The Invisible Monster

If you haven't seen many serials, this would be a good start. If you're a serial veteran, you'll recognize almost all of the cliffhanger endings, which have been lifted from other Republic serials. Richard Webb, later TV's Captain Midnight, delivers a stiff performance and a lot of punches: at least one set per chapter is demolished in a slugfest. John Hamilton, TV's Perry White in Superman, has a small part in the first and final chapter. For plot, there's even less logic than usual: bad guy wants to take over world with an army of invisible soldiers, but can barely manage to keep himself invisible. Overall, below average.

WOW!!! I have never seen such a slugfest. And the interesting thing is the both the hero, Richard Webb and the bad guys, Lane Bradford and John Crawford just keep taking a licking and keep on ticking. There are more punches thrown in the 12 chapters than in a heavyweight championship match. There are also more people being tossed around and wrestled to the ground than in a championship wrestling match. Within minutes, after our hero has been pummeled senseless, he is back chasing the bad guys.

I never saw any serials in the movies as I was growing up, but to me it would be very frustrating to see about 15 to 20 minutes of film and the last scene of the chapter has our hero in some dire life and death situation. If I had seen this in the movies, I would have to wait at least a week to find out how our hero Lane Carlson (the future Captain Midnight) was able to survive the ordeal and come back with a vengeance in the next chapter to try and apprehend the bad guys.

Thanks to video, I don't have to wait a week, or even an hour. It just depends on what mood I'm in and that determines whether I can sit through the "excitement" of the next chapter.

It was very interesting to see John Hamilton (the future Perry White of Superman) in this movie, even though he had a bit part.

All in all, the movie is interesting enough to hold my attention for all 12 chapters. I think I'll save it for a rainy day. Bring on the popcorn please.

The actual story of this as it develops is so ordinary that it is a waste of time: one fist fight after another. The situations are indefensibly unimaginative.

Its the premise of the thing that's interesting. I'll give it to you here so you don't have to watch this.

There's a master criminal bent on taking over the country. He has a "chemical" from some unknown foreign country. Anything coated with this is invisible when illuminated with a certain lamp. This two part system leads to the amazing improbably: the bad guy can skulk about unseen if his accomplice keeps a light shown on him from a truck. But the beam is narrow, so the accomplice has to move it to barely cover the skulker. So how does he know where to point the beam?

The commie metaphor is extended. The bad guy has a group of helpers that are illegally smuggled into this country. They are clearly European. He places them in positions where they can spy and steal unknown to their blind employers. Though they aren't literally invisible as the boss would make them eventually (if he could only get enough of that chemical!) they are virtually so. No employer suspects until it is too late.

This is much like "Federal Agents vs. the Underworld" (which preceded it) in most respects.

Ted's Evaluation -- 1 of 3: You can find something better to do with this part of your life.

What a mess! This serial has 3 major faults.

First, the premise is lame. A mad scientist (Stanley Price) known only as Phantom Ruler invents an incredibly bulky, and therefore difficult to transport, ray gun. This device will render an individual invisible when he or she is wearing clothes soaked in some sort of chemical solution. His plan is to steal $250,000, and use it to create a private army of invisible soldiers to overthrow the government of the US. Even in 1950 bucks, 250k was not enough to fund a coup de tat. The ray guns are so difficult to move about that they would be useless on the battlefield.

Second, Price (in the role of the leading villain) does not project anything resembling menace or authority. George Meeker, who plays one of Price's henchmen) had a long career in films. He often played smooth talking hoodlums. Meeker, I believe, probably was a better choice to play Phantom Rule.

Third. The photography is crisp and clear but does nothing to help create an aura of danger, intrigue, mystery etc.

This serial was made after Republic Studios adopted a policy of limiting all serial episodes to a running time in the 13 minute range. This keeps the action moving at a brisk pace and is a welcome innovation. This is the serial's one true strength and the only reason I awarded four stars (instead of three) to this film.

It shouldn't take long to find a better serial than Invisible Monster next time you are in the mood to watch a chapter play. I heartily recommend that you do so.