''The Invisible Ray'' is a 1936 American
science-fiction
Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel univers ...
horror film
Horror is a film genre that seeks to elicit fear or disgust in its audience for entertainment purposes.
Horror films often explore dark subject matter and may deal with transgressive topics or themes. Broad elements include monsters, apoca ...
directed by
Lambert Hillyer
Lambert Harwood Hillyer (July 8, 1893 – July 5, 1969) was an American film director and screenwriter.
Biography
Lambert Harwood Hillyer was born July 8, 1893, in Tyner, Indiana. His mother was character actress Lydia Knott. A graduate of ...
. It stars
Boris Karloff
William Henry Pratt (23 November 1887 – 2 February 1969), better known by his stage name Boris Karloff (), was an English actor. His portrayal of Frankenstein's monster in the horror film ''Frankenstein'' (1931) (his 82nd film) established h ...
as Dr. Janos Rukh, a scientist who comes in contact with a meteorite composed of an element known as "Radium X". After exposure to its rays begins to make him glow in the dark, his touch becomes deadly, and he begins to be slowly driven mad. Alongside Karloff, the film's cast includes
Bela Lugosi
Béla Ferenc Dezső Blaskó (; October 20, 1882 – August 16, 1956), known professionally as Bela Lugosi (; ), was a Hungarian and American actor best remembered for portraying Count Dracula in the 1931 horror classic ''Dracula'', Ygor in ''S ...
,
Frances Drake
Frances Drake (born Frances Morgan Dean; October 22, 1912 – January 18, 2000) was an American actress best known for playing Eponine in ''Les Misérables'' (1935).
Early years
Drake was born in New York City as Frances Morgan Dean to a ...
,
Frank Lawton
Frank Lawton Mokeley (30 September 1904 – 10 June 1969) was an English actor.
His parents were stage players Daisy May Collier and Frank Lawton (I). His first major screen credit was ''Young Woodley'' (1930). In the mid-1930s, Lawton appe ...
,
Walter Kingsford
Walter Kingsford (born Walter Pearce; 20 September 1882 – 7 February 1958) was an English stage, film and television actor.
Early years
Kingsford was born in Redhill, Surrey, England.
Career
Kingsford began his acting career on the Lo ...
,
Beulah Bondi
Beulah Bondi (born Beulah Bondy; May 3, 1889 – January 11, 1981)According to the State of California. ''California Death Index, 1940–1997''. Center for Health Statistics, California Department of Health Services, Sacramento, California. At ...
,
Violet Kemble Cooper, and
Nydia Westman
Nydia Eileen Westman (February 19, 1902 – May 23, 1970) was an American actress and singer of stage, screen, and television.
Early years
Westman's parents, Theodore and Lily (Wren) Westman were active in vaudeville in her native New Yo ...
.
Prior to production, Universal Pictures was originally developing the film ''Bluebeard'' for Karloff and Lugosi. When that production did not start, Universal wanted a release by the end of 1935 with Karloff and Lugosi, and hired director
Stuart Walker and screenwriter
John Colton John Colton may refer to:
*John Colton (politician) (1823–1902), Australian politician, Premier of South Australia and philanthropist
* John Colton (bishop) (c. 1320–1404), statesman and cleric in Ireland
*John Colton (screenwriter)
John Colt ...
to make the film ''The Invisible Ray''. As Walker was dissatisfied with Colton's script, he requested a three-day delay before production was set to begin and after being denied this, he left the production and was replaced with
Lambert Hillyer
Lambert Harwood Hillyer (July 8, 1893 – July 5, 1969) was an American film director and screenwriter.
Biography
Lambert Harwood Hillyer was born July 8, 1893, in Tyner, Indiana. His mother was character actress Lydia Knott. A graduate of ...
. Hillyer began and completed the film over-budget and over the originally set production time.
Plot
A visionary astronomer, Dr. Janos Rukh, has invented a telescope that can look far out into deep space, into the
Andromeda Galaxy
The Andromeda Galaxy (IPA: ), also known as Messier 31, M31, or NGC 224 and originally the Andromeda Nebula, is a barred spiral galaxy with the diameter of about approximately from Earth and the nearest large galaxy to the Milky Way. The gala ...
, and photograph light rays that will show the Earth's past. He has theorized about this being possible for some years, much to his discredit among his fellow scientist-colleagues. Looking at the remote past on a planetarium-like dome in his lab, two of those ardently skeptical scientists, Dr. Benet and Sir Francis Stevens, watch a large
meteorite
A meteorite is a solid piece of debris from an object, such as a comet, asteroid, or meteoroid, that originates in outer space and survives its passage through the atmosphere to reach the surface of a planet or Natural satellite, moon. When the ...
smash into the Earth a billion years ago, in what is now the continent of Africa. Amazed by Rukh's demonstration, the pair invite him to go on an expedition to locate the impact site.
