The Amazing Transparent Man
by Edgar G. Ulmer
List Price:
Our Price: $2.96
You Save: $5.02 (63%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $1.11 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD releases
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD Cover Information
Actor: Boyd "Red" Morgan, Douglas Kennedy, Ivan Triesault, James Griffith, Marguerite ChapmanDirector: Edgar G. Ulmer
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Black & White, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 58 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2003-09-09
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Alpha Video
Movie Reviews of The Amazing Transparent Man
Movie Review: I enjoyed this film -- here's why
Summary: 4 Stars
This 1960 black-and-white film is sort of a The Invisible Man rip-off, but I'm okay on that criticism in that the two stories aren't all that similar. "The Invisible Man" is clearly the superior film of the pair but this one still has its good points.
The tale here is that an infamous safe-cracker ("Joey Faust," played by Douglas Kennedy) is sprung from prison to become the minion of a criminal mastermind ("Major Paul Krenner," played by James Griffith) who has established an atomic laboratory in a large farmhouse located out in the boondocks. Why does he need an atomic lab? To produce an army of invisible zombies which he plans to sell to the Army!
The lab's venerable old scientist is "Dr. Peter Ulof" (Ivan Triesault), a man working under duress because Krenner holds his young daughter hostage in the lab's closet. Krenner has two other shills, neither of which are all that loyal to him: "Laura Matson" (Marguerite Chapman) and "Julian" (Boyd 'Red' Morgan, who plays the farm watchman, armed with a Winchester .30-30). No one else, including the main cop, is all that significant in the film.
After Faust initially reaches the farm, driven there by Laura in a very cool 1959 Buick convertible, he comes to terms with Krenner after a bit of arguing. Krenner threatens to have him tossed back into the pokey if he doesn't cooperate with his (mad) plan.
Faust takes the tour upstairs with Krenner where Dr. Ulof is introduced along with his new invisibility ray which he demonstrates on a Guinea pig mainly to garner Faust's confidence. Faust is impressed but he sees the device as infinitely more useful in robbing banks while Krenner insists on his stealing atomic material from a government vault. This material is purportedly much more effective, albeit it's also a notably more volatile substance than what Ulof is currently using. The side effects are additionally anticipated to be very hazardous, a fact which is shrewdly withheld from Faust.
Faust goes along with the initial plan, stealing the atomic material right from under the noses of two astonished guards. But after that he sets his own agenda and attempts to draw in his sympathetic peers to help him overcome Krenner.
I can go no further than that without revealing the direction and the ending of the film so I'll stop there.
I thought that the special effects (by Roger George and Howard A. Anderson), the sets, the scenery, the camera work, and the story were all pretty darned impressive, all better than what one typically experiences in this genre of films. The actors weren't too hokey and the action stayed pretty brisk. This was also a nostalgic, Drive-in movie-type film from my own teen years so that plus is a somewhat personal one and a more subjective point.
The biggest shortcoming of this movie for me is that it only runs for 57 minutes, but that was pretty typical for these B-horror and sci-fi flicks. Also, the DVD packaging on this one conveys that the Transparent Man can walk right through walls, which he can't.
This film was produced by Miller Consolidated Pictures (MCP) and was directed by Edgar G. Ulmer. Jack Lewis wrote the original screenplay. The aspect ratio is 1.75:1, essentially full-frame. It's more of a science-fiction entry than a horror film but I guess you could include it under either title.
In summary, I would definitely recommend this budget film for avid fans of the genre(s).
Similar DVD Movies
The Day the Sky ExplodedAlpha Video; Release date: 2003-06-10; DOS; DVD
Best price: $2.35
Price in other shops:
Invisible Invaders / Journey to the Seventh PlanetSony; Release date: 2003-04-15; DVD
Best price: $3.45
Price in other shops:
The Monster That Challenged the World/ It! The Terror From Beyond SpaceSony; Release date: 2005-02-15; DVD
Best price: $4.32
Price in other shops:
Day the World Ended/ She CreatureLIONS GATE HOME ENT.; Release date: 2006-04-18; DVD
Best price: $1.79
Price in other shops:
The Giant BehemothWarner Brothers; Release date: 2007-06-26; DVD
Best price: $5.72
Price in other shops:
Watch the Skies! (The Cosmic Man / The Flying Saucer / Stranger From Venus)Image Entertainment; Release date: 2006-02-21; DVD
Best price: $5.05
Price in other shops:
The Man From Planet XRelease date: 2001-02-20; DVD
Best price: $5.78
Price in other shops:
The Colossus of New YorkRelease date: 2011-08-16; DVD
Best price: $14.90
Price in other shops:
Beyond the Time BarrierRelease date: 2010-07-26; DVD
Best price: $8.99
Assignment: Outer SpaceBayside ENT Dist; Release date: 2003-02-18; DOS; DVD
Best price: $3.65
Price in other shops: