The Invisible Man (TV series)
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There have been at least four attempts to produce a weekly television series based on the H. G. Wells science fiction novel, The Invisible Man. All have cast the "invisible man" character in the role of secret agent. None lasted more than two years.
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[edit] The Invisible Man (1958)
The first series was an Associated TeleVision production in the UK. It was distributed by ITC Entertainment to the United States and networked by CBS. The actors playing the Invisible Man were not credited, though the actor whose voice was used was later revealed to be Tim Turner, who also played a villain (visible) in one episode. The series lasted two seasons, with twenty-six episodes.
[edit] The Invisible Man (1975)
The second television series with this title debuted in 1975 on NBC and starred David McCallum as scientist Daniel Westin. The pilot film depicts Westin working for a company called Klae Corporation, which is doing experiments in molecular disintegration and its side-effect of turning objects invisible. Using his invisibility device on himself, Daniel becomes invisible but, after the machine malfunctions and is badly damaged as a result, can't return to his visible state any more. He goes to his friend Dr. Nick Maggio, a skilled plastic surgeon, who creates a face mask and a pair of hands. This enables Daniel to appear in public (and the actor to appear on-screen). The Dermaplex side-effect is that Daniel has to remove the mask from time to time because, as Dr. Maggio states, "The beard will be your enemy". While Klae Corporation work on finding a way of restoring Daniel to normal, he begins work for them – with occasional help from his wife Kate (who is also a scientist) – as a secret agent under the codename 'Klae Resource'.
Thirteen episodes were produced, but only twelve were initially broadcast (the thirteenth later aired in syndication). The series was not well received by the public.
[edit] Gemini Man (1976)
The next year the same concept was tried again in a series called Gemini Man, starring Ben Murphy. This time the agent in question uses a device (a digital wristwatch) which turns him invisible for short periods. In the pilot film, the caveat to this power was that it could only be used for less than fifteen minutes at a time, lest the Gemini Man become permanently and irrevocably invisible. The subsequent series lasted only 12 episodes [1], only half of which were initially broadcast (the entire series was later shown in syndication). Later, two episodes of the series were edited together to create a TV movie, Riding with Death. The movie was later featured in an episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000.
[edit] The Invisible Man (2000)
Somewhat more successful than the previous series, The Invisible Man debuted in 2000 on The Sci Fi Channel and starred Vincent Ventresca as Darian Fawkes, an ex-con recruited by a low-rent spy organization and given the power of invisibility via the implantation of a special "Quicksilver gland" in his head. The gland lets him secrete a light-bending substance called "Quicksilver" from his pores and follicles. The catch is that the Quicksilver gland was sabotaged at its creation to release a neurotoxin that accumulates in his bloodstream and causes intense pain, followed by psychosis and antisocial behavior. He requires regular doses of "counteragent" to keep him sane and healthy, which is controlled by said government agency. This series lasted for two seasons, before being cancelled due to cost issues and internal bickering between the Sci Fi Channel and its then-parent company, USA Networks.
In France, the show was shown on TF1.
[edit] Misc.
Several other attempts at "invisible" TV series, including an Invisible Woman, have not gotten past the pilot TV-movie stage.
In 1984, the BBC produced a faithful adaptation of the novel in six episodes. It was produced by Barry Letts and starred Pip Donaghy as Griffin. It was considered ground-breaking at the time but in retrospect stuck too closely to the novel, rendering it somewhat slow as a television serial. A DVD is available.