Rukh finds the meteorite, but is exposed to its unknown radiation, now dubbed "
Radium X". This causes him to glow in the dark and to make his mere touch instantaneously deadly to any living thing. The exposure also begins to warp his mind. Returning to the base camp, he entreats Dr. Benet to devise a means of neutralizing Radium X's poisoning effect. Benet develops a serum that holds the lethal element's toxicity at bay, but Rukh must take regular doses of the antidote or he will revert to being a luminous killing machine. Rukh returns to his jungle base and learns from Benet that this situation has been complicated by the romantic relationship between Rukh's wife, Diana, and Ronald Drake, the nephew of Lady Arabella Stevens, Dr. Stevens' wife.
Benet takes a piece of the meteorite back to Europe, where he modifies its effects to help people, including curing the blind. Working along similar lines, Rukh cures his mother's blindness, but in spite of her warning, he goes to Paris to confront Benet and the others. There, he pretends to acknowledge his wife's new relationship with Drake, but in reality, it is the first step in his plan for revenge. Rukh murders a Frenchman he closely resembles, making it appear that he has died and been rendered unrecognizable due to an accident with Radium X.
Believing the deception, Diana marries Ronald. Rukh now begins to use his radiation poisoning to kill off the expedition members. He marks each death by disintegrating a single statue on the exterior of a church across from where he is hiding. Each time, he focuses the radiation through a window using a raygun-like device. He manages to kill both Stevenses before the police realize what is happening. Dr. Benet helps them set a trap by convening a scientific conference at his home to discuss Radium X, but Rukh secretly gains access and kills Benet. He has saved his revenge on Ronald and Diana for last but finds himself unable to kill his former wife. This hesitation brings him to a confrontation with his mother, the most important woman in his life. She has foreseen her son's growing madness and smashes the last of his antidote bottles in order to stop him. As the Radium X begins to consume him from within, Rukh jumps from a window. He disappears in an explosive flame, having been vaporized before reaching the ground.
Cast
Credits adapted from the book ''Universal Horrors'':
Nydia Westman
Nydia Eileen Westman (February 19, 1902 – May 23, 1970) was an American actress and singer of stage, screen, and television.
Early years
Westman's parents, Theodore and Lily (Wren) Westman were active in vaudeville in her native New Yo ...
, though billed on the film's poster, appears in an uncredited role as Briggs.
Production
Producer David Diamond, who teamed up actors
Bela Lugosi
Béla Ferenc Dezső Blaskó (; October 20, 1882 – August 16, 1956), known professionally as Bela Lugosi (; ), was a Hungarian and American actor best remembered for portraying Count Dracula in the 1931 horror classic ''Dracula'', Ygor in ''S ...
and
Boris Karloff
William Henry Pratt (23 November 1887 – 2 February 1969), better known by his stage name Boris Karloff (), was an English actor. His portrayal of Frankenstein's monster in the horror film ''Frankenstein'' (1931) (his 82nd film) established h ...
for the 1935 film ''
The Raven
"The Raven" is a narrative poem by American writer Edgar Allan Poe. First published in January 1845, the poem is often noted for its musicality, stylized language, and supernatural atmosphere. It tells of a distraught lover who is paid a myste ...
'', had plans to reunite the two actors in an upcoming Karloff film ''Bluebeard''. The script for ''Bluebeard'' did not proceed as expected, leading the studio executives at
Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures (legally Universal City Studios LLC, also known as Universal Studios, or simply Universal; common metonym: Uni, and formerly named Universal Film Manufacturing Company and Universal-International Pictures Inc.) is an Ameri ...
to put that film on hold and put Lugosi and Karloff in a different film. In August 1935, the studio announced that production on ''The Invisible Ray'' would commence with producer
Edmund Grainger
Edmund Grainger (1906–1981) was an American film producer. He produced more than sixty films during his career, and also occasionally worked as an assistant director. During the 1930s he was employed by Universal Pictures. He worked for RKO du ...
.
At the time of production, Universal Pictures was among reports that the studio was going to be sold. Pressure was put on the first initial director
Stuart Walker who was not happy with the original script written by
John Colton John Colton may refer to:
*John Colton (politician) (1823–1902), Australian politician, Premier of South Australia and philanthropist
* John Colton (bishop) (c. 1320–1404), statesman and cleric in Ireland
*John Colton (screenwriter)
John Colt ...
. Walker requested a three-day delay on the production to work on the script which was refused by Universal Studios which led Walker leaving the production. Walker responded to trade papers on leaving the picture stating that he was enthusiastic about the film's story and the cast but he "did not feel that
ecould do the studio or
imselfjustice under their conditions that came up suddenly". Walker declared that he "suggested that some other director would be better for the assignment. It was not a matter of "walking out....""
Lambert Hillyer
Lambert Harwood Hillyer (July 8, 1893 – July 5, 1969) was an American film director and screenwriter.
Biography
Lambert Harwood Hillyer was born July 8, 1893, in Tyner, Indiana. His mother was character actress Lydia Knott. A graduate of ...
ended up the director of the film. The film's score by Franz Waxman is predominantly original material, but includes cues from ''
The Bride of Frankenstein
''Bride of Frankenstein'' is a 1935 American science fiction horror film, and the first sequel to Universal Pictures' 1931 film ''Frankenstein''. As with the first film, ''Bride of Frankenstein'' was directed by James Whale starring Boris Karlo ...
