[go: up one dir, main page]

    Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsEmmysSan Diego Comic-ConSummer Watch GuideToronto Int'l Film FestivalSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

Invisible Ghost

  • 1941
  • Approved
  • 1h 4m
IMDb RATING
5.3/10
2.8K
YOUR RATING
Bela Lugosi and Polly Ann Young in Invisible Ghost (1941)
CrimeDramaHorrorThriller

The town's leading citizen becomes a homicidal maniac after his wife deserts him.The town's leading citizen becomes a homicidal maniac after his wife deserts him.The town's leading citizen becomes a homicidal maniac after his wife deserts him.

  • Director
    • Joseph H. Lewis
  • Writers
    • Helen Martin
    • Al Martin
  • Stars
    • Bela Lugosi
    • Polly Ann Young
    • John McGuire
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.3/10
    2.8K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Joseph H. Lewis
    • Writers
      • Helen Martin
      • Al Martin
    • Stars
      • Bela Lugosi
      • Polly Ann Young
      • John McGuire
    • 108User reviews
    • 41Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos10

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster

    Top cast15

    Edit
    Bela Lugosi
    Bela Lugosi
    • Charles Kessler
    Polly Ann Young
    Polly Ann Young
    • Virginia Kessler
    John McGuire
    John McGuire
    • Ralph Dickson…
    Clarence Muse
    Clarence Muse
    • Evans
    Terry Walker
    Terry Walker
    • Cecile Mannix
    Betty Compson
    Betty Compson
    • Mrs. Kessler
    Ernie Adams
    Ernie Adams
    • Jules Mason
    George Pembroke
    • Detective Williams
    Ottola Nesmith
    Ottola Nesmith
    • Mrs. Mason
    • (as Ollola Nesmith)
    Fred Kelsey
    Fred Kelsey
    • Detective Ryan
    Jack Mulhall
    Jack Mulhall
    • Tim
    Fred Aldrich
    Fred Aldrich
    • Guard at Ralph's Execution
    • (uncredited)
    Robert F. Hill
    Robert F. Hill
    • Trial Judge
    • (uncredited)
    Lloyd Ingraham
    Lloyd Ingraham
    • Psychiatrist
    • (uncredited)
    Robert Strange
    Robert Strange
    • Kirby - Coroner
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Joseph H. Lewis
    • Writers
      • Helen Martin
      • Al Martin
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews108

    5.32.8K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    wdbasinger

    Great Old Dark House Spooker

    This is my favorite of Bela Lugosi's Monogram potboilers. This film is perfect in black and white because of the use of light and shadow as well as thunder and lightning in a creepy old house that has the feel of an old tomb. Throughout the film, the house setting with its weird shadows and spooky atmosphere sets the tone for the film

    A series of unsolved murders take place in this old house and the authorities fail to close it up due to legal technicalities. From the beginning, one knows that the guilty party is Bela Lugosi under the bizarre hypnotic influence of his estranged wife. The story rolls on with additional murders and an innocent suitor being sent to the electric chair for a murder he did not commit. After a few more people bite the dust, the real murderer is uncovered in one of the most bizarre climaxes in "B" movie history.

    Great late night fun.

    Dan Basinger
    7ken-336

    Classic Poverty Row fare with Bela Lugosi!

    This murder shocker, featuring some typically hilarious plot twists and insane character reactions, is buoyed by that inimitable Lugosi magic. Also worth mentioning is the surprisingly inventive direction by Joseph H. Lewis, as is the comparatively dignified treatment of the black butler character, well played by Clarence Muse. Fans of old Monogram and PRC programmers will be well entertained.
    6gavin6942

    What Did I Watch?

    Maybe this is a spoiler, but I don't think anyone should watch this movie without knowing the following: this movie makes no sense.

    Bela Lugosi stars as a wealthy estate owner who misses his wife and thinks she is dead. But she's not dead -- the gardener keeps her in a shed in the backyard. And sometimes she escapes in a bathrobe to steal a piece of chicken from the kitchen, only to be spotted through the window by Lugosi who thinks it's a ghost. This causes him to enter a trance and kill some random person. Even after several murders (maybe dozens) in the same house, the police never suspect Lugosi.

