The Invisible Man

Wednesday, 10/28 at 1:00 pm

"In his first cinema role...Claude Rains gives an alarming performance, almost as frightening when he is present as when he is not." - Time Magazine

In 1933, a great filmmaker (James Whale) and an equally fine sci-fi author (H.G. Wells), both of them British by birth, came together for what is fondly and rightly regarded as an early horror classic. Great Adaptations brings it to you in preparation for Halloween weekend. Invisible Man was Claude Rains' first American movie and it made him a star, though he was only seen - in his entirety - toward the end of the picture. The bulk of the accolades went to the film's special effects, remarkable for its day and still impressive in the era of CGI. Wells approved of the film, but took exception to the depiction of the title character (a brilliant scientist in the novel) as a lunatic. To which Whale replied that the film was addressed to a "rationally minded motion picture audience," because, "in the minds of rational people only a lunatic would want to make himself invisible." In its day, the film received a special commendation at the Venice Film Festival and was chosen by The New York Times as one of the Ten Best Films of the year.

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The Gables Cinema joins forces with our friends across the street, Books & Books, to bring you Great Adaptations: From Page to Screen, free lunchtime film screenings that highlight the connection between great books and films, on Wednesdays at 1:00 pm, unless otherwise noted.

Check out the rest of our Great Adaptations: From Page to Screen program!

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