MovieChat Forums > The Invisible Man (1933) Discussion > Is it supposed to be a comedy?

Is it supposed to be a comedy?


Seriously, I think the high ratings are unjustified. There's loads of really stupid moments that defy logic. Like the fact that he's invisible, not superhuman, invisibility doesn't give you the power to physically strangle anyone you want, it doesn't make you powerful enough to scare the whole towns police force out of a room by throwing a few cups.

Then there's the bit when the police search for him, you see them all walking round outside - why didn't they grab him when he was in the room?? Duh. And the part when he gets the copper by his feet and swings him round?? What the hell - not only would that require a ton of strength, he's also revealed his position to a large group of men. Yet none of them are smart enough to try to grab him. Sooo stupid.

Sorry, I love old movies, but this was a bit naff. Too many dumb moments and plot holes. This might be ok for a child to watch, but it doesn't deserve such high ratings.

Never argue with a fool - they'll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.

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Yeah because becoming invisible happens all the time lol. But everything else is just silly lol.

And yes moments are meant to be comedic. This is a James Whale film after all.

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I, too, thought it was a comedy -- however, not for the reasons you stated. The first 30 minutes or so had some really laugh-out-loud moments, especially the scenes with the hysterical Jenny Hall character.


Hey there, Johnny Boy, I hope you fry!

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The monocrane stuff is what made him looney and powerful, not the invisibility they say that close to the start of the movie when he's explaining it. And idk if supposed to be funny that's why I logged in bc this movie is hilarious! Idk abt scary but I've been laughing my a$$ off since it started its one of funniest movies I've ever seen!

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The comedy was absolutely intentional. Una O'Connor's exaggerated mannerisms were played for laughs. The Invisible Man had a dry wit about him. It even had the little scenes like the one where the police inspector tells the first officer to report about an invisible man, "Next time, you should put more water in it." Allegedly, James Whale didn't care for doing horror and so he would include humor to make it more interesting for him as a director. Most of the Universal Horror films included a little bit of comedy anyway though.

"Here we go gathering nuts in May, nuts in May. Here we go gathering nuts in May on the coldest day in the morning."

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"In literature, it's called plagiarism. In the movies, it's homage" ~ Roger Ebert

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For all the comedic antics the film was definitely very dark, what with the Invisible Man being a psychopath and mass murderer. He may have been a tragic figure but it was necessary that he was ultimately killed.

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Yes, it is meant to be comedic in places. As for why didn't they grab him, he's invisible so how could they? The police formed a ring around the house in an ingenius tactic to prevent him from escaping, otherwise he could slip past. I honetsly don't understand how you don't understand this, if he's invisible then he's hard to simply grab.

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It's not that the Invisible Man throwing stuff at the cops scared them. It was the fact that he was an invisible man, which shocked them. How many invisible men have you come across in your life? I guarantee, if you did, you'd be like those cops. Fleeing for your life, especially if it was one as obviously mad as Jack Griffin

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Well to answer your question. Yes actually. James Wale brought a great deal of comedy to his horror films, in fact many directors do from Romero to Raimi do too. It sits too close to the surface for some people to grasp.

The whole thing about Invisibility not being super human? Yea its an everyday occurrence after all.

They pretty much explain that a chemical in the serum causes Griffon to go insane. (Insanity causing advanced strength is a common belief) that plus his keen intellect almost make him a super villain. In such a short, fairly black and white (Pun intended) film I don't know how anyone with an ounce of intelligence could fail to notice.


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I just watched it today and I laughed my butt off through out the whole thing. Especially at Jenny Halls' scenes. Like that part after Invisible Man has escaped the Inn and she's next to her husband who's head has been bandaged. She is crying and screaming and the guy playing her husband looks really annoyed to be around her. There's a scene with the same actress in Bride of Frankenstein that's very similar. To be fair though the book is just as silly and over the top. The characters in the book are written pretty silly too.

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

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