    On one occasion, they arrest the boyfriend of Lugosi's daughter and execute him. A minute later in the next scene his twin brother shows up.

    If you like Lugosi, this film is decent and quite fun. But seriously, don't try to figure out why the wife is in a shed or what causes him to go into a trance or why the police are so stupid. Because you will never make sense of this preposterous film.
    BaronBl00d

    Death by Cloak

    Bela Lugosi plays Charles Kessler, a man whose wife left him years ago, apparently is dead, and comes out of a crypt and hypnotizes him so he will kill people by throwing his black cloak over them till they suffocate. Hmmm..okay. This is a real cheapie by Monogram, yet it is entertaining and even has a few inspired bits of direction. Not many, however. The biggest problem with this film is that nothing is really explained about Lugosi and his wife, why she is dead and comes back, what happened to her, etc... We are also to believe that a horde of murders have happened in the house, yet no one has ever really suspected the inhabitants of the house(Lugosi, his daughter, or reliable servant Evans). In fact the murders are taken with a grain of salt as more and more people are attacked by the dreaded cloak and killed. Help must really be hard to find under those circumstances. The film is under an hour in length and surely could have benefited by some deeper exposition. The movie also has some pretty annoying acting by the likes of John McGuire playing twin brothers(yeah right) and George Pembroke as a cigar-chomping policeman. These guys have no range at all. But the other actors are pretty decent, an unusual bonus for a film like this. Polly Ann Young actually is credible in her role as Lugosi's daughter. Betty Compson is effective in her brief role(you might remember her from the silent film era and in early talkies like The Great Gabbo with the great Erich Von Stroheim). Much of the film's credibility is due in large part to the acting of Clarence Muse, the black, dignified butler Evans. Muse plays his part with subtlety and dignity. He does nothing even remotely like the Mantan Moreland scared routine, and really is a pillar of strength for the film to build upon. I definitely would like to see more of him(He does have a brief role with Lugosi in White Zombie as a coach driver). As for Lugosi..what can I say...simply wonderful. He makes the common extraordinary..and is the heart of films like The Invisible Ghost. He keeps it beating long after it would normally have died from the memories of most. Lugosi is seldom over-the-top in this film, and I found it to be one of his more sensitive portrayals. The scenes with him looking out the window at an aged Betty Compson eerily made-up are really the film's best highlights. They are well-crafted mood pieces.
    5Space_Mafune

    Good Atmosphere-Silly Story

    The best quality this film possesses is a genuine creepy atmosphere. Especially good use of the weather (rain, stormy nights) enhances certain scenes particularly those in which Bela Lugosi's character Dr. Kessler is visited by his ghostly long-thought dead wife. Following this, Dr. Kessler is driven to unwittingly become a mad strangler. Just the result you'd expect?...no I didn't think so either.

    Lugosi is actually quite good in the film and gives it his best effort. Also I felt Polly Ann Young, Betty Compson and Clarence Muse did fine jobs with what they had to work with.

    The Inspector (played by George Pembroke) is an incredibly silly stereotype who comes across as thoroughly incompetent. However I did laugh when the visiting psychiatrist suggests it may be the Inspector who needs help.

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      First of nine films made by Bela Lugosi under his contract with Sam Katzman for Monogram Pictures.
    • Goofs
      When Mrs. Mason (Ottola Nesmith) enters the coroner's office, she's greeted with "Hello, Mrs. Nesmith".
    • Quotes

      Charles Kessler: What's the matter with Miss Mannix?

      Evans the Butler: I thought she was doing her exercises, but she's dead.

    • Crazy credits
      Opening credits are composed of ghastly, ghostly, creepy letters.
    • Connections
      Edited into Deanimated (2002)

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ14

    • How long is Invisible Ghost?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 25, 1941 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Le fantôme invisible
    • Production company
      • Sam Katzman Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 4m(64 min)
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb App
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.