Invisible Ghost

The typecast Bela Lugosi found himself working often on Hollywood's Poverty Row, as the tiny studios exploited the value of Bela's name on the marquee.Invisible Ghost (1941) was his first of nine films he'd make for Monogram Pictures and producer Sam Katzman.It may be the best.

A Lugosi picture is always a lot of fun, and this one's no exception.This time around, Bela's a kindly doctor whose thought-to-be-dead wife can send him into murderous trances.

The screenplay is far above Monogram's usual standards.The atmospherics are actually atmospheric.And the performances (including Lugosi's) are better than average.Bela's joined here by Polly Ann Young (Loretta Young's sister), John McGuire and Clarence Muse (who also appeared with Lugosi in the great White Zombie (1932).Of course, it's a Lugosi picture all the way, which explains its continued appeal to fans.

Credit for much of the success of Invisible Ghost must go to its director, Joseph H. Lewis.His penchant for moody lighting and long pictures like Gun Crazy (1949) and The Big Combo (1955), can be seen here.