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Released December 27, 1940
Featuring Shemp Howard (Solo)
Universal
73 min. (Feature Film)

Fashion model Kitty Carroll is fed up with her job, especially her abusive boss Mr. Growley. She answers Prof. Gibbs' (John Barrymore) classified ad for a volunteer to test an invisibility invention, hoping that if it's successful, she can use it to exact some revenge on Growley. Broke playboy Richard Russell, Gibbs' financier, hopes the invisibility invention will restore his fortunes, and against the wishes of his exasperated and accident-prone butler (Charlie Ruggles), decides to gamble all he has left on Gibbs. Shemp Howard plays Hammerhead Frankie, one of three bumbling hoods who work for an exiled South American gangster "Blackie" Cole. Cole also wants the secret invisibility formula, so he can return to his country. The invisibility formula actually works, but to Kitty's surprise, it's temporary effects may be permanent after the subject drinks alcohol.

Universal's "Invisible Man" franchise turns to comedy with this B budget entry, notable for its starring of stage and screen legend John Barrymore in one of his final roles. Curly Howard may not "look more and more like Barrymore" (MOVIE MANIACS 1936), but Shemp Howard had the opportunity to work with his brother's idol in several scenes.

View the RealArt reissue theatrical trailer at TCM.com

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Avg. Rating: [7.00/10]
 
INVISIBLE WOMAN, THE on IMDb

Virginia Bruce
Kitty Carroll

John Barrymore
Professor Gibbs

John Howard
Richard Russell

Thurston Hall
Mr. Hudson

Margaret Hamilton
Mrs. Jackson

Charles Lane
Mr. Growley

Oskar Homolka
Blackie Cole

Shemp Howard
Hammerhead Frankie

Donald MacBride
Cyrus Foghorn

Eddie Conrad
Hernandez

Harry C. Bradley
Classifieds clerk

Kitty O'Neil
Mrs. Patten

Mary Gordon
Mrs. Bates

Sarah Edwards
Showroom customer

Kay Linaker
Showroom customer

Frank McLure
Parade of models guest


Burt Kelly
Producer

Joe May
Original Story

Curt Siodmak
Original Story

Robert Lees
Screenplay

Elwood Bredell
Director of Photography

Frank Gross
Film Editor

Jack Otterson
Art Director

Richard H. Riedel
Associate Art Director

Russell A. Gausman
Set Decoration

Bernard B. Brown
Sound Supervisor

Joe Lapis
Sound Technician

Charles Previn
Musical Director

Frank Skinner
Original Music

Joseph A. McDonough
Assistant Director

Roswell A. Hoffman
Special Photographic Effects

John P. Fulton
Special Photographic Effects

David S. Horsley
Special Effects


















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