A crazed scientist invents an invisibility formula. He plans to use the formula to create an army of invisible zombies.A crazed scientist invents an invisibility formula. He plans to use the formula to create an army of invisible zombies.A crazed scientist invents an invisibility formula. He plans to use the formula to create an army of invisible zombies.
- Julian
- (as Red Morgan)
- State Policeman
- (as Dennis Adams)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis was shot back-to-back with Beyond the Time Barrier (1960). The combined shooting schedule was only two weeks. They became Edgar G. Ulmer's last American film.
- GoofsWhen Major Krenner slaps Laura twice, Krenner's jacket pocket is inside out. Also, the carpet pieces seem to be messed up.
- Quotes
[last lines]
State Police officer: Well, Doctor, you and your friends have succeeded in blowing a path to the county. There isn't enough left out there to make ashes.
Dr. Peter Ulof: I am deeply sorry, of course. But as I told you before, I didn't do anything by choice. I warned Major Krenner of the danger involved, but you must realize, his was a deranged mind. All he could think of was the creating of an invisible army, and the powers this force would give him.
State Police officer: You know, Doctor, this idea of an invisible army is quite interesting. Imagine what our counterintelligence could accomplish if they were able to become invisible whenever necessary.
Dr. Peter Ulof: The Central Intelligence Agency has already discussed the possibility with me. But, my friend, think of the danger if the secret were stolen from us. It has happened before, you know. Perhaps it would be better if we... let the secret die with Major Krenner and Joey Faust. It's a serious problem.
[solemnly turns to the camera, as to plead to the viewer]
Dr. Peter Ulof: What would *you* do?
- Crazy creditsOpening credits are shown on a gray prison wall with a searchlight passing over it.
- Alternate versionsThere have been three prints of this film:
- The original negative print by Miller Consolidated Pictures (MCP). The film opens with the MCP company logo, and retains the pre-credits prologue. The film does not have any end titles; it ends with Dr. Peter Ulof (Ivan Triesault) facing the camera, asking "What would you do?" And the film simply fades to black. This version is available on DVD by MGM Home Entertainment (with the MGM "Lion" logo added at the beginning and after the end).
- The theatrical release print by American International Pictures (AIP). The AIP logo (with ominous fanfare) replaces the MCP logo at the beginning, and is also added at the end (right after Dr. Ulof's "What would you do?" speech after fadeout). This is the version used on The Amazing Transparent Man (1995).
- A public domain print, possibly used for syndicated/local TV. The MCP logo and the film's prologue are omitted, and begins at the film's title. A "The End" title card (plain font placed within a four-square gray/screentone background) was tacked on (complete with a relieved, low-tone piano cue), fading in after Dr. Ulof's "What would you do?" speech, and fading out.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Aweful Movies with Deadly Earnest: The Amazing Transparent Man (1969)
But the opening titles suggest you might get something a bit better than you were bracing yourself for. It's quite a good mood setting, with the music involving a cello grinding 4 repeating notes ominously. The other give away is that in the opening credits, the directors and producers names are shown in running-writing style - clearly both artists. And the opening prison escape bit is good, as well as the police checkpoint scene, and they involve some nicely framed external shots.
In fact its all looking like this might be a surprisingly enjoyable film, until the escaped safe-cracking crim Faust (played by Douglas Kennedy) has his first real indoor talking scene. And then you realize that for some reason only known to him, Mr Kennedy plays Faust like some "John Wayne" cowboy. Why a safe cracker would also be a swaggering tough guy who looks like he is ready to say "Ok Pilgrim" is a constant annoyance which does tend to cripple the film.
Anyway - - I don't think I'm giving much away to point out the early setup in the film when Krenner (the Bad Guy) says something like "Dr, make sure the radioactive material is kept away from the beam, or else we will all blow up", and then Dr Ulof repeating something similar back to Krenner five minutes later - - clearly, something is eventually going to go wrong along these lines much later in the film, and they really don't want you to miss it.
The other annoying thing about this movie is how quickly the characters (Faust, Krenner, Dr Ulof, Laura (the bad guys girl), and Julian (the bad guys hired help)) seems to keep swapping alliances and personality, all as a result of some simple statement that would even make a daytime soap opera blush.(eg: a "But your son is dead" has Julian swapping sides without a thought that "Hey, maybe she is lying because I have a gun pointed at her?").
So, the film is not too strong on the logic of how and why the characters act and respond. When combined with its over-earnestness, the final sentence uttered in the film, instead of being the deep and meaningful thought provoker the director and producer obviously intended, resulted in me chuckling for quite a while after the closing credits finished.
Ultimately - The Amazing Transparent Man is better than its title suggests, but not something to recommend.
- FranklinTV
- Nov 11, 2004
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Search for a Shadow
- Filming locations
- Berkshire Mountains, Massachusetts, USA(as Berkshires)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $100,000 (estimated)
- Runtime58 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1