- For the MST3K episode, see MST3K 623 - The Amazing Transparent Man.
| “ | You see, they will also pay five thousand for a dead Faust. | ” |
| - Krenner |
The Amazing Transparent Man is a 1960 science fiction film directed by Edgar G. Ulmer and written by Jack Lewis.
Plot[]
The Amazing Transparent Man
Former military officer Paul Krenner 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, Krenner forces Dr. Peter Ulof to perfect an invisibility machine that Ulof has invented. He keeps Ulof’s daughter Maria imprisoned to ensure Ulof's obedience.
The nuclear materials that Ulof needs are extremely rare and kept under guard in government facilities. Krenner arranges the prison break of notorious safecracker Joey Faust to steal the materials he needs. Krenner bribes Faust into becoming invisible and stealing the material. Faust bristles under Krenner's control and threatens to expose Krenner. Krenner informs Faust that there is a bounty on Faust that can be collected whether Faust is alive or dead. Faust reluctantly complies. Faust complies, but begins to charm Krenner's lover Laura into betraying Krenner.
Faust attacks Krenner while invisible and attempts to escape. The invisibility process proves to be unstable, and Faust uncontrollably reverts from invisible to visible and back again. Despite these drawbacks Faust forges ahead intent on breaking free from Krenner’s control. He eventually frees Ulof and his daughter, and Krenner's lab is destroyed in a massive explosion.
Cast[]
- Douglas Kennedy as Joey Faust
- Marguerite Chapman as Laura Matson
- James Griffith as Krenner
- Ivan Triesault as Dr. Ivan Ulof
- Boyd "Red" Morgan as Julian
- Cormel Daniel as Maria Ulof
- Ed Erwin as Drake
- Jonathan Ledford as Smith
- Patrick Cranshaw as Security Guard
Notes[]
- This was shot back-to-back with Beyond the Time Barrier. The combined shooting schedule was only two weeks. They became Edgar G. Ulmer's last American films.
- Final film of Marguerite Chapman.
- An Illinois punk rock group called The Amazing Transparent Man recorded on the Springman Records label from 1997 to 2004.
- MCP gave the film an abbreviated release before it was picked up by AIP in 1960.
MST3K Connections[]
- James Griffith also portrayed Ken in Manhunt in Space.
- Edward Erwin also portrayed Howard in Ring of Terror.
- Jonathan Ledford also portrayed Cpl. Culver in Attack of the the Eye Creatures.
- Composer Darrell Calker was also stock music composer for the U.S. version of Hercules and the Captive Women.
- Makeup artist Jack Pierce was also makeup director for The Brute Man.
- Assistant director Leonard J. Shapiro was also assistant director for Project Moon Base and Bloodlust!.
- Property master Joe Sullivan was also property master for High School Big Shot.
- Sound mixer Earl Snyder was also sound technician for The Crawling Hand, The Giant Gila Monster, and The Killer Shrews, as well as sound engineer for Radar Secret Service.
- Special effects technician Roger George also did special effects for The Human Duplicators and Avalanche.
- Head electrician Frank Leonetti was also master electrician for The Violent Years and gaffer for It Lives by Night.
- Music editor Gilbert D. Marchant was also music editor for The Killer Shrews and supervising sound editor for Outlaw.
Critical Response[]
- Michael Weldon in The Psychotronic Encyclopedia of Film wrote: "This science-fiction/crime film was made simultaneously with [Edward G.] Ulmer's Beyond the Time Barrier. Both were shot in Dallas on the site of the Texas State Fair, using exhibits of futuristic art and design as backdrops. Marguerite Chapman is the moll of an invisible bank robber. With Douglas Kennedy and James Griffith."