Daily Archives: May 12, 2014

The Invisible Man Returns
Directed by Joe May
Written by Joe May, Curt Siodmak, and Lester Cole based on characters by H.G. Wells
1940/USA
Universal Pictures
First viewing/Netflix rental

[box] Helen Manson: Helen to Geoffrey as he removes his bandages and clothes to leave, “When will I see you”?[/box]

Vincent Price, with his mellifluous voice, makes a worthy successor to Claude Rains in the title role.  I thought this was almost as good as the original, though it lacked some of that film’s humor.

Sir Geoffrey Radcliffe (Price) is on death row having falsely been convicted for the murder of his brother.  When legitimate appeals fail to free him, Dr. Frank Griffin, scientist brother of the original “Invisible Man” gives him the serum which allows him to escape undetected. Griffin promises that he will be able to develop a antidote that will allow Radcliffe to return to normal before he goes insane.  Needless to say he fails and Radcliffe proceeds to go on a rampage against those he holds responsible for his brother’s death.  With Sir Cedric Hardwicke as a jealous and greedy mine owner and Nan Gray as Radcliffe’s lady love.

I think Vincent Price was born to play horror.  He can come off as a big ham in straight dramatic roles but his gaudy acting style perfectly suits genre films. This is a product of its time as part of Radcliffe’s insanity has very Hitler-esque overtones of megalomania.

Trailer

Tom Brown’s School Days
Directed by Robert Stevenson
Written by Walter Ferris et al based on the novel by Thomas Hughes
1940/UK
The Play’s the Thing Productions
First viewing/Amazon Prime Instant Video

[box] Dr. Thomas Arnold: A new boy is always important. He may be an influence for good or for evil.[/box]

This is along the lines of Goodbye Mr. Chips from a schoolboy’s perspective.  I liked it.

In the first half of the 19th Century, Dr. Thomas Arnold (Sir Cedric Hardwicke) takes over as Head Master at the prestigious Rugby public school determined to wipe out lying and bullying, apparently age-old traditions at the school.  Good-natured but stubborn Tom Brown unknowingly helps him to do it by fighting back against the brute Flashman.  With Freddie Bartholomew as Tom’s sometime friend.

It was nice to see Hardwicke play something other than a villain.  He really is a talented and subtle actor.  All the boys in the cast did themselves proud as well.  This is just a very well put together drama that kept my attention all the way through.

Clip