JOHN P. FULTON: HOW HE MADE THE INVISIBLE MAN

Universal's early 1930's horror cycle began with DRACULA in 1931, which was quickly followed by FRANKENSTEIN in the same year. In 1932, THE OLD DARK HOUSE and THE MUMMY were released. The monsters seen in these films were the masterful makeup creations of U's head of the makeup department, Jack Pierce. However, in 1933, THE INVISIBLE MAN was filmed, which relied on skillful trick photography instead of makeup for the titular H.G. Wells character.

Claude Rains starred as The Invisible Man.

John P. Fulton was behind the fantastic special effects in this movie. Together with cinematographer Arthur Edeson (who was behind the camera for FRANKENSTEIN), Fulton created some of the most startling and believable images thus far seen on the silver screen.

Fulton had a long career and he had a hand in matte painting, process filming and visual effects in such films as DRACULA, THE BLACK CAT (1934), THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1935), THE INVISIBLE RAY (1936), DRACULA'S DAUGHTER (1936), and many more.

In this article written by Fulton for AMERICAN CINEMATOGRAPHER for their September, 1934 issue, he explains what went on behind the making of THE INVISIBLE MAN.