There's a snow storm blowing ferociously, a man trundles towards a signpost that reads Iping. He enters a hostelry called The Lions Head, the patrons of the bar fall silent for the man is bound in bandages. He tells, not asks, the landlady; "I want a room with a fire". This man is Dr. Jack Griffin, soon to wreak havoc and be known as The Invisible Man.

One of the leading lights of the Universal Monster collection of films that terrified and enthralled audiences back in the day. Directed by genre master James Whale, The Invisible Man is a slick fusion of dark humour, berserker science and genuine evil. Quite a feat for a film released in 1933, even more so when one samples the effects used in the piece. Effects that are still today holding up so well they put to shame some of the toy like expensive tricks used by the modern wave of film makers. John P. Fulton take a bow sir.

After Boris Karloff had turned down the chance to play the good doctor gone crazy, on account of the role calling for voice work throughout the film only, except a snippet at the finale, so Whale turned to Claude Rains. Small in stature but silky in voice, Rains clearly sensed an opportunity to launch himself into Hollywood. It may well be, with Whale's expert guidance of course, that he owes his whole career to that 30 second appearance of his face at the end of the film? As was his want, Whale filled out the support cast with odd ball eccentrics that are acted adroitly by the British & Irish thespians. Una O'Connor, Forrester Harvey, Edward E. Clive and Henry Travers are memorable. While American Gloria Stuart as the power insane Griffin's love interest is radiant with what little she has to do.

Based on the now famous story written by H.G. Wells, Whale and R. C. Sheriff's (writer) version remains the definitive Invisible Man adaptation. There's some changes such as the time it is set, and Griffin is not the lunatic he is in the film, which is something that Wells was not too pleased about in spite of liking the film as a whole, but it's still very tight to the source. Sequels, TV series and other modern day adaptations would follow it, but none are as shrewd or as chilling as Whale's daddy is. 9/10

Spoiler ahead - a well known one though.

It was his first major film role, and he only appeared at the tale end of the movie for a minute - as a corpse! But Claude Rains was made as of that moment, though it would be awhile before he actually ceased being a villain in all of his films.

James Whale's THE INVISIBLE MAN is possibly the best of the early Universal horror series of the 1930s. FRANKENSTEIN and Dracula (both English and Spanish versions) are great films too, but the threat of Jack Griffin's discovery of invisibility makes the other two seem quaint as threats. One can run from Frankenstein, and one can stay indoors at night with a handy cross or garlic available. But how does one fully protect oneself against someone who is physically strong, mentally smart, and totally determined to kill you if you cannot see him? It's not easy, especially if the goal of this monster is to rule over others. As he puts it, he wishes to have the world grovel at his feet.

In the novel, Griffin's personality is shown to be so selfish from the start that one can tell that no matter what discovery he would have made he would have misused it for power. He has no redeeming features at all. However, his omnipotence is sort of curbed in one way that is not the case in the film. A character is invented by Wells (who is not in the movie) that Griffin frightens into serving as a slave or servant. The character manages to run off with Griffin's chemistry lab and chemicals, as well as Griffin's notebooks. As a result he is trapped in his invisibility, and can't get out of this situation until the novel ends.

The film does have some classic moments of humor (Whale liked to add black humor to his films). When a woman runs screaming down the lane at night followed by an empty pair of pants skipping along reciting "here we go gathering nuts in May" is one. So (more darkly) is during a massive search for Griffin, after he causes a train disaster. One of the volunteers, slightly apart from the others, is grabbed and thrown down and choked. Rains/Griffin, in speaking, says, "Here I am...AREN'T YOU GLAD YOU FOUND ME?!!" It is a chilling moment.

A wonderful blend of thrills and comedy, surrounding a science fiction tale of constant interest, this film never disappoints. I give it a 10 for entertainment value. For helping awaken viewers to reading the works of Herbert George Wells, I'd give it a 12.

As I write this review I'm noting that there is a planned remake for The Invisible Man that will star Johnny Depp. It will have to go some in taking on what I believe is an impossible task of trying to duplicate Claude Rains in the unseen role.

Carl Laemmle at Universal Pictures knew that instinctively that one would have to have one special voice that could hold the attention of the audience as half of the actor's tools, body language and facial expressions are not available to one playing the part. Laemmle certainly got his money's worth in obtaining the services of Claude Rains for the lead. Rains was possessor of one of the great classically trained voices ever on the screen.

In this film based on the H.G. Wells story Rains working on his own while employed by Henry Travers on the secret of transparency. The secret ingredient is some Hollywood invented stuff called Monocane which does render living things transparent. It also drives them mad as Travers learns when he translated some German experimentation.

But Rains doesn't know that as he takes some rooms at an inn to work in isolation. When the curious led by landlady Una O'Connor get too much he lets them in for more than they bargained for. The Invisible Man is unleashed on the world. By the way Una O'Connor is worth seeing this film alone for with her reactions to Rains.

Both Travers and his daughter Gloria Stuart are truly concerned for Rains. Stuart is truly frightened as is Travers's other assistant William Harrigan who also likes Stuart. Stuart is frightened for Rains and the world as Rains explains the possibilities of what invisibility allows him to do.

Harrigan has an interesting role and doesn't get enough praise for it. I'm sure he's not a person of any great courage. But he certainly isn't a villain here. Rains forces himself on Harrigan because he needs a confederate and one with scientific training certainly helps. But it's precisely because he is also a scientist that Harrigan is frightened of him. He may act cowardly, but I dare say not too many of us would react differently. I think his part as Doctor Kemp might have been William Harrigan's career role.

James Whale best known for directing Frankenstein and Showboat got the most out of his fine ensemble, but especially with Rains whom you feel sympathy for as his experiment has truly isolated him from the human race.

The Invisible Man holds up well today and this was one auspicious beginning in the film career of Claude Rains whom we never see till the very end.