Fri 10 Jun 2016
A Mystery Movie Review by Jonathan Lewis: THE INVISIBLE MENACE (1938).
Posted by Steve under Mystery movies , Reviews[3] Comments
THE INVISIBLE MENACE. Warner Brothers, 1938. Boris Karloff, Marie Wilson, Eddie Craven, Regis Toomey, Henry Kolker, Cy Kendall, Charles Trowbridge, Eddie Acuff, Frank Faylen. Director: John Farrow.
I’ll admit it: I thought I knew who the murderer was, but I was wrong. Which just goes to show you that The Invisible Menace, although a somewhat clumsily filmed programmer, is worth watching until the very end. Combining humor with genuine pathos, this Warner Brothers murder mystery benefits from solid performances by star Boris Karloff and supporting actor Regis Toomey. Plus there are some occasional moments of levity and snappy dialogue to keep you engaged for the duration.
When an ordinance expert on a military installation is found tortured and murdered, it’s up to an ornery colonel to figure out just what happened and why. Because the military base in question is set on an island, there’s a natural limitation as to whom the murderer might be. Is it one of the officers, the doctor, or perhaps Boris Karloff’s character, a man with a shady past and a secret from his time living and working for the U.S. Army in Haiti?
At times extraordinarily stagy, The Invisible Menace has the feeling of a movie produced in 1931, rather than 1938. A lavish production this is not. But it’s a decent enough little crime film, one that doesn’t much linger in your thoughts afterward, but a clever enough adaptation of a play directed by an Australian living in the United States who would go on to much bigger and better things.
June 10th, 2016 at 1:22 pm
Farrow as director is the primary interest here after Karloff of course.
There are a couple of mysteries set against a military base in this period of which this is probably the best thanks to Karloff and Farrow, though I think one of them is based on a Steve Fisher novel.
But this shows the studios really didn’t know what to do with Karloff post FRANKENSTEIN. His role is a toss off, not really demanding anything much of his considerable screen presence and talent.
June 10th, 2016 at 2:58 pm
Sounds like the type of movie I enjoy. The trailer looks good.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v150aqnkydc
There is a short clip on YouTube that shows the bit young 19yr old Carole Landis did. She was the girl who wanted to go with “her Johnny” but not allowed on the island. The gag that sets up is a good one.
June 10th, 2016 at 6:55 pm
A solid little film, and you did it justice.