Friday, July 27, 1973: The Invisible Ray (1936)

Synopsis: Renowned scientist Janos Rukh (Boris Karloff) demonstrates his newest discovery to a skeptical group of savants, including Dr. Felix Benet (Bela Lugosi). In a somewhat surreal and complicated sequence, he reveals that all light and sound waves are preserved in space and time, and that looking back far enough he can see the moment millions of years ago in which a meteor containing an ultra-rare element called Radium X fell in southwestern Africa.

Radium X, as the name implies, is a souped-up form of radioactive material, possessing great potential for both healing and destruction.

Somewhat baffled but convinced by his demonstration, the scientists join Rukh on an expedition to recover the meteorite.

In Africa, Rukh works obsessively to unlock the secrets of Radium X. Meanwhile, Rukh’s beautiful young wife (Frances Drake) begins to fall in love with another man on the expedition (Frank Lawton).

Most of the party returns to Europe. Dr. Benet quickly discovers that Radium X, applied properly, can cure any physical ailment, and he uses it to heal the sick, though he assiduously credits Dr. Rukh with the element’s discovery.

When Rukh returns home he learns of his wife’s infidelity and of his rivals building new careers on his work.

After receiving an accidental overdose of Radium X, Rukh discovers that his skin glows in the dark and that his touch can kill. The overdose also seems to have left him deranged, and he decides to murder all those whom he believes have betrayed him, starting with the scientists who accompanied him on the expedition….

Comments: The third of Universal’s Karloff – Lugosi screen pairings, The Invisible Ray is decidedly odd, and while it never really comes together it is interesting to watch. It begins with a confused science-fiction premise, becomes a jungle movie in the middle (lots of white men in pith helmets and “African natives” pounding on drums), then sprints through the third act with a revenge subplot reminiscent of James Whales’ The Invisible Man.

The device we see demonstrated at Rukh’s castle — basically a television that can see into the past — is really just a throwaway idea, trotted out to explain how Rukh knows where the Radium X meteorite is located. But in fact, the machine would require several Nobel-prize-worthy discoveries in order to work, and seems at least as big a deal as Radium X itself. The implications of such a device hadn’t yet been explored in science fiction — T.L. Sherred’s “E for Effort” wouldn’t be published for another 11 years —   and so we can assume the screenwriters just banged their shins against what could have been a great story idea and  moved on. The irony is the African expedition subplot, presumably added to make Radium X seem more exotic and unobtainable, doesn’t add to the story and could been cut out anyway; Rukh could just as easily (and much more credibly) have discovered it in his laboratory.

The movie still might have succeeded with a strong director and engaging cast, but that was not in the cards. Lambert Hillyard, who cut his teeth on B-westerns and serials, seems uncertain of his material here and wastes a number of opportunities to build suspense.

Boris Karloff is overcooked in more ways than one in this film, and it’s Lugosi who really shines in a rare sympathetic role. By contrast, Frances Drake and Frank Lawton are crashingly dull as the romantic leads — so much so that you wonder how they ended up in a major studio release.

Add to this some special effects that would not have been that impressive even in 1936, and you’re left with a standard-issue mad scientist flick from that era, almost aggressively generic and almost immediately forgettable. Still, it’s always interesting seeing Karloff and Lugosi on-screen together, and Karloff’s death scene alone is worth the price of admission.