The Invisible Ray (1936)

Eccentric scientist Dr. Janos Rukh (Boris Karloff) has made a great discovery. He invites the more establishment scientists to his home to present his findings. Using a telescope to zoom into the Andromeda “nebula”, he can look into the past and see the Earth millions of years ago, because science. He shows them that a great asteroid struck the early Earth, and also because reasons, it must contain an element that radiates one thousand times as powerful as Radium. He calls this element, Radium X. But first they need to go on an African safari.

The science is deliciously wonky here. I give a pass to calling Andromeda a nebula, because that was the science of the day, but much of the rest is silly and hard to follow. But say what you will about Rukh’s science, he puts on one hell of a planetarium show.

Charming Frances Drake plays Rukh’s young wife. She retired from acting after marrying into English aristocracy. Mother Rukh steals the few scenes she is in. Played by Violet Kemble Cooper, she was only 11 months older than son Boris.

This is chronologically the fourth of eight films featuring Karloff and Bela Lugosi, and it’s the fifth one I’ve seen. Left is The Raven (1935) and two silly comedies. Karloff plays the mad Hungarian scientist while Hungarian Lugosi plays against type as the rational French scientist. 

The Invisible Ray is a very early depiction of the utility and dangers of nuclear radiation. It's a lot of fun, despite or perhaps because of the science element. Perhaps I was just in the mood for this self-serious foolishness, but it really delivered on the premise. AMRU 3.5.