4. Claude Rains performed as the Invisible Man in 1933
In 1933 another classic monster was created to join Universal’s growing stable of horrors, this one unseen on film for most of the movie. Claude Rains portrayed the Invisible Man as a voiceover, not seen until the end of the film. Through most of the film, the Invisible Man appeared swathed in bandages to give him form. The movie was based on H. G. Wells’s book of the same title and followed it fairly closely. The film used special effects such as moving hay revealing where the Invisible Man slept, and footprints appearing in the snow as he walked, allowing him to be trapped and eventually killed.
The Invisible Man was a financial success, and launched the career of Claude Rains in the United States (he had previously appeared only in England). The New York Times called it one of the ten best films of 1933. Several more films featuring the Invisible Man concept followed it, but without Rains. Vincent Price assumed the role of a new Invisible Man in 1940’s The Invisible Man Returns, and several others followed, including The Invisible Woman, and The Invisible Man’s Revenge. The Invisible Man was also voiced briefly (by Price) near the end of Abbot and Costello meet Frankenstein in 1948.