Invisible Ghost (1941)

A Major Disappointment

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

Producer: Sam Katzman. Copyright 25 April 1941 by Monogram Pictures Corp. Produced by Banner Productions. New York opening at the Rialto: 7 May 1941. U.S. release: 25 April 1941. Never theatrically released in Australia. 7 reels. 64 minutes. SYNOPSIS: An innocent man (John McGuire) is executed for the murder of his former sweetheart (Terry Walker), a housemaid employed by the father (Bela Lugosi) of his current girlfriend (Polly Ann Young).NOTES: 33rd and final film of Polly Ann Young (older sister of Sally Blane and Loretta Young), who retired from the screen after this effort. She died in 1997. COMMENT: Far-fetched but genuinely scary horror yarn, masterfully directed by Joseph H. Lewis who does wonders with an extremely limited budget. Lugosi is inclined to over-emphasize the catatonics, and Pembroke is singularly colorless as the police investigator, but Miss Young makes a suitably fair heroine and Mr McGuire is quite impressive as both Ralph and Paul. We also liked the sultry, blonde victim played by Terry Walker, silent star Betty Compson as the madwoman, and reliable Clarence Muse as the steadfast butler. A current DVD offering accurately reproduces the compelling sepia tones of the original release prints.

***SPOILERS*** Bela Lugosi sleepwalks in this role as a mind controlled Zombie as the unfortunate Mr. Kessler who's weak mind is controlled by his wife , Betty Compson, who disappeared from sight three years ago. Were never told of the circumstances of Mrs. Kessler's disappearance and strange actions and it's hinted that her husband had something to do with them. Which made her through mind control have him commit a number of murders in the movie that he had no idea, in him being hypnotized, that he committed.It's after the the new maid Cecile, Terry Walker, is found murdered that Kessler's daughter Virginia, Polly Ann Young, boyfriend Ralph Dickson, John McGuire, is arrested in her murder in that he had a spat with her over him leaving Cecile for Virginia the day before. We in fact see that it was indeed Kerssler, while under hypnosis, who did Cecile in but had no knowledge of his actions. Poor Ralph is arrested convicted and executed in record time, about two minutes, for what was a murder that he didn't commit. With Ralph's twin brother, also played by John McGuire, showing up from far off South America he's now determined to clear his brother's name as well as restart his romantic involvement with Virginia.***SPOILERS*** It's the police lead by the cigar chomping Let.Wiliams, George Pembroke,who seems to have am unlit Churchill-size cigar permanently attached to his mouth who messes up every clue they come across in the murders, three by the time the movie is over, committed by the zombiefied Kessler. It's finally when Mrs. Kessler, who was thought to be dead, shows up unsuspectingly raiding the refrigerator that the truth comes out. It's then that the clueless Kessler, while under hypnosis, suddenly freaks out and attempts to strangle Let. Williams that exposes him as the real murderer. Nowhere as good as Logosi's previous Monogram Picture hit "The Devil Bat" the best of the nine films he made for the studio but still it had the same soundtrack in it.

not to bad for a "b" movie, Bela Lugosi plays an invisible ghost stalking people in his house and murdering them. He is the twin brother of the main character who died.. we are not sure in the picture if Bela's wife is dead or alive,, all we know for sure is that people just seem to keep dying around him. The local police seem very clueless,, o wow look another murder,, wander who could have possibly done that,, they seem very clueless. Apparently his "dead" wife lives on the property somewhere and seems to come and go as she pleases, we are not sure if Bela's character is a Somnobulist or what,, although I think that he is. not a bad picture to watch,, just takes a little time to understand exactly what is going on in the picture.

Back in the day, horror just didn't get the respect that it would today, kind of relegated to the back of the bus with all the other social reprobates. However this one is a gem, if not in the story line then certainly in the acting. Bela Lugosi is excellent as Mr. Kessler, the urbane and courtly widower somewhat befuddled by the recent loss of his wife in a tragic accident. Clarence Muse is excellent too as the butler, who in the role of black servant is not played mainly for comic effect, although he does have one funny line. At one point says "Do I look pale? I feel pale", when he sees Paul Dickson, who is the image of his dead brother Ralph.As with most horror mysteries, there is a lot of darkness and strange occurrences. Never mind that much of it isn't adequately explained, it keeps the viewer going. The police are clueless and seem always to be the dumbest ones in the room. The rest are either insane or hapless witnesses and victims. Considering the frequency of murder taking place in this house, the occupants seem strangely unconcerned and Mr. Kessler has no problem hiring new domestic servants to replace those who have been murdered.What is unexplained (and here be the spoiler) is why his gardener, Jules is providing shelter and allowing Mr. Kessler's wife {supposedly dead), who is also not quite right apparently, to hide somewhere nearby. Also why does she prowl the night and look in windows, in all weather, and what DSM-IV classification could possible exist to explain why this triggers in Mr. Kessler his slow trance-like stalking of victims in his house late at night? Mr. Kessler and his wife seem to be made for each other, since both are crazy as loons. All I can say is, it is probably a good thing that would-be son in law Ralph never gets a chance to reproduce with Kessler's daughter. The genetic consequences would not have been pretty.