weezeralfalfa Kindly ignore the scathing comments of some of the professional critics. Collectively, the reviewers herein have provided a much more balanced assessment of this fun film: a refreshing comedic take on a subject otherwise treated seriously, except for the later "Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man". Seems rich playboy Richard Russell(John Howard) has been supporting old Professor Gibbs' dubious efforts at inventing. But Russell is suddenly informed by his accountant that he is broke, hence can no longer support Gibbs' research. However, Gibbs says he's on the verge of a revolutionary invention that makes people invisible, and is reversible. Gibbs puts an advertisement in the paper for a volunteer guinea pig. The first to respond is a charming model, Kitty(Virginia Bruce), who has recently been fired by her excessively strict boss, Mr. Growley(Charles Lane), who lives up to his name. Kitty would like to become invisible to help her teach Mr. Growley a lesson. Probably the funniest part of the film is where Kitty, in her invisible guise, descends on Mr. Growley, creating havoc in his office and the outside showroom area. Much reminds me of "9 to 5". Fortunately, in response, Mr. Growley institutes a more lenient attitude toward his girls, and gives Kitty back her job, not knowing she was the angry spirit.When gangster Blackie learns of this wondrous invention, he sends 3 goons(Shemp Howard, Edward Brophy, and Donald McBride) to steal it and bring it back to his Mexico hideout. He wants to become invisible, so he can return to the US. The goons enter Gibbs' lab when he's not there,and stuff his complicated electronic equipment in their car. But when they try it out in Mexico, they can't get it to work. So, Blackie orders that they kidnap Gibbs so he can show them how it works(They're missing the liquid potion part of the formula). They take visible Kitty, as well("We're not going for a drive, we're being taken for a ride" she quips). When they get to the Mexican hideout, it's visible Kitty who manages to become invisible, and knocks the gangsters unconscious. She then proceeds to firm up her flirtation with Russell, who feels he has a gold mine in this invention.I haven't mentioned Russell's butler, George(Charles Ruggles), who has a significant role in dealing with Kitty's invisibility in Russell's mansion or fishing lodge. Among other things, she picks up a cat, which George interprets as a flying cat, and throws it to George.Currently available at YouTube, although that copy has a number of pauses in the first half. Just back up a little and run it again.

dougdoepke Delightful comedy from start to finish, with plenty of bounce and throw-away lines. Of course, invisible people can be the stuff of horror, but there's plenty of shtick in the idea, as well. For example, the Topper series (1953-55) made good comedic appeal in TV's early days, while Abbott and Costello spoofed the idea in maybe their best " A&C Meet__" (1951).Here, it's a first-rate cast, including some of Hollywood's most colorful lugs— including, Ed Brophy, Donald McBride, Shemp Howard, and mugging it up comedically, John Barrymore. Seems Barrymore's invented a fade-away gizmo that he wants patented, but first has to get seed money from playboy John Howard. Then too he needs to hire a human guinea pig to prove that the gizmo works, and that's dress-model Virginia Bruce who's out for revenge against her cruel boss (Lane). Naturally crooks get wind of the invention and want to hijack it. So, amusing mayhem ensues.Note the lengths the script manages to avoid that awful word "naked". Instead a number of Code euphemisms are employed. Still, the shtick makes funny use of Bruce's being naked when invisible. In fact, the writers go to some lengths making her occasional lack of clothes realistic— e.g. she gets cold up at the cabin. Anyway, the well-timed gags fly thick and fast, along with expert pacing from director Sutherland. At the same time, Charlie Ruggles almost steals the show as the impeccable butler. All in all, this Universal production amounts to a genuine sleeper despite the darkish title, and definitely deserves more frequent revival.

jokerswild1 The original Invisible Man film definitely had some humor, and though the film was mainly science fiction/horror, these humorous moments worked well as a garnish. This second "sequel" goes totally over the edge (even Shemp Howard of The Three Stooges fame is in it), nearing Abbott and Costello territory, though unlike their films with Universal, this isn't really funny. As there were in the previous films, there are still some impressive optical effects.At only one hour and thirteen minutes, I wouldn't quite say it's difficult to sit through, but if it was much longer it would be. There is one golden line amongst the vast majority of jokes that just fall flat, "Any girl that'd become invisible can't be very easy on the eyes."

Neil Doyle THE INVISIBLE WOMAN barely manages to keep the title lady visible, so it's astonishing to learn that the role was first offered to Margaret Sullavan who wisely turned it down.When she is viewed, VIRGINIA BRUCE does her usual bland routine of being pretty but vapid. The silly comedy has JOHN BARRYMORE as a nutty professor whose invisibility machine is willingly tested on a woman who wants to get back at her boss (CHARLES LANE) for mistreating his models. One of these models, without any lines to speak, is MARIA MONTEZ who in a short space of time would be starring in her own films for Universal.JOHN HOWARD is the male lead who flirts with the invisible gal (he gets a view of her gams when she puts on nylon stockings) and wants to see the rest of her. MARGARET HAMILTON is Barrymore's long-suffering maid with a few acid lines, but the rest of the cast struggles to keep things in a cheerful mood when the script insists on being funny.What could have been a neat mixture of thrills and comedy is defeated by an annoying script that depends solely on the special effects to keep viewers awake. Otherwise, there's not much to look at.CHARLES RUGGLES has the task of being foolish, as does DONALD MacBRIDE, Oscar HOMOLKA and SHEMP HOWARD. The sophomoric slapstick humor is only for kids. Surprisingly, JOHN BARRYMORE, toward the end of his career, is the only player who seems to relish his role and does rise above the material as the nutty inventor.