YMMV / The Invisible Man (1933)

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• Audience-Coloring Adaptation: The film incorporated elements not just from the novel, but also from screenwriter Philip Wylie's 1931 novel The Murderer Invisible. In Wells' novel, Griffin was already evil before he became invisible, and did so out of a lust for power, while in the film, he only turns evil after the experiment when he realizes what he can get away with. The pseudo-remake Hollow Man would take a similar track in its characterization of its villain. Griffin was also a loner in the original story, while in the film, he has a beautiful fiancee, which the 2020 remake would run with.
• Hilarious in Hindsight: The main character's name is Jack, and his love interest is played by Gloria Stuart. Stuart would later become known for playing the old Rose in Titanic (1997)... whose love interest is also named Jack.
• Moral Event Horizon: Though Griffin is much more deadly in the film adaptation, it's hard to pinpoint exactly when he crosses it. If he doesn't by assaulting the publican's wife, he clearly does by the time he causes over a hundred deaths by derailing a train. Even today, it's a shockingly cold-blooded thing to do.
• Narm Charm:
  • The entire sequence that follows Griffin first revealing he's invisible. From the police captain's underreaction, to Griffin chasing the cops around, to him stealing a bicycle and then throwing it back at the cops, it's all hysterically campy.
  • Though one lady was quite clearly terrified of the Griffin in a pair of a policeman's pants skipping and singing a ditty, we sure found it charming. Especially when he nearly slips after singing.
  • Much of Griffin's "Reign of Terror" is just childish pranks, like stealing money and throwing it to random people in the street. Then he starts derailing passenger trains.
• Retroactive Recognition:
  • Henry Travers, best known nowadays for his role as apprentice guardian angel Clarence Oddbody in It's a Wonderful Life, plays Dr. Cranley.
  • Gloria Stuart, more than sixty years before her appearance in Titanic (1997), plays Cranley's daughter (and Griffin's fiancée) Flora.
  • Universal Horror stalwart Dwight Frye has an uncredited bit role as a reporter.
  • John Carradine plays the man who phones the police to suggest spraying the invisible man with ink.
  • Walter Brennan plays the man whose bicycle is stolen by Griffin.
• The Scrappy: Mrs. Hall is generally disliked by the audiences for her constant screaming. Her other Universal Horror role in Bride of Frankenstein is just as disliked.
• Signature Scene: Griffin revealing his invisibility for the first time. You know, that scene where he unwraps his bandages while laughing maniacally in front of a horrified policeman and several terrified villagers.
• Tear Jerker: Griffin dying with Flora at his side.
• Visual Effects of Awesome: The invisibility effects were cutting-edge in 1933 and, amazingly enough, still hold up pretty well.

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