The Brain That Wouldn't Die (1962)

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.

Director:

Joseph Green

Writers:

Joseph Green (screenplay), Rex Carlton (original story)

Stars:

Jason Evers, Virginia Leith, Anthony La Penna

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Jason Evers	...	Dr. Bill Cortner (as Herb Evers)
Virginia Leith	...	Jan Compton / Jan in the Pan
Anthony La Penna	...	Kurt (as Leslie Daniel)
Adele Lamont	...	Doris Powell
Bonnie Sharie	...	Blonde Stripper
Paula Morris	...	Brunet Stripper
Marilyn Hanold	...	Peggy Howard (as Marlyn Hanold)
Bruce Brighton	...	Dr. Cortner
Arny Freeman	...	Photographer
Fred Martin	...	Medical Assistant
Lola Mason	...	Donna Williams
Doris Brent	...	Nurse
Bruce Kerr	...	Beauty Contest M.C.
Audrey Devereau	...	Jeannie Reynolds
Eddie Carmel	...	Monster

Storyline

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.

---

Plot Keywords:

mad scientist | surgeon | laboratory | car accident | decapitation | 

---

Taglines:

Alive... without a body... fed by an unspeakable horror from hell!

---

Genres:

Horror | Sci-Fi

---

Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 August 1962 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Black Door

Filming Locations:

Marymount Secondary School, Tarrytown, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$62,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rex Carlton Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

82 min (uncut) 70 min (TCM print)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Sammy Petrillo: One of the men snapping photos of Doris in her studio is Petrillo, a Jerry Lewis imitator and co-star of Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla (1952).

---

Goofs

When Dr. Cortner approaches the crashed car being consumed by fire, he is confronted by a male hand (note the hairy wrist) which drops from sight when he touches it. The car's only occupant is supposed to be his girlfriend, Jan.

---

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: ...
[...]

---

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."

---

Alternate Versions

Also released in shorter version that removes most of the violent footage.

---

Connections

Referenced in Under the Silver Lake (2018)

---

Soundtracks

The Web
Composed by Tony Restaino
Performed by Abe Baker
By Permission of Laurel Records
[Theme Music]

User Reviews

'60s Schlockfest

The opening credits bear the title THE BRAIN THAT WOULDN'T DIE. Some 80 minutes later, the same film is strangely billed as THE HEAD THAT WOULDN'T DIE in the end credits. That gives you an idea of how much effort went into this '60s schlockfest.

But that doesn't mean it's not worth watching if you're in the right mood. Jason Evers (who would later lend his considerable talents to such memorable efforts as A PIECE OF THE ACTION and A MAN CALLED GANNON) stars as a wacky doc who thinks it'd be just super to keep his fiancée's head alive in his laboratory after her untimely decapitation in a car accident. He's understandably not content marrying a head, so he seeks out an appropriate (though not necessarily willing!) body donor.

Much of the "action" takes place in the mad doc's basement lab (likely marking one of the final times the traditionally cheesy horror film lab set was put to use). Jan Compton (Virginia Leith), or Jan in the Pan as she's called, spends an awful lot of time yapping and whining. Another IMDb reviewer wasn't far off when he likened her to THE HEAD THAT WOULDN'T SHUT UP! Can you blame her? She's understandably not content to live this sort of life. But what's really holding her interest (and mine... there, I admitted it) is the doctor's other monstrous creation, which keeps trying to pound its from behind its single-doored prison. Will our hero find a body for his woman? Are the authorities on to him? Why am I enjoying this so much? Those are just some of the questions you'll find yourself asking.

THE BRAIN THAT WOULDN'T DIE comes to us in the tradition of PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE and THE BEAST OF YUCCA FLATS, though it's not quite on par with those films in terms of "so bad it's good" appeal. As incredible as it sounds, the picture is legitimately able to hold the viewer's interest with its outrageous plot and suspense built up over the creature behind the door. Sure it goes on a bit too long and sure there are dull moments, but what did you expect?

Admit it. If you haven't seen this one, at least part of you wants to. It's probably that part that yearns for pure, unadulterated stupidity from grown men and women from time to time. So indulge that inner glutton with THE BRAIN THAT WOULD'T DIE.