Invisible Ghost part 1 (of 2) -- ComicWeb Old Movies
- 4 years ago
Invisible Ghost is a 1941 American horror film starring Bela Lugosi and directed by Joseph H. Lewis. It was the first of the nine movies interpreted by Bela Lugosi for Sam Katzman at Monogram Pictures.
Charles Kessler (Bela Lugosi) is plagued by homicidal urges. His wife (Betty Compson), who had left him for another man, gets into a car accident that leaves her brain damaged and is kept in a cellar in secret, by Kessler's gardener. When an innocent man, Ralph Dickson, is executed for a murder Kessler committed in the house, his twin brother, Paul Dickson, visits and tries to unravel the mystery.
Is Kessler the real murderer? Is he really guilty?
Bela Lugosi - Dr. Charles Kessler
Polly Ann Young - Virginia Kessler
John McGuire - Ralph Dickson and Paul Dickson
Clarence Muse - Evans the Butler
Terry Walker - Cecile Mannix
Betty Compson - Mrs. Kessler
The Los Angeles Times said the film was "head and shoulders above the average horror picture. It's superiority is based on the fact that spine-tickling qualities stem from a psychopathic and psychological situation rather than a purely physical one, imparting a Poe-ish flavour... Lugosi is, of course, superb in his work, being master of all the horror tricks but never overdoing them".
On the other hand, the New York Times wrote: "The motivation is as wild as the wind and the performances are as incredibly amateurish as "The Invisible Ghost" is silly."
Charles Kessler (Bela Lugosi) is plagued by homicidal urges. His wife (Betty Compson), who had left him for another man, gets into a car accident that leaves her brain damaged and is kept in a cellar in secret, by Kessler's gardener. When an innocent man, Ralph Dickson, is executed for a murder Kessler committed in the house, his twin brother, Paul Dickson, visits and tries to unravel the mystery.
Is Kessler the real murderer? Is he really guilty?
Bela Lugosi - Dr. Charles Kessler
Polly Ann Young - Virginia Kessler
John McGuire - Ralph Dickson and Paul Dickson
Clarence Muse - Evans the Butler
Terry Walker - Cecile Mannix
Betty Compson - Mrs. Kessler
The Los Angeles Times said the film was "head and shoulders above the average horror picture. It's superiority is based on the fact that spine-tickling qualities stem from a psychopathic and psychological situation rather than a purely physical one, imparting a Poe-ish flavour... Lugosi is, of course, superb in his work, being master of all the horror tricks but never overdoing them".
On the other hand, the New York Times wrote: "The motivation is as wild as the wind and the performances are as incredibly amateurish as "The Invisible Ghost" is silly."