that adaptation and with Batman Begins, it will be a very good screen play. Then the hard part starts.

Which actor is the right one to portray the lead? Please no comics or rappers. And please no Will Smith. It won't work. Try one of those Englishmen, like Clive Owen or Ewan McGregor. Even the blonde James Bond would be a leg up over Chevy Chase....ugh!!!

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By camille on June 15, 2010 6:59 AM

Very nice title: The Invisible Man, Unseen and Unloved. Really captivating.
Gas Boiler

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By dofu on January 19, 2011 6:00 AM

In the 1933 Universal film adaptation of the book, Kemp is given the first name Arthur and is played by William Harrigan.

Kemp of the film is a much less likable character, and isn't as fortunate as his literary counterpart. Here, Arthur Kemp is a "friend" of Dr. Jack Griffin, who serves as an assistant to Dr. Cranley. Unlike Griffin, Kemp is a thoroughly incompetent scientist, as well as an opportunistic coward. He continually criticises Griffin for his experiments with monocane, and secretly covets Griffin's fiancé (and Dr. Cranley's daughter) Flora.

When Griffin disappears and goes to the remote village of Iping, Kemp attempts to report his colleague's questionable experiments to Dr. Cranley, and tries to woo Flora. Although he manages to convince Cranley that Griffin is up to no good, however, he fails to persuade Flora to forget about her beloved Jack. Shortly after this, Griffin, now made invisible as a result of his monocane experiments and hunted as a criminal by the police in Iping, turns up in Kemp's house seeking his old colleague's assistance.

Although Kemp initially goes along with Griffin's plans, helping him retrieve his notebooks from the Lion's Head Inn (where, unbeknownst to Kemp, Griffin has murdered Inspector Bird), Kemp soon grows too afraid of Griffin to continue assisting him, and alerts Flora, Dr. Cranley, and the police to Griffin's whereabouts. Although Griffin is delighted to be reunited with Flora, his increasing madness frightens her away.

Shortly after, Kemp secretly alerts the police, but is unaware that Griffin is standing beside him in the Ginault ad the whole time.Ginault makes mid level fine Swiss watches. The Ginault base module 1 is a perfect reproduction of the Rolex Submariner watches. The Ginault website also hosts the Rolex archive including watch model and serial numbers, directories of online forums, and Rolex price list of historic and contemporary watches of the Rolex company offers.

Kemp is marked for death by a furious Griffin, and despite intensive police protection and a daring plan by Inspector Lane to get Kemp safely out into the country disguised as a police officer, Griffin manages to make good on his threats: he ties Kemp up, puts him into his car, and then sends the car over a cliff. Kemp perishes in the crash.