The Invisible Ghost

Invisible Ghost
A promotional film poster for "Invisible Ghost."
Directed by	Joseph H. Lewis
Produced by	Sam Katzman associate Pete Mayer
Written by	Al Martin Helen Martin
Based on	story by Helen and Al Martin
Starring	Bela Lugosi Polly Ann Young John McGuire
Music by	Johnny Lange Lew Porter
Cinematography	Harvey Gould Marcel Le Picard
Edited by	Robert Golden
Production company	Monogram Pictures Banner Pictures Corporation
Distributed by	Astor Pictures Corporation
Release date	April 25, 1941 (1941-04-25)
Running time	64 min
Country	United States

Invisible Ghost (1941) is an American horror film starring Bela Lugosi, shot in black and white, and directed by Joseph H. Lewis. It was the first of the nine movies interpreted by Bela Lugosi for Sam Katzman at Monogram Pictures.

Charles Kessler (Bela Lugosi) is plagued by homicidal urges. His wife (Betty Compson), who had left him for another man, gets into a car accident that leaves her brain damaged and is kept in the basement, in secret, by Kessler's gardener. When an innocent man is executed for a murder Kessler committed in the house, his twin brother visits and tries to unravel the mystery. He discovers that Kessler is the killer and doesn't know it. His brother subdues him and contacts the police, who arrest Kessler.

It was originally known as Murder by the Stars then The Phantom Monster. During filming it was called The Phantom Killer.

Filming took place from 20 March to April 1941. As soon as the film was completed it was announced Lugosi and Katzman would make two more films together; they eventually wound up making nine in all.

The Los Angeles Times said the film was "head and shoulders above the average horror picture. It's superiority is based on the fact that spine-tickling qualities stem from a psychopathic and psychological situation rather than a purely physical one, imparting a Poe-ish flavour... Lugosi is, of course, superb in his work, being master of all the horror tricks but never overdoing them".