MovieChat Forums > The Invisible Man (1933) Discussion > Claude Rains has a unique voice with an ...

Claude Rains has a unique voice with an excellent script

posted 13 years ago by micaofboca-836-322711
8 replies | jump to latest

Despite his visible absence in virtually all of the movie, Claude Rains' vocal technique is quite remarkable and unique. His aristocratic bearing is overshadowed by his defined individuality. In this role he dominated the screen through his antics and his license to exaggerate his character's insanity. Quite different from the debonaire parts he played with Bette Davis later on.
I also love the way he portrayed the arrogance that his medicine had altered his personality to in a Jekyll Hyde manner. He didn't just play the typical mad scientist. There's so much more humanity and characterization here. He actually delivered much more of a characterization in his part than the book imparted - which says much about how good the script writing was for this movie. And Claude Rains was as perfect in his part as Peter Lorre was in "M".

[–] GreenGoblinsOckVenom86 9 years ago

I have to admit there were a few times in the movie where he sounded like Boris Karloff.

Green Goblin is great! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1L4ZuaVvaw

[–] ChocolateFrankenstein 9 years ago

I agree he had a great screen presence.

When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness.

[–] prplayer 8 years ago

agree completely with you, every thing that came out of his mouth was gold

so many movies, so little time

[–] MayoGalway 8 years ago

That's why he was chosen. His stage background and distinctive voice. They wanted someone easily understood. One of many great actors not win an Oscar.

[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] PopperTheKungFu-Dragon 8 years ago

He was great in this. I can't imagine anyone else pulling this off other than Rains. I even think he should have been nominated for an Oscar.

Poorly Lived and Poorly Died, Poorly Buried and No One Cried

[–] Sewaat 8 years ago

If not for Claude Rains being cast as The Invisible Man, this film would have been very forgettable. And instead of being revered as a classic alongside the other Universal films, it would have been lost to obscurity. When he's on screen (okay, he's invisible but you know what I mean) there is never a dull moment. He keeps the film exciting and hurries the pace along. He MADE this film work. That and the amazing practical, special effects.

[–] twofacetoo 8 years ago

What's interesting is Claude Rains was very soft-spoken and had an almost weak and wimpy voice until he inhaled some dangerous gas during World War I, which affected his lungs and made his voice more gravelly and growly, hence the unique sound his voice has in this movie, amongst others.