The Body Disappears

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The Body Disappears
The Body Disappears lobby card.jpg
Lobby card
Directed by D. Ross Lederman
Screenplay by
Produced by
Starring
Cinematography Allen G. Siegler, A.S.C.
Edited by Frederick Richards
Music by Howard Jackson
Production
company
Distributed byWarner Bros.
Release date
  • December 6, 1941 (1941-12-06)
Running time
72 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The Body Disappears is a 1941 American comedy film directed by D. Ross Lederman and starring Jeffrey Lynn, Jane Wyman, Edward Everett Horton and Herbert Anderson. [1] It was produced and distributed by Warner Brothers as a second feature. [2]

Contents

Plot

Unconscious after his bachelor party, Peter DeHaven (Jeffrey Lynn) is transported by his friends to the college dissecting room as a practical joke. Professor Shotesbury (Edward Everett Horton) mistakenly injects him with a serum that makes him invisible. While invisible, DeHaven learns that his fiancee, Christine (Marguerite Chapman), is only marrying him for his money. He also falls in love with Shotesbury's daughter, Joan (Jane Wyman). Meanwhile, Shotesbury is committed to a sanatorium by his colleagues for his claims about invisible monkeys and men. DeHaven and Joan, by this time also invisible, go to release Shotesbury from the mental hospital, which they achieve by making him invisible as well. All the while time is running out for DeHaven to receive an antidote. In the end, all receive the antidote, and DeHaven ends up with Joan. However, Shotesbury's servant Willie suddenly becomes invisible upon sitting down in the witness chair, [3]

Cast

Uncredited (in order of appearance)
Jack Mower court clerk at Doc Appleby's testimony
John Hamilton judge listening to Doc Appleby's testimony
Charles Drake Arthur, attendee at Peter's bachelor party
Hank Mann janitor at Professor Shotesbury's college
Roland Drew producer of play
George Meeker producer of play
Dick Elliott producer of play
Eddie Kane stage manager of play
Leslie Brooks bridesmaid in play
Wedgwood Nowell faculty member at Professor Shotesbury's college
Houseley Stevenson faculty member at Professor Shotesbury's college
Frank Ferguson Professor McAuley, faculty member at Professor Shotesbury's college
Romaine Callender Professor Barkley, faculty member at Professor Shotesbury's college
Creighton Hale Professor Edwards, faculty member at Professor Shotesbury's college
Eddy Chandler police desk sergeant
Stuart Holmes headwaiter in restaurant
Glen Cavender waiter in restaurant
Frank Sully attendant at rest home
Harry Lewis elevator operator at Professor Shotesbury's college
John Dilson Dr. Jasper at rest home
Saul Gorss rest home attendant
Vera Lewis Mrs. Moggs
Paul Stanton prosecutor at hearing for Professor Shotesbury

Critical reception

Writing in AllMovie, critic Hal Erickson described the film as "an agreeably daffy comedy with science-fiction undertones," having "all manner of looney complications" and "still fresh and funny after nearly six decades." [4] A review of the film in TV Guide described it as a "funny B movie" with "fine special effects [that] highlight this variation of the 'invisible man' theme," noting further that "Horton and wide-eyed Best [give] fine comic performances." [5] Critic Dennis Schwartz described the film as a "delightful screwball comedy" and "the kind of old-fashioned comedy that can cheer you up with a few laughs if you are down, or if you are in a silly mood make you feel even sillier." [6]

References

  1. ↑ Erickson, Hal (2014). "The Body Disappears". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times . Baseline & All Movie Guide. Movies. Archived from the original on December 8, 2014. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
  2. ↑ Dick p.40
  3. ↑ "The Body Disappears (1941) – Full Synopsis" . Retrieved March 10, 2015.
  4. ↑ Erickson, Hal. "The Body Disappears (1941)". AllMovie. Netaktion LLC. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  5. ↑ "The Body Disappears Reviews". TV Guide. TV Guide. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  6. ↑ Schwartz, Dennis. "Body Disappears, The". Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews. Retrieved September 6, 2023.

Bibliography

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