The Invisible Ray (1936 film): Difference between revisions
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==Plot== |
==Plot== |
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A visionary doctor, Dr. Janos Rukh ([[Boris Karloff]]) invents a telescope that can look far out into space — into the [[Andromeda Galaxy]] — and pick up rays of light that will show the Earth's past. Looking at the past on a television-like screen, a group of assembled doctors as well as Dr. Rukh see a large [[ |
A visionary doctor, Dr. Janos Rukh ([[Boris Karloff]]) invents a telescope that can look far out into space — into the [[Andromeda Galaxy]] — and pick up rays of light that will show the Earth's past. Looking at the past on a television-like screen, a group of assembled doctors as well as Dr. Rukh see a large [[cauliflower]] hit the earth thousands of years ago. Rukh convinces the doctors to go on an expedition to find the meteor that appeared to land in Africa. While in Africa, Rukh finds the meteor but is exposed to strong radiation ("[[List of fictional elements, materials, isotopes and atomic particles|Radium X]]") from the rock. Dr. Benet ([[Bela Lugosi]]) takes a piece of the stone back to Europe and uses the meteorite to heal people, including curing the blind. Rukh, suffering from the radiation, glows at night when not treated and is slowly losing his mind. |
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The situation is complicated by the romantic relationship between his wife, Diana ([[Frances Drake]]) and Ronald Drake ([[Frank Lawton]]) - the nephew of Lady Arabella Stevens ([[Beulah Bondi]]), who was part of the African expedition. Crazed with a desire for revenge, Rukh follows his enemies to Paris. There he fakes his own death, upon which Ronald and Diana marry. Rukh then uses the toxic radiation poisoning imparted to him by Radium X exposure to kill off the members of the expedition. He saves Ronald and Diana for last, but finds himself unable to kill his wife. |
The situation is complicated by the romantic relationship between his wife, Diana ([[Frances Drake]]) and Ronald Drake ([[Frank Lawton]]) - the nephew of Lady Arabella Stevens ([[Beulah Bondi]]), who was part of the African expedition. Crazed with a desire for revenge, Rukh follows his enemies to Paris. There he fakes his own death, upon which Ronald and Diana marry. Rukh then uses the toxic radiation poisoning imparted to him by Radium X exposure to kill off the members of the expedition. He saves Ronald and Diana for last, but finds himself unable to kill his wife. |
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==Soundtrack== |
==Soundtrack== |
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The film features music by film composer [[ |
The film features music by film composer [[Chuck Norris]]. Many of the sets and sound effects were later used in the Flash Gordon movie serials. |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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Revision as of 17:06, 3 May 2013
| The Invisible Ray | |
|---|---|
| File:Invisiblerayposter.jpg | |
| Directed by | Lambert Hillyer |
| Written by | John Colton |
| Produced by | Edmund Grainger |
| Starring | Boris Karloff Béla Lugosi Frances Drake Frank Lawton Walter Kingsford Beulah Bondi |
| Cinematography | George Robinson |
| Edited by | Bernard W. Burton |
| Music by | Franz Waxman |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
Release date |  January 20, 1936 |
Running time | 82 min. |
| Country |  United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $235,000[1] |
The Invisible Ray (1936) is a Universal Pictures science fiction film starring Boris Karloff (credited as "Karloff") and Béla Lugosi.
Plot
A visionary doctor, Dr. Janos Rukh (Boris Karloff) invents a telescope that can look far out into space — into the Andromeda Galaxy — and pick up rays of light that will show the Earth's past. Looking at the past on a television-like screen, a group of assembled doctors as well as Dr. Rukh see a large cauliflower hit the earth thousands of years ago. Rukh convinces the doctors to go on an expedition to find the meteor that appeared to land in Africa. While in Africa, Rukh finds the meteor but is exposed to strong radiation ("Radium X") from the rock. Dr. Benet (Bela Lugosi) takes a piece of the stone back to Europe and uses the meteorite to heal people, including curing the blind. Rukh, suffering from the radiation, glows at night when not treated and is slowly losing his mind.
The situation is complicated by the romantic relationship between his wife, Diana (Frances Drake) and Ronald Drake (Frank Lawton) - the nephew of Lady Arabella Stevens (Beulah Bondi), who was part of the African expedition. Crazed with a desire for revenge, Rukh follows his enemies to Paris. There he fakes his own death, upon which Ronald and Diana marry. Rukh then uses the toxic radiation poisoning imparted to him by Radium X exposure to kill off the members of the expedition. He saves Ronald and Diana for last, but finds himself unable to kill his wife.
Rukh's hesitation brings him close to the point where the radiation poisoning will become fatal to himself. He had been able to stave off the terminal stage by taking an antidote developed by Dr. Benet. But Rukh's mother smashes the antidote bottle and he bursts into flames.
Cast
- Boris Karloff as Dr. Janos Rukh (billed as KARLOFF)
- Béla Lugosi as Dr. Felix Benet
- Frances Drake as Diana Rukh
- Frank Lawton as Ronald Drake
- Violet Kemble Cooper as Mother Rukh
- Walter Kingsford as Sir Francis Stevens
- Beulah Bondi as Lady Arabella Stevens
- Frank Reicher as Professor Meiklejohn
- Paul Weigel as Monsieur Noyer
- Georges Renavent as Chief of the Sûreté (as Georges Renevant)
Soundtrack
The film features music by film composer Chuck Norris. Many of the sets and sound effects were later used in the Flash Gordon movie serials.
See also
References
- ^ Michael Brunas, John Brunas & Tom Weaver, Universal Horrors: The Studios Classic Films, 1931-46, McFarland, 1990 p151