The Amazing Transparent Man

The Amazing Transparent Man is a 1960 science fiction film starring Marguerite Chapman. It is an American B-movie which follows the story of an insane ex–U.S. Army major who uses an escaped criminal to steal materials to improve the invisibility machine his scientist prisoner made.[2] It was one of two sci-fi films shot back-to-back in Dallas, Texas by director Edgar G. Ulmer (the other being Beyond the Time Barrier, also released in that same year).[3] The combined filming schedule for both films was only two weeks. The film was later featured in an episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000.

The Amazing Transparent Man
Theatrical release poster
Directed byEdgar G. Ulmer
Produced byLester Guthrie[1]
Screenplay byJack Lewis[1]
Starring
Music byDarrell Calker[1]
CinematographyMeredith M. Nicholson[1]
Edited byJack Ruggiero[1]
Production
company
Miller Consolidated Pictures[1]
Distributed byMCP Film Distributing Co.
Release date
  • February 1960 (1960-02) (United States)
CountryUnited States[1]

Plot

Former U.S. Army major Paul Krenner (James Griffith) plans to conquer the world with an army of invisible soldiers and will do anything to achieve that goal. With the help of his hired muscle, Julian (Red Morgan), Krenner forces Dr. Peter Ulof (Ivan Trisault) to perfect the invisibility machine Ulof invented. He keeps Ulof's daughter, Maria (Carmel Daniel), imprisoned to keep Ulof in line.

The nuclear materials Ulof needs to better his invisibility machine are extremely rare and kept under guard in government facilities. Krenner arranges the prison break of a notorious safecracker, Joey Faust (Douglas Kennedy), to steal the materials he needs. Of course Faust will do the jobs while invisible. Krenner offers Faust money for the jobs and Faust expresses his grievances against working for him. Faust tells him that he will sing like a canary if he is returned to prison, but Krenner informs Faust that he is wanted dead or alive, so Faust reluctantly complies. However, when he meets Krenner’s woman, Laura Matson (Marguerite Chapman), he slowly charms her into a double cross.

Faust continues attempting to escape and tries to get one over on Krenner. It looks as if he may have the edge on Krenner when Faust attacks Krenner while invisible. However, Dr. Ulof’s guinea pig dies and, during the second time he is invisible, Faust uncontrollably reverts from invisible to visible and back again. Despite these drawbacks Faust forges ahead, intent on breaking free from Krenner's control.

Dr. Ulof reveals to Faust that both of them are dying from radiation poisoning as a side-effect of the invisibility machine. He then convinces Faust to stop Krenner. Faust and Krenner fight in the lab until an accidental nuclear explosion kills them both and puts an end to Krenner's plans for world conquest.

Cast
Actor Role
Marguerite ChapmanLaura Matson
Douglas KennedyJoey Faust
James GriffithMaj. Paul Krenner
Ivan TriesaultDr. Peter Ulof
Boyd 'Red' MorganJulian
Carmel DanielMaria Ulof
Edward ErwinDrake
Jonathan LedfordSmith
Norman SmithSecurity guard
Patrick CranshawSecurity guard
Kevin KellyWoman
Dennis AdamsState Police officer
Stacy MorganState Police officer

Production and release

The film was made by Miller Consolidated Pictures, which gave it a brief release in 1960. It was then picked up by American International Pictures and released again later in the year.[4]

Mystery Science Theater 3000

The Amazing Transparent Man was featured in episode #623 of Mystery Science Theater 3000, along with "The Days of Our Years," a workplace safety short film. The episode debuted March 18, 1995, on Comedy Central.[5] The episode is not a fan favorite; it did not make the Top 100 list of episodes as voted upon by MST3K Season 11 Kickstarter backers.[6] Writer Jim Vorel concurred with the fans' opinion, ranking the episode #140 (out of 191 total MST3K episodes). Vorel calls The Amazing Transparent Man "instantly forgettable" and claims the short "completely steals the show".[7]

The MST3K version of The Amazing Transparent Man was included as part of the Mystery Science Theater 3000, Volume XXXIX DVD collection, released by Shout! Factory in November 21, 2017. The other episodes in the four-disc set include Girls Town (episode #601) and Diabolik (episode #1013). The fourth disc, titled "Satellite Dishes", collected non-movie segments from MST3K episodes that are unlikely to be collected on DVD.[8]

References
  1. "The Amazing Transparent Man". American Film Institute. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
  2. Booker, M. Keith (2001). Monsters, mushroom clouds, and the Cold War: American science fiction and the roots of postmodernism, 1946-1964. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 154–156. ISBN 0-313-31873-5.
  3. Weaver, Tom (2002). Science fiction confidential: interviews with 23 monster stars and film makers. McFarland. p. 300. ISBN 0-7864-1175-9.
  4. Smith, Gary A. (2009). The American International Pictures Video Guide. McFarland. p. 11.
  5. Episode guide: 623- The Amazing Transparent Man (with short: ‘The Days of Our Years’). Satellite News. Retrieved on 2018-07-.
  6. Bring Back Mystery Science Theater 3000 Update #41. Kickstarter. Retrieved on 2018-07-11
  7. Ranking Every MST3K Episode, From Worst to Best. Vorel, Jim. Paste Magazine. April 13, 2017. Retrieved on 2018-07-11.
  8. MST3K: Volume XXXIX Shout! Factory. Retrieved on 2018-07-10.
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