The Invisible Man (1933)

Claude Rains and Gloria Stuart star in iconic gay director James Whale’s 1933 pre-code Hollywood horror film THE INVISIBLE MAN. Today’s post was written by film critic and horror expert Dr. Heather O. Petrocelli (@queerforfear on Instagram). Be sure to follow their Instagram page for all things queer + horror.

THE INVISIBLE MAN

1933. USA.

Director: James Whale

Screenplay: R. C. Sherriff

Based on: “The Invisible Man” (1897) by H. G. Wells

Starring: Claude Rains, Gloria Stuart, William Harrigan, Dudley Digges, Una O'Connor, Henry Travers & Forrester Harvey

Queer elders in filmmaking, like James Whale, infused their films with queer meanings that the mainstream audience didn't pick up on. I imagine that Whale, the director of THE INVISIBLE MAN (1933), felt the tension between the power and the difficulties (and destruction) that came from the societal invisibility of queer people at that time. James Whale shows us in 'The Invisible Man' that he truly understood the queerness in the line of dialogue: "The whole world's my hiding place. I can stand out there amongst them in the day or night and laugh at them." This film affords us queers the opportunity to consider our (in)visibility in society AND to enjoy the singular camp of Una O'Connor, fawn over the fabulous wardrobe of Gloria 'The Heart of the Ocean' Stuart, and wonder about what happens with food and poop when you're invisible. We can also appreciate the Invisible Man being mischievous *and* cantankerous—what queer doesn't relate to that?!

THE INVISIBLE MAN is streaming through Prime (USA), available for rent/purchase through AppleTV and Amazon, and also available on DVD/Blu-ray.