With the US release of Blumhouse’s THE INVISIBLE MAN this week, we’re going to take a look at films with characters that are hard to see. For this is…
(AKA ORLOFF ET L’HOMME INVISIBLE, AKA LA VIE AMOUREUSE DE L’HOMME INVISIBLE)
You would absolutely be forgiven if you go into ORLOFF AGAINST THE INVISIBLE MAN (1970) thinking you were getting a Jess Franco film. After all, Franco directed three Dr. Orloff movies including THE AWFUL DR. ORLOF (1961), THE SINISTER EYES OF DR. ORLOFF (1973), and THE SINISTER DR. ORLOFF (1984). If you missed the opening credits to ORLOFF AGAINST THE INVISIBLE MAN, you might believe you were watching a Franco movie. It’s got several hallmarks of a Franco project including long, ponderous scenes about nothing and the nearly requisite quick zoom shots of bush. You know I’m not talking about the shrubbery kind, either. And I say this as someone who adores Monsieur Franco. Alas, ORLOFF AGAINST THE INVISIBLE MAN was actually written and directed by Pierre Chevalier.
It all makes sense when I realized Chevalier (is there a classier French name that’s fun to say more than this one?) was a protégé of Franco. He worked with Franco on a few films including CONVOY OF A WOMAN (1974), MAN HUNTER (1980), and SEXUAL ABERRATIONS OF A MARRIED WOMAN (1980). After watching ORLOFF AGAINST THE INVISIBLE MAN, I did some research thinking that “Pierre Chevalier” might have been a nom de guerre of Franco, as he was wont to do throughout his career. Of course, it wasn’t. Chevalier is a director in his own right although, it’s safe to say, he was certainly influenced by Franco. As stated above, it contains some hallmarks of a Franco film, unfortunately for viewers, one of them isn’t Lina Romay.
At this point, we need to talk a little bit about what actually happens in ORLOFF AGAINST THE INVISIBLE MAN. I preface it that way, well, because not a lot happens in the movie over its 76 minute run time (at least the version I watched on YouTube here). There’s a new doctor in town, Dr. Garondet (Paco Valladares) who is summoned to the spooky castle in the area. As is custom, the townsfolk are scared of the mere mention of the place.
The good doctor finally gets there and is told to go away. He persists because what else is he going to do? He encounters a strange groundskeeper, a slightly stranger maid, and an even stranger daughter of the man he’s supposed to see. Eventually, he’s taken to Dr. Orloff (Howard Vernon).
We’re 27(!?) minutes in to the film when the story flashes back and Orloff explains that he created an invisible man to rule over mankind and the planet in revenge of his colleagues who shunned him over his activities. You know, as one does. This takes up another 20 minutes or so leading up to the last section of the film which, it turns out, is apparently notorious for its rather lengthy and distasteful rape scene by the Invisible “Man.” I won’t spoil it for you, friends, but the man isn’t necessarily an actual man.
As mentioned before, the film is pretty much a note for note version of a lot of Franco films. There are plenty of scenes that play out too long considering nothing much is happening in them. There are also a few gratuitous nude scenes where the women are shown full frontal (especially surprising since I was watching this via YouTube). These women aren’t enormously endowed, well, I mean, they are but only in the pubic hair department. I’m talking, like merkin level. It doesn’t help Chevalier utilizes the quick zoom in and out of said bush. A lot. I lamented the lack of Lina Romay in this movie but honestly, I’m glad she’s not in this.
Is ORLOFF AGAINST THE INVISIBLE MAN a good movie? No, it’s not. Is it the worst movie I’ve ever seen? Not by a long shot. I would never tell you not to watch a movie, ever. Movies are there to be watched, both good and bad. How do we know if I movie is truly good if we never watch anything bad to compare it to? So, kiddies, go watch ORLOFF AGAINST THE INVISIBLE MAN. Or, if you don’t think this one is your bag, go check out the far superior original Orloff film from Franco himself, THE AWFUL DR. ORLOF.
Tags: 1970, Dr. Orloff, Howard Vernon, Invisibility, jess franco, Paco Valladares, Pierre Chevalier
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