Boris Karloff, famous for his work in Frankenstein, was almost the Invisible Man instead of Claude Rains.
The Big Picture No studio is as closely associated with monster movies as Universal Pictures. Their contributions to the genre during the Golden Age of Hollywood are among the most recognizable in film, with some leaving such an indelible mark on popular culture they eclipsed the popularity of their original novels . The Invisible Man was another one of Universal’s esteemed productions from this period, thanks in part to Claude Rains’ mesmerizing performance as the titular antagonist.
The Invisible Man was a critical and box office sensation upon its October 1933 release, with reviewers praising its technical achievements and macabre atmosphere. Such opinions remain the consensus today, highlighted by critic Kim Newman’s proclamation that it was “the first truly great American science fiction film.
In the following months, Universal Pictures gave the green light to multiple star vehicles for Karloff, including a resurrected The Invisible Man. This being Hollywood, it didn’t take long for problems to arise. Robert Florey was hired to direct, but complications related to its logistical practicalities saw it being sidelined in favor of another Karloff and Whale collaboration, 1932’s critically underwhelming The Old Dark House. This pause failed to benefit The Invisible Man.