One of the more faithful adaptations of a classic novel by Universal Studios, The Invisible Man tells the story of Dr. Jack Griffin, a chemist who has discovered the secret of invisibility. Unfortunately for Griffin the formula has not only turned him invisible but has come with a nasty side effect of making him insane! The screenplay is ahead of its time as the story isn't told in chronological order, forcing audiences to fill in the gaps, something unheard of at the time. Whale, though a commerical director, was never one to hold a viewer’s hand when telling a story, which is just one of the reasons his films hold up so well to a modern point of view.

Added to the novel's original story are various side characters most notably a love interest in the form of Flora Cranley, played by the always lovely Gloria Stuart. Stuart, now best known for her Oscar nominated performance in James Cameron's Titanic, was just getting started in Hollywood. Whale enjoyed working with the actress in his underrated horror picture The Old Dark House so much that he invited her to join the small cast of The Invisible Man. Stuart is a vision, and her beauty and innocent personality give Rains' Griffin a plausible reason to use his powers of invisibilty to provide a wonderful life for her. Another massive highlight of the cast is the innkeeper's wife introduced early on in the film. Played to high levels of camp by the hilarious Una O'Connor, her exaggerated scream is the stuff of legend. Whale thought she was the funniest thing on two legs so it only makes sense that he'd work with her again when Bride of Frankenstein would go into production two years later.