Donovan's Brain (1953)

Director:

Felix E. Feist

Writers:

Curt Siodmak (novel)
Hugh Brooke (adaptation)

Release Date:

30 September 1953 (USA)

Genre:

Sci-Fi | Horror

Plot:

Yet another version of Curt Siodmak's novel about an honest scientist who keeps the brain of a ruthless dead millionaire (Donovan) alive in a tank...

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Brain | Malpractice | Alcoholism | Financial Fraud

Cast

Lew Ayres	...	Dr. Patrick J. Cory
Gene Evans	...	Dr. Frank Schratt
Nancy Davis	...	Janice Cory
Steve Brodie	...	Herbie Yocum
Tom Powers	...	Donovan's Washington Advisor
Lisa Howard	...	Chloe Donovan (as Lisa K. Howard)
James Anderson	...	Chief Tuttle (as Kyle James)
Victor Sutherland	...	Nathaniel Fuller
Michael Colgan	...	Tom Donovan
Peter Adams	...	Mr. Webster
Harlan Warde	...	Treasury Agent Brooke
Shimen Ruskin	...	Tailor

Runtime:

83 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved (PCA #16420)

Company:

Dowling Productions

Trivia:

The sign on the door of the attorney's office includes a "B. Chapman, CPA." Ben Chapman was the film's production supervisor.

Quotes:

Dr. Patrick J. Cory: [after Cory wakes Scratt up from a drunken stupor] My dear Dr. Schratt, you sober up with more
[pauses and shrugs]
Dr. Patrick J. Cory: grace than anyone I ever saw. You're terrific. C'mon, let's go.
Dr. Frank Schratt: Are you kidding?
[He hold out his shaking hand]
Dr. Frank Schratt: . Look! Nope.
Dr. Patrick J. Cory: Frank, don't let me down.
Dr. Frank Schratt: What's more useless than a surgeon with a hangover? I'm a drunken zero.! I pass!
Dr. Patrick J. Cory: No, you don't. I'd rather have you do a corneal transplant for me drunk than anyone else sober.
[Pulls him by the arm]
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in Child's Play (1988)

If only I had a brain!

This is another version of the Curt Siodmak story and this is a pretty good film. Film is about a doctor named Patrick Cory (Lew Ayres) who along with his wife Janice (Nancy "Reagan" Davis) and their alcoholic assistant Dr. Frank Schratt (Gene Evans) have been experimenting with monkey brains when the phone rings and its the authorities who tell them that a plane has crashed and they need him. He checks it out and has a barely alive man transfered to his lab. They try and save him but he dies. Patrick decides to take his brain for experiments but Frank and Janice don't like the idea. They learn that the man who died was named Donovan and he was a very rich and ruthless businessman. They put the brain in a tank with nutrients and it doesn't take long for the brain to start taking over Patrick and he assumes Donovans personality. He can forge Donovans signature flawlessly and starts taking over Donovans business affairs but meanwhile a nosy reporter finds out about the brain and starts to blackmail Patrick. The brain gets larger and Patrick is totally taken over and vows to make sure that if anyone gets in his way they will fall victim to an unfortunate accident! The film is very low budget and shot in black and white with no scenes that stand out as far as cinematography is concerned and seems to be shot with basic camera set-ups. Ayres is very good as Patrick and you can see his personality change without him speaking a word. For example, he starts to walk with a limp when he changes and when he does speak its with disdain and sarcasm. Nancy Davis appears to be very stoic in her characterization and if she was like this in other films than we can understand why her film career didn't go very far. She's not exactly a radiant beauty so if she can't emote any better than this, then maybe she should marry someone who can support her (Oops, she did!). Since the film is low budget it has to rely on the story and its pretty interesting to watch this man be controlled and Ayres is given the chance by all counts to play two roles and he is at odds with himself to try and not let the brain control him. Some of the outside shots in this film look like the same area that some of "Tarantula" was filmed. Also, actor John Hamilton (TV's Perry White of Superman) has a small role as a bank manager. Film is well worth a look and this is a sci-fi story that really has no special effects and relies on story and its veteran actors.