The Amazing Transparent Man Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A mad scientist forces a safecracker to turn invisible with radiation so he can steal glowy rocks for a ghost army, but the thief just wants to rob banks and is slowly dissolving.

🍿 The Amazing Transparent Man: Detailed Plot Synopsis

A Desperate Plan and a Reluctant Subject

Ex-Major Paul Krenner, driven by delusions of power, holds scientist Dr. Peter Ulof and his daughter captive. Krenner forces Ulof to work on a radical radiation-based invisibility process. His ultimate goal is to create an army of invisible soldiers to sell to the highest bidder.

The Experiment and the First Mission

To test and refine the process, Krenner breaks notorious safecracker Joey Faust out of prison. Faust is subjected to the experimental invisibility treatment. His first task is to infiltrate a government facility and steal highly radioactive radium needed for further experimentation.

Transparent Thief, Personal Ambitions

With the newfound ability of transparency, Joey Faust begins to have his own ideas. He sees the power as a way to return to his criminal roots, planning high-stakes bank robberies. This puts him at odds with Krenner’s grander, militaristic scheme.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Faust (Douglas Kennedy): A notorious safecracker who is made invisible and initially forced to steal for others but seeks to use his power for personal gain.
• Krenner (James Griffith): A deranged ex-major who forces a scientist to create invisibility for his plan to build an invisible army and sell it.
• Dr. Ulof (Ivan Triesault): A scientist blackmailed into developing the invisibility technique by Krenner, who holds his daughter hostage.
• Laura (Marguerite Chapman): An associate of Major Krenner who aids in Faust’s escape and later considers betraying Krenner for money.
• Julian (Boyd ‘Red’ Morgan): Krenner’s shotgun-wielding henchman responsible for guarding the compound and enforcing orders.
• Maria (Cormel Daniel): Dr. Ulof’s daughter, held captive by Krenner to ensure her father’s forced cooperation in the invisibility experiments.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Major Paul Krenner: “My aim is to make an entire army invisible. Do you understand that? An entire army.” – Explaining his ambitious and dangerous plan to Dr. Ulof and the newly arrived Joey Faust.
• Julian: “You know what one of these bullets will do, son? It will rip out your spine and roll it up like a ball of string.” – Threatening Joey Faust with a shotgun shortly after his arrival at the secluded farmhouse.
• Joey Faust: “That’s atom bomb stuff…” – Reacting with concern upon seeing the radioactive material being used in Dr. Ulof’s experiments.
• Dr. Ulof: “There is a man who has unlocked every door except the one to his own soul. Now he has the key.” – Reflecting philosophically on Joey Faust’s transformation and fate.
• Dr. Ulof: “What would you do?” – Asking the audience directly in the film’s highly unusual and memorable final moment, following the climax.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $100,000
• Domestic Gross: Unknown
• Worldwide Gross: Unknown

💥 The Amazing Transparent Man Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I went into this expecting pure cheese, and ‘The Amazing Transparent Man’ totally delivered! It’s got a jailbreak, a weird mansion lab, and a villain who looks like he should be hosting a kids’ show but wants an invisible army. The acting is pretty stiff, especially the lead who’s supposed to be a tough safecracker but feels more like a grumpy uncle. But honestly, that adds to the charm! The special effects for invisibility? Just wires and people flailing, and it’s hilarious. My favorite part is definitely the bank robbery scene where the invisibility starts flickering – seeing just a floating bag of money or a disembodied head pop into view is peak B-movie fun. And that ending… wow. Totally comes out of nowhere with its deep thoughts. This is perfect late-night viewing with popcorn and pals.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of classic low-budget science fiction films”
  • “Viewers interested in 1950s/60s B-movies”
  • “Aficionados of Edgar G. Ulmer’s work”
  • “People who enjoy ‘Mystery Science Theater 3000’ or similar riffing (the film was featured)”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Mild Sci-Fi Violence”
  • “Thematic elements involving forced experimentation and imprisonment”
  • “Implied dangers of radiation exposure”

Professional Reviews

• Rotten Tomatoes (Fictional): “Edgar G. Ulmer’s final American film is a rushed, low-budget Invisible Man knock-off. While blessedly short, its wooden performances, silly plot, and laughable effects keep it firmly in ‘bad movie’ territory. Only for the most dedicated B-movie archaeologists.
• IMDb (Consolidated User Review Sentiment): “This sci-fi quickie offers some unintentional laughs and a decent pace for its sub-hour runtime. The premise is wild, the acting is spotty, and the effects are charmingly primitive. It’s best enjoyed with low expectations and maybe some friends.
• Drive-In Critic: “Forget ‘amazing’ or ‘transparent,’ this one’s just ‘barely there.’ A safecracker goes invisible for a madman’s army plans but decides robbing banks is more fun. Predictable, cheap, and ends with a philosophical question nobody asked for. Passable if you have literally nothing else.

