BELA LUGOSI'S INVISIBLE GHOST

Dr. Charles Kessler (Bela Lugosi), you see, has gone quite bonkers -- that is, ever since Mrs. Kessler (Betty Compson) left him for another man. Since then, a series of murders have occurred in the house. When Kessler's wife mysteriously shows up at his window, for some inexplicable reason he goes into a hypnotic trance and it doesn't take much to figure out after that who is committing all the murders. In the meantime, Mrs. Kessler is in reality stowed in the cellar of a shack in the back of the house by the caretaker. Every so often she gets loose and wanders the yard to the window where Dr. Kessler thinks he hears her.

Then the cops show up and the cigar-chomping police detective (George Pembroke) can't seem to figure things out and arrests the wrong man (the boyfriend of Kessler's daughter) who ends up being executed on nothing more than circumstantial evidence. When Mrs. Kessler finally gets inside the house, the cops are still there. She is led into the room where her husband is, causing him to go into another trance after which tries to murder the detective. While this is going on, Mrs. Kessler, out of nowhere, drops dead. Kessler is subdued and the slayings are finally solved.

I gave this a recent watch and still find it tedious, even for a film that is barely over an hour long. Originally released by Monogram in 1941 it was re-released in 1949 by Astor Pictures. The entire film is shot on a sound stage and mostly takes place inside Kessler's house -- and if I see another staircase for a while I'll go crazy myself.

I do have to say that it is fairly atmospheric at times and most of the cast do their best in the roles and lines that have been given to them. I was particularly impressed with the lovely Polly Ann Young who played Kessler's daughter, Virginia. This was her last film and she retired after getting married. I also liked Clarence Muse as Evans the butler who thankfully plays it straight and doesn't have to resort to the usual comedic banter that befalls most of the African-American actors in these types of roles.

And as for Lugosi? He does a good job and makes us sympathetic to his tortured psyche. At the very least we can enjoy him once more pronouncing his "w's" and "ing's" as only he can.

Lobby cards from the original Monogram Pictures release:

Stills from the 1949 Astor Pictures re-release:

RARE MONOGRAM EXHIBITOR BOOKS

Along with PRC and Republic, Monogram Pictures Corporation is well known as one of the "poverty row horror" film companies that churned out low-cost but often charming horror, mystery, western and action titles. From the 1930s through the 1950s theater audiences were treated to films like INVISIBLE GHOST, VOODOO MAN, and BOWERY AT MIDNIGHT, many of them featuring a certain, by then part-time vampire by the name of Bela Lugosi.

Exhibitor books were just one of the many ways  that film makers and distributors hawked their movies. They were typically printed annually with the intent to preview the list of films that would be released by them for the year. These books contained everything from promotional blurbs and photos to ad art.

The images shown below are from an auction lot containing two Monogram Exhibitor Books, one from the 1939-1940 "season", and the other from 1940-1941.

In a bit of "reverse low-budget" irony, the items were sold for $1,015.75.

  "Monogram Exhibitor Books (Monogram, 1939-40, and 1940-41).Spiral-Bound Softcover Books (2) (12" X 18" & 10.5 X 13.5") Multiple Pages).

These two campaign books are from one of a continuous four year period in the history of Monogram Pictures. In the late 1930s and early 1940s Monogram had established stars like Boris Karloff, and stars on the brink of greatness like John Wayne. Inside is a full page showing all their stars including Tex Ritter, Fay Wray, Keye Luke, Jean Parker, Movita, John Carroll, and others. There are Karloff photos on both pages in a double page layout proposing four titles for the Mr. Wong series. Of note is the page touting that since John Wayne is now a sensational star (Stagecoach), the public has demanded the reissue of 8 Monogram Westerns with Wayne!! This 1939 edition has water damage to the covers and tops of some of the inside pages. There is light wrinkling and smudges. The 1940 issue has special maroon plastic covers with gold printing. Inside are colorful two page layouts on Karloff's The Ape, Hoosier Schooldays, a double page layout on The Gypsy Cavalier with Gilbert Roland, which was never filmed. There are nice photos and art of Tex Ritter, The Range Busters series, Fred Scott, U.B. Iwerks cartoons, and more. This edition has scuff and wear to both plastic covers with a very small chip out of the top right of the back cover. The inside pages are in excellent condition. Fine/Very Fine"