Invisible Ghost (1941)
Director - Joseph H. Lewis
The Plot
Some years past, Charles Kessler's wife ran away with his best friend. They however had little future to run to, as their car crashed and the wife's body was never found. Mr Kessler now lives with his grown daughter and the memory of Mrs Kessler. His routine includes setting a place for the Mrs for dinner and conversing with her empty chair. He also has a sleep-walking problem. And then there are all those murders occuring in the vincinity, murders in his very home. Who is The Invisible Ghost?
Film Notes
If You Need Reasons to View
OK, so the plot makes no sense whatsoever.
In fact, it makes less than no sense. But The Invisible Ghost has more than a few things going for it that make it worthwhile viewing.
It's very short. Barely over an hour long.
It's a model Monogram Pictures cheapie "B" film.
It stars Bela Lugosi. Bela Lugosi!
It has an atypical performance by Clarence Muse.
Most importantly, it was directed by the great Joseph H. Lewis, auteur of Gun Crazy, Undercover Man and My Name is Julia Ross.
Movie Crazy
God created Joseph H. Lewis for making movies. Rising from the literal lower depths of studio film vaults, as a very young man he climbed the Hollywood snakes and ladders to a long successful career of mostly low budget, but always stylish, individualistic work. This guy could even put his signature on East Side Kid vehicles.
Known as "Wagon Wheel Joe, "The Invisible Ghost shows some of Mr Lewis' early style markers – strange angles. The camera looks through fireplaces, around corners, window panes, under tables, through walls, through the eyes of victims. A montage covering the arrest, trial and execution goes by in a quick poetic burst images that no doubt saved money, but also is pure cinema.
The Invisible Seen - What Will Haunt You
...a world of endless shadows, a kinder gentler Bela, a twin brother, an intelligent butler, fire, an ex-silent star's dying glow, Loretta Young's sister, Bela doing the deed, dumb detectives, a sleepwalking Bela...
-- Ed Schneider
Cast & Production Credits
| Bela Lugosi | Charles Kessler |
| Polly Ann Young | Virginia Kessler |
| John McGuire | Ralph / Paul Dickson |
| Clarence Muse | Evans (Butler) |
| Betty Compson | Mrs. Kessler |
| Produced by Monogram | |
| Joseph H. Lewis | Director |
| Sam Katzman | Producer |
| Al Martin, Helen Martin | Screenwriters |
| Harvey Gould and Marcel le Picard |
Cinematographers |
| Johnny Lange, Lew Porter | Musical Directors |
| Don Robertson | Make-Up |
| Robert Golden | Editor |
