2024 Gets Off to a Glowing Start-with Boris and Bela in "The Invisible Ray"- Tonight!

Tonight on MeTV – we begin our Sven movie schedule for 2024 with two of the Universal horror greats, Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi, who become rivals over a discovery that could save lives- or end them- all brought about by “The Invisible Ray”!

We open the story on a horror movie staple- a suitably dark and stormy night- at another horror film staple, a remote laboratory/sanctuary. Invited visitors to this location are some elite members of the scientific community (along with some tag-along relatives) at the request of the noted scientist Dr. Janos Rukh. Rukh is about to reveal an amazing discovery that will change the future- which he has uncovered-from the past?! One skeptical attendee, Dr. Benet, who professionally has disputed Rukh's theories, has decided to placate him by joining his comrades, their nephew, and Rukh’s beautiful young wife- as Rukh provides a startling display. Thanks to his unique telescope invention, he shows them Africa from a great many years ago in the past- the site of a unique meteor crash-landing. Rukh feels that the meteor very well may contain an unknown element that can provide amazing power! The display is so convincing, that even Benet, his usual adversary, agrees with Rukh that they must plan immediately plan an expedition to find the element’s location, and retrieve it for study. However, Janos’ aged sightless mother speaks up with a warning- she feels that he should not be associating with the visitors-on the basis of his own innate "nature".

Regardless of that, the expedition is set- and before long, the party is in the jungle, suffering from the African heat. In a different type of heat, Janos’ young wife Diana and the others’ nephew, Ronald, feel things warming up in their relationship, with Diana fighting the attraction. Janos' neglect of her doesn't make things any easier, as he heads off by himself- and eventually finds the mysterious element- named "Radium X". Alas, unaware of how powerful its radiation is- he is shocked to find that, soon, HE is glowing in the dark (without a Sven t-shirt) - and that the dosage of radiation he has absorbed can cause his slightest touch to any living thing to bring about- death!

Dr. Benet gets a secret visit from Rukh, who reveals the deadly truth. Taking pity on his rival, he invents a serum that will counteract the radiation effects. He agrees to tell the world that Janos Rukh has passed away, and gallantly left his discovery of the element to the world of science.

While Benet returns to civilization, and uses the Radium X carefully for healing- news of his great acclaim causes Janos, whose mind has also fallen victim to the overdose of radiation, to fantasize that Benet has stolen his discovery and taken all the credit for it! He sets out to return and get revenge against everyone who was a part of the expedition- and is especially enraged that Diana has now married Ronald, since she thought Janos was dead. The crazed scientist utilizes the deadly effects of his discovery in devastating acts of vengeance- with a power that seems unstoppable!

This 1936 chiller benefits from some unusual special effects, courtesy of John Fulton, whose work ranged from "The Ten Commandments" to "Frankenstein Meets the Wolf man"; familiar film music by Franz Waxman; and, of course, its two stars, Boris Karloff as Janos, and Bela Lugosi, not as a force of evil this time, as the kindly Benet. We’ll fill you in on the rest of the cast, which includes a familiar face or two- and provide some insight into the production as well as a few details that were okay during the original time period of the film’s release, but are politically incorrect today. Gwengoolie shows up with a problem related to our film’s story; we’ll give you a “twin spin” with two songs this week- including that old celebrity-filled favorite that viewers keep requesting; provide a special speech lesson and a new product for your consideration- and we’ll relive some convention fun from the past!

"Invisible Ray" beams your way tonight on MeTV at 8pm eastern/pacific, 7 central, or, check for channel and time in your area at www.metv.com. Twitter/X continues to be abuzz with live-Tweeting during the show- please make sure, when you join in, that you add the hashtag #svengoolie to your Tweets. Chicago area viewers this morning get to relive our final film from 2023, Roger Corman’s “The Undead” at 11 am on CW26.

We welcome you all to another year of Sven fun-and hope you will be with us throughout 2024- which is indeed the 45th anniversary year of yours truly as the Sven character!

Join us tonight for our first Saturday broadcast in the new year-with Bela, Boris, and glow-in-the-dark danger!