Audience Reactions

The low-budget special effects, especially the ‘invisible’ fights and floating objects, are hilariously bad.: Many found the short runtime a blessing and the overall absurdity quite entertaining for a quick watch.

The wild, nonsensical plot involving invisible armies and radioactive side effects kept some viewers surprisingly engaged.: It’s often cited as great ‘Mystery Science Theater 3000’ fodder, suggesting it’s more fun to mock than watch seriously.

Overall Consensus: A quintessential low-budget 1960s sci-fi/crime flick, often criticized for its flaws but appreciated by B-movie fans for its brisk pace, outlandish plot, and unintentional comedy from dated effects and stiff performances.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The film was shot back-to-back with director Edgar G. Ulmer’s other science fiction film, ‘Beyond the Time Barrier’ (1960), with a combined shooting schedule of only two weeks.”
• “These two films, ‘The Amazing Transparent Man’ and ‘Beyond the Time Barrier’, were the last American feature films directed by Edgar G. Ulmer.”
• “The film was made on a very low budget, estimated at $100,000.”
• “Veteran character actor Patrick Cranshaw, known later in life for roles in films like ‘Old School’, appeared in an early role as a security guard.”
• “The film was later featured on the television show ‘Mystery Science Theater 3000’, introducing it to a new generation of cult film fans.”

🖥️ How to Watch The Amazing Transparent Man?

Finding ‘The Amazing Transparent Man’ (1960) typically involves searching platforms specializing in classic and public domain films. While not always available on major subscription services, look for it on platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, or YouTube for digital rental or purchase options. It may also appear in various B-movie or sci-fi collections available on DVD or Blu-ray from retailers like Amazon or specialty shops.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Amazing Transparent Man, you might like these similar films:

• The Invisible Man (1933): A classic direct comparison as the foundational film about invisibility, though with a much higher budget and different thematic focus.
• Beyond the Time Barrier (1960): Shot back-to-back with this film by the same director, Edgar G. Ulmer, sharing production resources and a similar B-movie sci-fi aesthetic.
• Detour (1945): Another acclaimed low-budget film by director Edgar G. Ulmer, showcasing his ability to create atmosphere and compelling narratives despite limited resources, albeit in the film noir genre.
• Plan 9 from Outer Space (1957): While different in genre (pure sci-fi/horror), it shares the reputation of being an iconic, low-budget cult film from the era with noticeable production limitations that appeal to fans of ‘so-bad-it’s-good’ cinema.
• Hollow Man (2000): A modern, effects-driven take on the invisibility theme, exploring darker aspects of the power, providing a contrasting view to the classic B-movie approach.

🛒 The Amazing Transparent Man Related Products

• The Amazing Transparent Man / Beyond the Time Barrier (MST3K Double Feature Blu-ray): Own the classic B-movie presented with humorous commentary by the MST3K crew. Includes the film paired with another Edgar G. Ulmer sci-fi flick.
• Retro Sci-Fi Movie Poster Print – The Amazing Transparent Man: High-quality reproduction of the original theatrical movie poster, capturing the iconic B-movie artwork.
• Invisible Man Novel (Inspired Classic Literature): The original H.G. Wells novel that inspired countless invisible man stories, including this film. A must-read for fans of the genre’s roots.
• Atomic Age Sci-Fi Ray Gun Prop Replica: A fun, retro-style toy ray gun inspired by the look and feel of gadgets from 1950s/60s sci-fi films like this one. Features lights and sounds.

🎧 Soundtrack

The Amazing Transparent Man features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Main Title / Prison Escape” – performed by Darrell Calker
• “The X-13 Ray” – performed by Darrell Calker
• “Invisible Experiments” – performed by Darrell Calker
• “Faust’s Plan” – performed by Darrell Calker
• “Bank Heist Gone Wrong” – performed by Darrell Calker
• “Radioactive Side Effect” – performed by Darrell Calker
• “Climactic Confrontation” – performed by Darrell Calker
• “The End / What Would You Do?” – performed by Darrell Calker

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

The Amazing Transparent Man – Good Bad Flicks

Curious about classic B-movies? Tune into Good Bad Flicks’ review of ‘The Amazing Transparent Man’ to see what makes this quirky sci-fi flick tick. It’s always fun to revisit these old gems with a fresh perspective!

✨ Rate