Day 29: The Invisible Man
In 1897, Pearsons Weekly, published a serialisation of The Invisible Man by HG Wells. A scientist named Griffin, manages to find a way to turn himself invisible but fails to find a way to reverse it. In 1933 it was made into a film starring Claude Rains the it took off. Sequels, rewrites, variations on a theme for the next 100 years. In 2020 another Invisible Man film appeared. The first film since 1933 actually with the title, The Invisible Man. Of course it was also adapted for television, stage and radio. The Character has appeared in so many things it's easy to lose track. The Invisible Man almost became a movie monster.
Appearing in many films the original story is all but lost in translation these days. In the original, the procedure to turn himself invisible and his experiences following it are known only by the protagonist to start with. In the 1933 film both things unhinge him and he is somewhat of a sympathetic character. His crimes aren't due to malicious intent and are more a means of survival coupled with his deteriorating mental health. In the book he is possibly a sociopath or psychopath before his invisibility.
In more modern incarnations his experiments are usually known to more people or he has been invisible for some time and has adapted as far as he can. While some adaptations have kept the deteriorating mental health as a part of his character others completely omit that part of the character. Sometimes he, much like a superhero, uses his ability to do good and in others, lives a relatively quiet life until he is called upon by others who need him for some reason. In many films he, at least at some point, seeks a cure and a way to become visible again. Sometimes he gives up and sometimes his quest is not mentioned but it always seems to be his ultimate goal.
H.G. Wells, the author, was a prolific writer in many genres but is best remembered for his science fiction novels. Along with The Invisible Man, he best known works are probably, The Time Machine, The Island of Doctor Moreau and The War of the Worlds.
I personally have never read the book, perhaps I should one day. I have seen the 1933 film (I actually own it) I think I saw Hollow Man once but I can't remember. I haven't seen any other adaptations. I know there have been a couple of The Invisible Woman films but I think apart from the 1933 film the only film I have seen featuring the Invisible Man is The League of Extraordinary Gentleman. Now that was a good film! In the film we also have the characters Allan Quatermain (King Soloman's Mines), Captain Nemo (20,000 Leagues Under The Sea), Wilhelmina Harker (Dracula), Dorian Gray (The Picture of Dorian Gray), Tom Sawyer (The Adventures of Tom Sawyer), Dr Jekyll/Mr Hyde (The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde) and Professor James Moriarty(Sherlock Holmes). The invisible man's name in the film was Frank Skinner.
All in all the original Invisible Man from H.G. Wells 1897 novel seems to have slipped through the cracks and the incarnations of the character from adaptations and popular culture have taken over. I cannot comment on the 2020 film as I haven't seen it. I do hear it is loosely based on the novel so I highly doubt that it is in anyway a faithful adaptation, even an updated version. I do think that unless you have read the book, we don't have a real grasp on who he is or what exactly happens. I really should read the book and perhaps in the future I will. In the mean time I think I shall stick to the 1933 film (I am something of a Claude Rains fan). For the rest of you, there are at least 16 films based on it, 9 Tv series and 2 radio adaptations. By all means check one, or all of them out. Be all good and read the book, be sure to let me know how, whatever you watch/listen to/read goes. And if the doorbell rings and there's no-one there....maybe don't open the door too wide.
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