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The Brain That Wouldn't Die ()

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A doctor experimenting with transplant techniques keeps his girlfriend's head alive when she is decapitated in a car crash, then goes hunting for a new body.
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Photos and Videos

126 photos | 2 videos

Cast verified as complete

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Dr. Bill Cortner (as Herb Evers)
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Jan Compton
Anthony La Penna ...
Kurt (as Leslie Daniel)
Adele Lamont ...
Doris Powell
Bonnie Sharie ...
Blonde Stripper
Paula Morris ...
Brunet Stripper
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Peggy Howard (as Marlyn Hanold)
Bruce Brighton ...
Dr. Cortner
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Photographer
Fred Martin ...
Medical Assistant
Lola Mason ...
Donna Williams
Doris Brent ...
Nurse
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Beauty Contest M.C.
Audrey Devereau ...
Jeannie Reynolds
Eddie Carmel ...
Monster
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
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Art (uncredited)

Directed by

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Joseph Green ... (directed by)

Written by

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Doris Brent ... (additional dialogue)
 
Joseph Green ... (screenplay by)
 
Rex Carlton ... (original story by) and
Joseph Green ... (original story by)

Produced by

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Rex Carlton ... producer (produced by)
Mort Landberg ... associate producer

Cinematography by

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Stephen Hajnal ... director of photography

Editing by

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Marc Anderson ... film editor

Editorial Department

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Leonard Anderson ... supervising film editor

Art Direction by

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Paul Fanning

Makeup Department

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George Fiala ... makeup artist

Production Management

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Alfred H. Lessner ... production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

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Tony LaMarca ... assistant director

Art Department

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Walter Pluff Jr. ... propertyman

Sound Department

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Emil Kolisch ... sound
Robert E. Lessner ... sound

Special Effects by

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Byron Baer ... special effects

Camera and Electrical Department

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Vincent Delaney ... gaffer
John Haupt Jr. ... grip
Jack Priestley ... camera operator (as John S. Priestley)

Music Department

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Thomas J. Valentino ... music rights (uncredited)

Script and Continuity Department

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Eva Blair ... script supervisor

Additional Crew

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Doris Brent ... additional dialogue
Linda Brent ... assistant to producer
Jim Geallis ... assistant to producer (as James Gealis)
Reynold Brown ... movie poster art (uncredited)
Crew verified as complete

Production Companies

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Distributors

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Special Effects

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Other Companies

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Storyline

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Plot Summary

Dr. Bill Cortner has been performing experimental surgery on human guinea pigs without authorization and against the advice of his father, also a surgeon. When Bill's fiancée Jan Compton is decapitated in an automobile accident, he manages to keep her brain alive. He now needs to find a new body for his bride-to-be and settles on Doris Powell, a glamor model with a facial disfigurement. Jan meanwhile doesn't want to continue her body-less existence and calls upon the creature hidden in the basement, one of Bill Cortner's unsuccessful experiments, to break loose. Written by garykmcd

Plot Keywords
Taglines Alive... without a body... fed by an unspeakable horror from hell! See more »
Genres
Parents Guide View content advisory »
Certification

Additional Details

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Also Known As
  • The Head That Wouldn't Die (United States)
  • The Black Door (United States)
  • Brain That Wouldn't Die (United States)
  • Le cerveau qui ne voulait pas mourir (France)
  • Der Kopf, der nicht sterben durfte (Germany)
  • See more »
Runtime
  • 82 min
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Language
Color
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Filming Locations

Box Office

Budget $62,000 (estimated)

Did You Know?

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Trivia Reportedly, Virginia Leith hated the film so much she refused to return for post-production. At least a few of her lines were dubbed by Doris Brent, who played a nurse. See more »
Goofs Even were it possible to keep a severed head alive by ensuring enough oxygenated blood is circulated through the brain (as it appears to be, here), it would still be impossible for Jan to speak without lungs or vocal cords. See more »
Movie Connections Edited into Elvira's Horror Classics (2004). See more »
Soundtracks The Web See more »
Crazy Credits At the beginning, the title is given as "The Brain That Wouldn't Die." The end title card lists the title as "The Head That Wouldn't Die." See more »
Quotes Blonde Stripper: [hands on hips] You lousy tramp! Once in a blue moon I liken to a guy with class and *you* mess it up!
Brunet Stripper: Eh! What makes you think you had him? He wouldn't have you on a bet!
Blonde Stripper: [hands still on hips] Says who?
Brunet Stripper: Says me! What's a guy like that want with *leftovers* for?
Blonde Stripper: *Leftovers*?
[blonde stripper goes to slap the brunette stripper and a man's hand appears on screen slapping the brunette stripper]
Brunet Stripper: [puts hand to face in shock] Why you cheap third grade stripper!
[catfight ensues between the two strippers]
Brunet Stripper: Ow! Let go!
Blonde Stripper: Don't you ever call me that again! Oooh!
Brunet Stripper: I'll mash you on the butt!
Blonde Stripper: Try!
Brunet Stripper: Oh, I'll try!
[camera cuts to shot of a tapestry with cats on it and a voice says "Meow!"]
See more »
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