The Invisible Ray story

movie: The Invisible Ray (1936) · 1936-01-20

A scientist creates a telescope-like device that captures light-waves from the Andromeda Galaxy, giving him a way to view the distant past. Using this knowledge, he travels to Africa to locate a large, unusual meteorite that fell there a billion years earlier. He discovers that the meteorite is composed of a poisonous unknown element, "Radium X". After exposure to its rays begins to make him glow in the dark, his touch becomes deadly, and he begins to be slowly driven mad.

14 total · 7 major · 7 minor

ThemeLevelMotivation
deadly touch ability major Janos Rukh causes death in anyone he touches after being exposed to Radium X.
husband and wife major Janos Rukh and Diana Rukh.; Diana Rukh marries Ronald Drake after the apparent death of her husband Janos Rukh.
mad scientist stereotype major A scientist, Janos Ruth, went mad after he was not given the proper credit he was due for his discovery of Radium X and went about plotting his revenge.
mother and son major Mother Rukh confronts her son Janos Rukh over his growing madness and generally disapproved of his scientific pursuits.
romantic love major Janos Rukh and Diana Rukh.; Ronald Drake and Diana Rukh.
science for war or peace major Janos Rukh harnessed the power of Radium X for evil but Felix Benet wished to use it for the good of society by using to to cure people of illness.
the desire for vengeance major Janos Rukh sought vengeance on his colleagues over his perception that they too the credit for his discovery of Radium X. Janos Rukh sought vengeance against Ronald Drake for marrying Janos' wife Diana Rukh.
blindness minor Janos Rukh cured his mother Diana Rukh's blindness using Radium X.
coping with bad cooking minor Francis with antelope soup.
death ray minor Janos Rukh harnesses the power of Radium X to make a death ray, which he could also use to heal illnesses.