TrueJoshNight Truly Dreadful Film

SoftInloveRox Horrible, fascist and poorly acted

FuzzyTagz If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

Sienna-Rose Mclaughlin The movie really just wants to entertain people.

Adam Foidart Despite its shortcomings, "The Amazing Transparent Man" is smarter and better than most of the cheap sci-fi films you can find in your average movie bargain bin. It has an interesting premise, original characters and at just under an hour, it moves quickly so you won't be bored. There's some sci-fi mumbo jumbo to explain the invisibility, some pretty laughable special effects, but you can tell there was some effort put into this. The special effects aren't always awful either, I'd say most of the time they're passable. The ending is where the movie really shines, which is what makes up for the rough spots. If you're at all curious about this one or if you are a fan of these older quickie sci-fi flicks, this is one of the better ones. If you're not one of the connoisseurs though, I don't know if there's going to be anything here for you. (Dvd, September 20, 2012)

dougdoepke Plot—a mad scientist frees a safecracker from prison to help him put together an army of invisible men, which he can then sell for big money!So what's in a title. Apparently, a lot since the "Amazing Transparent Man" lowers expectations to near empty. Sounds like a teenage drive-in special where kids didn't care what's on screen as long as there's a dark place to park. But then there's the Incredible Shrinking Man (1957) whose goofy title may have consigned it to the teenage circuit, yet also turned out to be not just suspenseful but surprisingly sublime. So I guess you can't always tell the book by its cover.Anyway, looks to me like this horror flick was aiming at Shrinking Man type transcendence, but doesn't get it; and that's despite Dr. Ulof's philosophical ponderings. Unfortunately, the script just never gels into anything suspenseful. Mostly it meanders around the laboratory- mansion, instead. Director Ulmer does keep things moving, so at least the pace doesn't drag. Still, the narrative is too loose to build anything like tension or suspense. Then too, the production is pretty shoddy at points that other reviewers have ably detailed. On the other hand, movie vets Kennedy and Chapman are energetic enough. At least, they don't appear to treat this as just an easy payday. Plus, I did enjoy seeing Ivan Triesault (Dr.Ulof) as something other than the Nazi stereotype that he was usually consigned to. Still, I'm afraid this movie is an instance where-- all in all-- the book is told by its cover.

Chase_Witherspoon Extremely compact (57 minutes) yet entertaining story of ruthless safe-cracker (Kennedy), sprung from gaol by a demented former military agent (Griffith) and his cheap-wine associate (Chapman), forced to endure radiation experiments that make him invisible in order to steal guarded uranium deposits so Griffith can build an invisible army to take-over the world. Street-wise Kennedy decides to turn his transparency into an opportunity to pull a bank heist, but things go awry when the invisibility wears off mid-way through the crime.Griffith is an impeccably dressed, meek-looking but sadistic villain, keeping his associates subservient via various forms of duress, Chapman plays the life-of-crime broad, mistreated by Griffith (there's a great scene in which Griffith slaps her twice the second he calls "the dot on the i") seeing an opportunity to make it big with Kennedy's safe-cracking skills. Kennedy is the cornerstone, delivering an economical performance of a career criminal with no pride or patriotism, only a loyalty to his young daughter from whom he's forcibly estranged.You won't get much in your special effects on this budget, nevertheless it's not a bad variation on the "invisible man" theme like an "Outer Limits" or "Twilight Zone" episode with real exteriors and a capable and reasonably distinguished cast. Look out for craggy-faced Pat Cranshaw ("Old School") as an inept security guard in an early film role.

Woodyanders Bitter and crazed ex-military officer Paul Krenner (an excellent performance by James Griffith) forces kindly scientist Peter Ulof (a sturdy turn by Ivan Triesault) to create an invisibility process using radiation. They proceed to break volatile safe cracker Joey Faust (robustly played with venomous aplomb by Douglas Kennedy) out of jail so he can steal more radium, but things don't go according to plan. Director Edgar G. Ulmer, working from an engrossing script by Jack Lewis, relates the compelling story at a steady pace and maintains an appropriately serious tone throughout. Margueritte Chapman does well as greedy and treacherous moll Laura Matson. The bank robbery set piece is a lot of fun (Faust turns visible again in the middle of the gig!) and the thrilling conclusion ends with a literal explosive bang. Both Meredith M. Nicholson's sharp black and white cinematography and Darrell Calker's moody score give this picture a cool film noir-style atmosphere. The special effects are admittedly rough, but overall decent and acceptable. The tight 57 minute running time ensures that the movie never becomes dull or overstays its welcome. A neat little flick.