Invisible Ghost

Invisible Ghost (1941) is a horror film directed by Joseph H. Lewis (The Mad Doctor of Market Street) based on a story and screenplay by Helen and Alan Martin (Invasion of the Saucer Men; The Eye Creatures). It was a Sam Katzman (Spooks Run Wild; The Corpse Vanishes; Bowery at Midnight) production.

The film stars Bela Lugosi, Polly Ann Young (Murders in the Rue Morgue), John McGuire (Dead of Night), Clarence Muse (White Zombie), Terry Walker (Voodoo Man), Betty Compson, Ernie Adams (The Devil Commands).

Plot teaser:

Charles Kessler (Bela Lugosi) is obsessed by his wife whom he believes to be dead. In fact, she (Betty Compson) left him for another man, but was involved in a car accident that left her brain damaged and so is kept in the basement, in secret, by Kessler’s gardener. Only Evans the butler (Clarence Muse) seems to have any common sense.

When an innocent man is executed for a murder Kessler committed in the house, his twin brother arrives from South America and tries to unravel the mystery…

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Reviews:

“The best performance— and the biggest surprise— comes not from Lugosi, however, but from Clarence Muse. It’s a rare thing indeed to see a movie of this vintage that allows a black actor such generous measures of both screen time and dignity. When you consider that The Invisible Ghost was made the same year (and for the same studio) as King of the Zombies, you really understand what a lucky break Muse got here, and it’s refreshing to see that he was able to make so much of the role. His understated delivery and perfect timing even salvage a couple of comic relief moments…” 1000 Misspent Hours and Counting

“The Invisible Ghost evinces a mild degree of atmosphere in places – faces leering at the window, black servant Clarence Muse’s sinister scheming, and Lugosi acting very sinister. But the script suffers from a number of substantial confusions. For one the title is meaningless – there is no ghost, only the suggestion that Lugosi is thinking maybe that his wife has returned as one (and it is clear to us that such is not the case early in the game). Nor does she, or anybody or any thing else in the film, ever become invisible.” Richard Scheib, Moria.com

[Spoiler]: “It’s good to see Bela Lugosi in a rare ‘normal’ role (he’s the killer, but he’s possessed when he kills, and the rest of the time he’s quite pleasant, if terrible at chess). Also, the African American character (Clarence Muse) isn’t played as a stereotype, unlike Jeff in King of the Zombies, so that’s a plus.” Horror Movie a Day