The Invisible Woman (1940)
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31% of users liked it
(275 ratings)
Dispensing with the melodramatic excesses of Universal's previous "Invisible Man" films, 1941's The Invisible Woman aims strictly for laughs. Virginia Bruce stars as Kitty Carroll, an outspoken department store model fired from her job by tyrannical Mr. Growley (Charles Lane).… More Dispensing with the melodramatic excesses of Universal's previous "Invisible Man" films, 1941's The Invisible Woman aims strictly for laughs. Virginia Bruce stars as Kitty Carroll, an outspoken department store model fired from her job by tyrannical Mr. Growley (Charles Lane). Intrigued by an ad in the personal columns requesting the services of an "adventurous woman", Kitty offers her services to eccentric scientist Professor Gibbs (John Barrymore, doing a dead-on impression of his brother Lionel). Much to the dismay of his timorous butler George (Charles Ruggles), his housekeeper Mrs. Jackson (Margaret Hamilton), and his nephew-financier Richard Russell (John Howard), Gibbs has been experimenting with an invisibility formula, and Kitty turns out to be a most willing guinea pig. Cloaked in her new invisibility, our heroine gets even with her old nemesis Growley and sets out for new escapades, while Gibbs and his entourage anxiously search for the girl lest harm befall her. The whole affair ends up in the Mexican refuge of gangster Blackie (Oscar Homolka), who hopes to use Gibbs' formula for his own nefarious purposes. Given the fact that Blackie is saddled with such moronic henchmen as Bill (Ed Brophy) and Frankie (Shemp Howard), he doesn't stand a chance against the resourceful Kitty, who thoughtfully permits the nonplussed Richard into thinking that he's rescuing her. Shakespeare it isn't, but The Invisible Woman is consistently funny and inventive, enhanced by Universal's usual excellent special effects. Future leading lady Maria Montez shows up as one of the models in the early scenes, along with former Warner Bros. star Anne Nagel. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- A. Edward Sutherland
- Written By
- Robert Lees, Frederic I. Rinaldo, Gertrude Purcell
- Genres
- Romance, Mystery & Suspense, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Comedy
- In Theaters
- Dec 27, 1940 Wide
- Studio
- Passport
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Cast
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Virginia Bruce
as Kitty Carroll
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John Barrymore
as Prof. Gibbs
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John Howard
as Richard Russell
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Charlie Ruggles
as George
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Oscar Homolka
as Blackie Cole
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Edward S. Brophy
as Bill
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Donald MacBride
as Foghorn
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Margaret Hamilton
as Mrs. Jackson
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Shemp Howard
as Frankie/"Hammerhead"
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Anne Nagel
as Jean
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Kathryn Adams
as Peggy
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Maria Montez
as Marie
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Charles Lane
as Mr. Growley
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Mary Gordon
as Mrs. Bates
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Thurston Hall
as John Hudson
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Eddie Conrad
as Hernandez
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Harry C. Bradley
as Want Ad Man
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Kernan Cripps
as Postman
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Sarah Edwards
as Buyer
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Kay Linaker
as Showroom Customer
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Kitty O'Neil
as Mrs. Patten
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Kay Leslie
as Model
