Early press accounts cited the "scientific foundation of the plot. In this respect the production differs from other serials. Fact and not fancy governs the action throughout. The plot is based on a scientific investigation made by the author of the serial, Guy McConnell, investigation for several research institutions and for the Chemical Division of the United States Department of the Interior."[1]
The film was also lauded for its special effects. According to a report in The Moving Picture World, "Mighty buildings, rocks and forests are set afire and exploded. The expert application of clever photographic devices makes the picture appear strikingly realistic."[1] The serial is now considered to be lost.[2]
After a mineralogist discovers a ray with extraordinary powers, a group of scientists seek to use it for a criminal scheme.[3] The serial begins, as described in a film magazine,[4] with the two keys to a box that contains the source of the rays which, if concentrated, are powerful enough to destroy the world. One of the keys is hung around the neck of Mystery (Clifford), a foundling girl who is the daughter of the mineralogist. The second key and the box are in unknown hands at the beginning of the serial. Jack Stone (Sherrill) loves her, but on the night of their planned elopement Mystery is kidnapped for the key she wears, which falls at the door of the minister. She is taken to an underground chamber where she is tortured in an attempt to force her to give up her key. Jack and a friend visit a Crystal Gazer who reveals the whereabouts of Mystery. In a thrilling chase through underground chambers the young woman is rescued, only then to fall back into the hands of her enemies. Mystery is swung from a derrick and falls into the water. Later serial chapters reveal Marianna, the Crystal Gazer (Uzzell), as the mother of Mystery, and her father turns out to be her pursuer, attempting to gain possession of the box and its key.
invisible, 1920, serial, other, uses, invisible, disambiguation, invisible, 1920, american, science, fiction, film, serial, directed, harry, pollard, invisible, rayadvertisement, film, serialdirected, byharry, pollardwritten, byguy, mcconnellstarringruth, clif. For other uses see The Invisible Ray disambiguation The Invisible Ray is a 1920 American science fiction film serial directed by Harry A Pollard The Invisible RayAdvertisement for film serialDirected byHarry A PollardWritten byGuy McConnellStarringRuth CliffordJack SherrillProductioncompanyFrohman Amusement CompanyDistributed byJoan Film SalesRelease dateJuly 1 1920 1920 07 01 Running time15 episodesCountryUnited StatesLanguageSilent English intertitles Early press accounts cited the scientific foundation of the plot In this respect the production differs from other serials Fact and not fancy governs the action throughout The plot is based on a scientific investigation made by the author of the serial Guy McConnell investigation for several research institutions and for the Chemical Division of the United States Department of the Interior 1 The film was also lauded for its special effects According to a report in The Moving Picture World Mighty buildings rocks and forests are set afire and exploded The expert application of clever photographic devices makes the picture appear strikingly realistic 1 The serial is now considered to be lost 2 Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksPlot editAfter a mineralogist discovers a ray with extraordinary powers a group of scientists seek to use it for a criminal scheme 3 The serial begins as described in a film magazine 4 with the two keys to a box that contains the source of the rays which if concentrated are powerful enough to destroy the world One of the keys is hung around the neck of Mystery Clifford a foundling girl who is the daughter of the mineralogist The second key and the box are in unknown hands at the beginning of the serial Jack Stone Sherrill loves her but on the night of their planned elopement Mystery is kidnapped for the key she wears which falls at the door of the minister She is taken to an underground chamber where she is tortured in an attempt to force her to give up her key Jack and a friend visit a Crystal Gazer who reveals the whereabouts of Mystery In a thrilling chase through underground chambers the young woman is rescued only then to fall back into the hands of her enemies Mystery is swung from a derrick and falls into the water Later serial chapters reveal Marianna the Crystal Gazer Uzzell as the mother of Mystery and her father turns out to be her pursuer attempting to gain possession of the box and its key Cast editRuth Clifford as Mystery Jack Sherrill as Jack Stone Sidney Bracey as Jean Deaux Edwards Davis as John Haldane credited as Ed Davis Corene Uzzell as Marianna Crystal Gazer William H Tooker as Gang memberSee also editList of film serials List of film serials by studio List of lost filmsReferences edit a b The Invisible Ray Stars Jack Sherill and Ruth Clifford in Scientific Film The Moving Picture World September 25 1920 p 500 Progressive Silent Film List The Invisible Ray silentera com Retrieved February 24 2008 Lennig Arthur 2003 The Immortal Count The Life and Films of Bela Lugosi University Press of Kentucky p 237 ISBN 0 8131 2273 2 Reviews The Invisible Ray Exhibitors Herald 11 10 New York City Exhibitors Herald Company 103 September 4 1920 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to The Invisible Ray 1920 serial The Invisible Ray at IMDb nbsp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Invisible Ray 1920 serial amp oldid 1126587403, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
