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.

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Plot Keywords:

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

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Taglines:

It's madness, not science!

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Genres:

Horror | Sci-Fi

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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).

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Goofs

In the early part of the film when Bill is driving the 1959 Mercury convertible recklessly, the brake pedal he applies pressure to is in a 1959 Ford. A Mercury brake pedal has round indentations, the Ford has vertical. The 1959 Ford Convertible used later in the film is the same car used in Perry Mason television shows.... same mirror, no power brakes, with power windows.

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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: ...
[...]

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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."

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Alternate Versions

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

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Connections

Featured in TCM Underground: The Black Sleep/The Brain That Wouldn't Die (2006)

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

THIS MOVIE WAS GREAT!

This was one of the first CREEPY movies I ever saw...I was about 5 at the time. It scared me GOOD! But that night I put chewing gum in one eye to be like the monster...and my mom got very upset. She had to clean my eye with alcohol and the next day my eye smelled like DOUBLE MINT! NOW THAT'S A MOVIE! Hey for it's time it was a great movie. That Head sitting on the lab counter top was as real as it got back then. And IF your 5 it is VERY SCARY! Kids now a days are spoiled by special effects that show too much and leave NOTHING for your minds imagination. Your mind can imagine things more scarier than special effects! (IMO)