Donovan's Brain (1953)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

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:

Brain | Murder | Doctor | Disembodied Brain | Banking

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:

Writer Curt Siodmak was also set to direct, but at the last minute he was replaced by Felix E. Feist.

Quotes:

Dr. Patrick J. Cory: Perhaps I'll cure Frank and every other alcoholic if I can solve the mystery of Donovan's Brain. I think it's a matter of chemistry how the brain thinks. The problem is to find out what chemical combinations are responsible for success... failure... happiness... misery.
Janice Cory: Sounds impossible.
Dr. Patrick J. Cory: But it is not. It can't be. There has to be a way.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Child's Play (1988)

Out of the ashes of noir rises the sci-fi cycle

When the noir cycle was running down (and out) in the early 1950s, the new spate of "sci-fi" movies could lay claim to being among its bastard offspring. These programmers about atomic mutants, mad scientists and monsters from the night sky took over the quick-and-dirty, bottom-of-the-bill status the noirs once occupied. Rarely, however, did they boast their known and seasoned casts or their distinctive visual style (how could they? They were all set out in the damn desert).

But they also inherited some noir veterans. Donovan's Brain was directed by Felix Feist (The Devil Thumbs A Ride, Tomorrow Is Another Day) and originally written by Curt Siodmak (Berlin Express).

Scientist Lew Ayres works on keeping monkey brains alive outside their bodies. When a powerful millionaire dies in a car crash conveniently nearby, Ayres volunteers to resuscitate the brain and succeeds beyond his hopes. In its electromagnetic bath, the organ pulsates and glows, developing telepathic powers. Soon it's taking over Ayres' personality; he starts living Donovan's life and continuing his dirty work, all the way to Washington.

Ayres' wife (Nancy Davis at her most charmless and plain-jane) grows alarmed, and plans to unplug the brain. Trouble is, it can sense hostility and defend itself....

Feist applies some practised suspense techniques to the story, and with Joseph Biroc's photography the movie doesn't look bad, either. But it's high point is Ayres as he shifts from mild researcher to the insolent, despotic Donovan. He makes the hour and a half something more than just passable.