''.
The film was initially given a budget of $166,875, an amount described in the book ''Universal Horrors'' as "a fairly lavish budget" for an "upper-class B" film. Filming began on September 17. Filming concluded on October 25 which was over-schedule and $68,000 over-budget. Walker later responded to this, retorting that "the director who did the picture started nine or ten days after I was ordered to start and finished 25 or more days after I was ordered to finish".
Release
''The Invisible Ray'' was distributed by
Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures (legally Universal City Studios LLC, also known as Universal Studios, or simply Universal; common metonym: Uni, and formerly named Universal Film Manufacturing Company and Universal-International Pictures Inc.) is an Ameri ...
on January 20, 1936.
Marguerite Tazelaar of the ''
New York Herald Tribune
The ''New York Herald Tribune'' was a newspaper published between 1924 and 1966. It was created in 1924 when Ogden Mills Reid of the ''New-York Tribune'' acquired the ''New York Herald''. It was regarded as a "writer's newspaper" and competed ...
'' commented on the audiences response to the film on their viewing, stating the audience "composed largely of men, gave to the picture their respectful attention, finding the laboratories especially absorbing, and the climax vastly exciting".
The film was released on DVD as part of the ''Bela Lugosi Collection'' in 2005 along with ''
Murders in the Rue Morgue
"The Murders in the Rue Morgue" is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe published in ''Graham's Magazine'' in 1841. It has been described as the first modern detective story; Poe referred to it as one of his "tales of ratiocination".
C. Auguste Du ...
'', ''
The Black Cat'', ''
The Raven
"The Raven" is a narrative poem by American writer Edgar Allan Poe. First published in January 1845, the poem is often noted for its musicality, stylized language, and supernatural atmosphere. It tells of a distraught lover who is paid a myste ...
'', and ''
Black Friday''.
The film was released on Blu-ray by
Shout Factory
Shout! Factory is an American home video and music company founded in 2002 as Retropolis Entertainment. Its video releases include previously released feature films, classic and contemporary television series, animation, live music, and comedy ...
as part of their "Universal Horror Collection: Vol 1" which included ''The Black Cat'', ''The Raven'', and ''Black Friday''.
Reception
From contemporary reviews, "Char." of ''
Variety
Variety may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats
* Variety (radio)
* Variety show, in theater and television
Films
* ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont
* ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...
'' declared that the film was not "as blood-curdling to the point achieved in some Hollywoodian efforts, but it is different and fairly entertaining".
Frank Nugent
Frank Stanley Nugent (May 27, 1908 – December 29, 1965) was an American screenwriter, journalist, and film reviewer, who wrote 21 film scripts, 11 for director John Ford. He wrote almost a thousand reviews for ''The New York Times'' before lea ...
of ''
The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'' stated that Universal had "made its newest penny dreadful with technical ingenuity and the pious hope of frightening the children... Boo right back at you, Mr. Laemmle!"
From retrospective reviews, Kevin Thomas of ''
The Los Angeles Times
''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...
'' stated in 2005 that the film was "
metimes amusingly dated" as well as that it was "also surprisingly poignant, building to a tense and dramatic climax...
handsome, ambitious production in which some stilted acting and dialgoue add to, rather than detract from the fun".
Legacy
Footage of ''The Invisible Ray'', specifically the scenes where a scientist descends into a fiery pit, was re-used in the Universal Pictures
film serial
A serial film, film serial (or just serial), movie serial, or chapter play, is a motion picture form popular during the first half of the 20th century, consisting of a series of short subjects exhibited in consecutive order at one theater, gene ...
''
The Phantom Creeps
''The Phantom Creeps'' is a 1939 12-chapter science fiction horror serial starring Bela Lugosi as mad scientist Doctor Zorka, who attempts to rule the world by creating various elaborate inventions. In a dramatic fashion, foreign agents and G-M ...
''.
See also
*
Boris Karloff filmography
Boris may refer to:
People
* Boris (given name), a male given name
*:''See'': List of people with given name Boris
* Boris (surname)
* Boris I of Bulgaria (died 907), the first Christian ruler of the First Bulgarian Empire, canonized after his ...
*
Béla Lugosi filmography
Bela Lugosi (1882–1956), best known for the original screen portrayal of Bram Stoker's Count Dracula, Dracula in 1931, was in many movies during the course of his 39-year film career. He appeared in films made in his native Hungary, Germany and N ...
References
Footnotes
Sources
*
*
*
External links
*
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Invisible Ray, The
1936 films
American black-and-white films
Mad scientist films
American science fiction horror films
Films scored by Franz Waxman
Films directed by Lambert Hillyer
Universal Pictures films
Films about impact events
Films set in London
1930s science fiction horror films
1936 horror films
1930s English-language films
1930s American films