8mm Forum: The Invisible Woman 200'

This is topic The Invisible Woman 200' in forum 8mm Print Reviews at 8mm Forum.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://8mmforum.film-tech.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=4;t=000529

Posted by Marshall Crist (Member # 1312) on September 25, 2013, 08:52 PM:

Since learning of the existence of this Castle Films abridgment a few years ago, I couldn't help but be slightly curious to see it. My understanding is that it had already been discontinued when I started collecting in the mid-70s. I eventually amassed (or at least viewed) all of the Universal 200' horror/monster cutdowns, but remained unaware of this one until relatively recently. I recall reading that it was more of an extract than a digest, and that is the case. This "review" is of the 8mm silent version. I am not aware of whether it was ever issued in Super 8 or sound, but my guess would be "probably not" to both, although if someone would like to correct me, I'd appreciate it. My copy came packaged in a generic "Old Time Comedies" box.

The film begins with Virginia Bruce rushing off to her job as a department store clothing model. She is docked an hour's pay for being two minutes late by her nasty boss. His abuse continues and she barely escapes with her job.

Later she answers a newspaper ad. Scientist John Barrymore and his assistant Margaret Hamilton give the young woman a hypodermic shot and put her in a machine. She becomes invisible, as depicted in the usual fashion for the time with objects on wires hovering about. She takes off and immediately heads back to her workplace to cause havoc and give her boss some comeuppance.

It's been ages since I saw the full feature, but this digest probably contains one (or two, at most) of the better scenes. That said, it's a slight affair, and I can see why it did not persevere into the Universal 8 era.

Posted by James N. Savage 3 (Member # 83) on September 26, 2013, 07:21 AM:

Hey Marshall-

Thanks for the review!

I've always been curious about this title too. I think it may have been available in a sound edition as well. I thought I remembered seeing it listed in an old Castle catalog as being sound.

Its funny, this movie never even aired on TV in all these years (to my recolection), and I wouldn't even know of its existence if it wasn't for this digest.

James.

Posted by Robert Crewdson (Member # 3790) on September 26, 2013, 07:31 AM:

Would love to see this film; I have only seen a few films of John Barrymore, but he was a fine actor.
The Castle Films were very good; I had a 200ft silent of The Incredible Shrinking Man, and they managed to tell virtually the whole story in the space of 10 minutes.

Posted by Bill Phelps (Member # 1431) on October 04, 2013, 06:28 PM:

The Castle digest was available in 16mm sound. I saw a print and it was amusing. You would think it was another horror title but it plays as a comedy. I don't know if it was issued in 8mm sound or not.

Bill [Smile]

Posted by Brad Kimball (Member # 5) on October 06, 2013, 08:19 PM:

You can find the 16mm sound version on YouTube. It's cute, but not something I would ever pay big money for and, to your point, it's understandable why it went into moratorium.

Posted by Adrian Winchester (Member # 248) on October 07, 2013, 08:57 AM:

Well at least this thread is increasing the woman's visibility!

UBB.classic^TM 6.3.1.2