FORGOTTEN TELEVISION: THE INVISIBLE MAN (1975-1976) WITH DAVID MCCALLUM

THE INVISIBLE MAN (1975-1976) – Before Harve Bennett and Steven Bochco would launch The Gemini Man they tried a very similar premise with The Invisible Man. David McCallum, with his best Cousin Oliver hairdo (below right), starred as Dr. Daniel Westin, a scientist working for KLAE Corporation on matter transformation.

A failed attempt at Westin’s invention has the side effect of making living and unliving matter invisible. Westin fears that the government might want to use his accidental creation for military purposes, so he uses the prototype to turn his naked body invisible and destroys all evidence of the device and his research before fleeing.

Westin is trapped in invisible form but he and his scientist wife Kate (Melinda Fee) work together to make “realistic” fake skin for hands and a seemingly fleshy mask for Daniel to wear as a face in order to appear normal in public. (Though how it made him appear to have teeth is never explained.)

With the help of KLAE Corporation figure Walter Carlson (Jackie Cooper in the pilot movie, Craig Stevens in the series) working with Westin from then on as his handler, he is sent as an invisible secret agent on missions while Daniel tries to rediscover his process and make himself visible again.

This otherwise solid premise was weakened by the fact that the hero had to peel off his fake skin to become invisible, meaning he was always naked in action, which was silly and made him vulnerable. When the creative team started over with Ben Murphy in The Gemini Man the following year they had the main character’s flesh AND clothing turn invisible.

PILOT MOVIE: THE INVISIBLE MAN (May 6th, 1975) – My above description also serves as a synopsis, with the resulting series set up by KLAE Corporation only allowing Dr. Westin to use their laboratory facilities to work on his invisibility cure if he and his wife work for them as spies. Henry Darrow played Dr. Nick Maggio in this 90-minute telefilm. 

THE EPISODES:

THE KLAE RESOURCE – As the secret “KLAE resource” Daniel and Kate are hired out as spies for delicate government assignments. (Mission: Invisible) In this episode they are sent to rescue a reclusive scientist who is being forced to sell his fossil fuel breakthrough to a Middle Eastern country who fear losing their grip on the oil market. With James Karen and Conrad Janis. 

THE FINE ART OF DIPLOMACY – The Invisible Man and his wife Kate are assigned to take down a ring that is stealing original works of art and replacing them with fakes. Ross Martin and Michael Pataki guest star.

MAN OF INFLUENCE – Our heroes’ latest mission involves exposing a fake medium who is scamming several rich and powerful clients. John Vernon, Loni Anderson and Jack Colvin are in the guest cast.

EYES ONLY – The Westins are assigned to corral a government employee (Barbara Anderson) who is selling Top Secret information to foreign powers. Also with Bobby Van and Thayer David.

BARNARD WANTS OUT – Scientist Leon Barnard defected to the Soviet Union years ago. He now wants to return to the U.S. so our heroes are sent to get him out. Guest starring Nehemiah Persoff, Cliff Osmond and Inga Neilsen.

GO DIRECTLY TO JAIL – The Invisible Man must break into prison to destroy internal drug-dealing and prove the innocence of a young man framed by the organization. Harold McEachin, Pat Harrington, Gregory Walcott and George “Buck” Flower guest star.

STOP WHEN RED LIGHTS FLASH – The Westins happen upon a ring ripping off drivers with phony fines and shut it down. With Roger Carmel and Scott Brady.

PIN MONEY – The Westins help out a friend in peril by covertly returning money she took from a bank before the theft is discovered. Helen Kleeb and John Zee are along for the ride.

THE KLAE DYNASTY – Our heroes must recover a kidnapped KLAE Corporation co-owner after failing to prevent the abduction. Guest starring Nancy Kovack, Peter Donat and Farley Granger.

SIGHT UNSEEN – When organized crime kidnaps the daughter of a potential witness against them in court, Dan is sent to free the hostage. With Jamie Smith-Jackson and Richard X. Slattery. 

POWER PLAY – Dan and Kate’s superior Walter Carlson is held at gunpoint by a crazed escaped convict (Monte Markham) who wants to know how the KLAE Resource carries out its missions.

AN ATTEMPT TO SAVE FACE – In this final episode, the Westins try to thwart the assassination of the Chairman of a communist nation. Daniel spends part of the episode wearing bandages all over his face like Claude Rains in the Invisible Man movie. Ina Balin, Oscar Homolka and Terry Kiser guest star. 

*** And that ended this fun but flawed series with often poor special effects. The Gemini Man would have a similarly short run.

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