The Invisible Man

Long before Kevin Bacon went visually missing in Hollow Man, Claude Rains made his 1933 screen debut in James Whale's adaptation of H.G. Wells' classic thriller about a scientist named Jack Griffin (Rains) who discovers a new drug (which he dubs "monocaine") that turns the ingester invisible. Unfortunately, it also makes him mad, leading to a series of pranks in an English village that quickly turn deadly. Although the special effects seem tame by today's standards and Whale's penchant for shrill harridans (here, it's Una O'Connor) can be grating, this "classic" entry in Universal's legendary horror franchise, sporting a good video transfer, still offers a few thrills. As they often do, Universal has also included an insightful behind-the-scenes documentary, "Now You See Him: The Invisible Man Revealed," as well as a commentary by film historian Rudy Behlmer. Recommended. (R. Pitman)