The Invisible Man / Phantom of the Opera Claude Rains 2004 DVD Top-quality

Double bill of classic films starring Claude Rains. Rains makes his (largely unseen) big screen debut in ‘The Invisible Man’ (1933), an adaptation of H.G. Wells’ classic novel directed by horrormeister James Whale. When a bandaged stranger arrives in the English village of Ipping, taking rooms at the inn, he soon arouses the interest of the inquisitive locals. Angered that he is not allowed to conduct his ‘experiments’ in peace, the stranger finally reveals his secret to the villagers, unwrapping his facial bindings to reveal… nothing. He is a scientist who has rendered himself invisible, and is now becoming a megalomaniac through the drugs he works with. Not satisfied with playing pranks on the locals, the invisible man’s actions now begin to take a murderous turn. In ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ (1943), Rains plays Enrique Claudin, a mild-mannered violinist in the Paris Opera House orchestra. He uses his income to pay for beautiful singer Christine DuBois’ (Susanna Foster) lessons – without her knowledge, as he worships her from afar. However, tragedy strikes when Enrique believes that a publisher has stolen a concerto he has written, which represents his life’s work. Enraged, Enrique strangles the publisher, but has acid thrown in his face in the process. Horribly burnt, he hides in the sewers beneath the Opera House, and, now half insane, devotes himself to furthering Christine’s singing career.