The Invisible Ray
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1936 |
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Visionary scientist Janos Rukh convinces a group of
scientists and supporters to mount an expedition to the African
continent to locate and study an ancient meteorite of great
significance. He exposes himself to the highly toxic radiation of the
meteorite, and while an antidote devised by Dr. Benet saves him from
death by radiation poisoning, his naked touch causes instant death to
others. Back in London, the benefits of the meteorite's controlled
radiation offer Dr. Benet an opportunity to restore eyesight to the
blind. 	The antidote's toxicity excites Prof. Rukh into
paranoid rages as he seeks revenge against the members of his
expedition, who he accuses of stealing his discovery for their own glory.
Cast:
Boris Karloff .... Dr. Janos Rukh (as Karloff)
Bela Lugosi .... Dr. Felix Benet
Frances Drake .... Diana Rukh
Frank Lawton .... Ronald Drake
Violet Kemble Cooper .... Mother Rukh
Walter Kingsford .... Sir Francis Stevens
Beulah Bondi .... Lady Arabella Stevens
Frank Reicher .... Prof. Michaeljohn
Paul Weigel .... Monsieur Noyer
Georges Renavent .... Chief of the Surete
Ernie Adams
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Born Frances Dean in New York on 22 October 1912, this Dark-eyed, dark-haired leading lady was educated in England and Canada. She started her career as a nightclub dancer in London. While appearing in musical comedy in England in 1933, Drake made her first film appearances, using her given name of Dean. Back in America in 1934, Drake enjoyed a flurry of film activity, frequently playing imperiled heroines in such melodramas as Mad Love (1935), The Invisible Ray (1936) and Florida Special (1936). Frances Drake curtailed her movie activities when she married a titled Englishman in 1939; thanks to her film appearances with the likes of Peter Lorre and Boris Karloff, she became a favorite interview subject of cinema historians in the 1970s and 1980s. She passed away on 18 January 2000, in Irvine, California from natural causes.