No Briefs Encountered

 

"Invisible Man" was reviewed
By censors in search of the lewd.
In memos they wrote,
Did anyone note
His sins were all done in the nude?

Donald B. Benson

Claude Rains gets dressed in The Invisible Man (James Whale;1933). It's October 13th,  the perfect date to start our celebration of Pre-Code Horrors, which runs through Halloween.

Disappearing Nightly

Both the werewolf and Drac got the bird 
So this character has the last word
In a cameo bit 
Is a ham that won't quit
Not all there with the cast-- but he's heard.

The voice of Vincent Price as the Invisible Man is heard at the end of Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948). That's him on the left, puffing a cigarette. Invisible assist by David Cairns.

The Skin Visible Man

He prances around in the nude
Such antics must sound a bit lewd
But he stays out of sight
through the day and all night,
if perchance he encounters a prude

Vincent Price is heard but not seen in The Invisible Man Returns (Joe May, 1940), returning tonight to Svengoolie on Me-TV. That's Alan Napier (butler Alfred to TV's Batman) on the left in the lobby card--in which the more transparent than invisible man is clearly wearing a suit! What are they trying to do--ruin my gag? And thanks to disappearing D. Cairns for clearing up the title.

Disappearing Tract

The invisible dude would elude
the boys dressed in blue who pursued
So how he was beaten?
By the chow he had eaten
The Bobbies just followed the food.

The Invisible Man (James Whale, 1933). In the film, Claude Rains actually refers to his food being visible until it's digested. This classic airs tonight on Svengoolie on MeTV.

Invisible Gripes

Invisible dudes are inclined
to visions of ruling mankind
Their parts disappearing
they start domineering
Out of sight, they go out of their mind



I'm not sure what Nan Grey sees in Vincent Price when The Invisible Man Returns (Joe May, 1940). Image source: Vincentprice.org. The title of this limerick is a play on another film. Who can name that movie?

Disappearing Nightly

As invisible man number two,
his visage had vanished from view
It's kept from the screen,
excepting one scene,
when Vincent made horror debut

John Sutton, Nan Grey and Vincent Price in The Invisible Man Returns (Joe May, 1940). If there ever was an actor who could create a vivid character though his expressive voice alone it was Price. Price loved radio, lending his mellifluous tones to such shows as Suspense and Mutual Radio Theater, as well as playing The Saint for several years. To listen to these and other radio shows and recordings by Price, go to vincentprice.org.

Invisible Man-ia

As invisible man’s heir apparent,
poor Vincent finds madness inherent
Appearances cease
and egos increase
An illness that's fairly transparent



Nan Grey, John Sutton and some of Vincent Price's clothing in The Invisible Man Returns (Joe May, 1940). Many consider this Price's first horror film. Image source: vincentprice.org; The Horror Incorporated Project. The Vincentennial is an event being held in Saint Louis through May 28.

The Transparent Trap

I'm tired of being ignored
passed by by the visible horde
Their looking right through me
is making me gloomy
I'll see a psychiatry ward

Claude Rains loses his mind as the The Invisible Man (James Whale, 1933).