A man who has been in a coma since infancy is awakened.A man who has been in a coma since infancy is awakened.A man who has been in a coma since infancy is awakened.
Pamela Moiseiwitsch
- Girl on Train
- (as Pamela Moseiwitsch)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaCharles Eric Maine, pen name for David McIlwain, was an English science fiction and detective thriller writer. Born in Liverpool in 1921, he published a science fiction magazine. During World War 2, he served in the Royal Air Force in northern Africa. After the war, he worked in TV engineering and was an editor on radio and television. He sold a radio play to the BBC in 1952 which later turned into a movie Spaceways (1953). He died in 1981 in London England.
- GoofsThis movie loves screeching brakes. When the car hits Mr Soames, it screeches to a halt even though it is on a thick dirt road. Later, a police car pulls up to a building and it screeches to a halt while traveling only a few miles per hour.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The Omen (1976)
Featured review
"The Mind of Mr. Soames" is a uniquely original and genuinely absorbing medical drama/thriller, but let's get one thing unmistakably clear from the beginning: this is a primarily talkative and thought-provoking film, so everyone who's expecting spectacular action sequences or sensational Science Fiction footage might feel sorely disappointed or even cheated after his/her viewing! Kind of like with, for example, "The Andromeda Strain", my advice would be not to start watching this film late at night when you're already battling sleep, because you'll lose, regardless of how compelling and innovative the subject matter is. "The Mind of Mr. Soames" thrives on its intellectual screenplay (based on a novel by Charles Eric Maine), atypical character studies and deeply admirable acting performances. The atmosphere, as well as several individual sequences, is unsettling and suspenseful, but more from a social and human interest point of view
if that makes sense.
In Dr. Maitland's private clinic, cozily hidden in the rural British countryside, this 30-year-old patient John Soames has been lying in a coma ever since birth. Dr. Maitland has now invited the acclaimed American Dr. Bergen – as well as a whole army of TV reporters and journalists – to perform progressive brain surgery in an ultimate attempt to wake John up. The operation succeeds, but John naturally has 30 years of learning and development to catch up. Tension mounts when Dr. Maitland insists on subjecting John Soames to a strict schedule, while Dr. Bergen pleads for letting him explore and discover life freely. John himself clearly feels trapped within the clinic's walls and escapes, but the baby inside a grown man's body isn't ready to deal with the world or vice versa. The most admirable thing about "The Mind of Mr. Soames" is that it never reverts to clichés or cheap sensation. The character of Dr. Maitland, for example, easily could have been a stereotypical tyrant or obsessive scientist, but even he remains an integer and identifiable person. The (anti-)climax, often described as boring and unsatisfying, is actually a very honest piece of cinema. Director Alan Cooke, usually active in television, does a very good job and also could depend on really great actors. Terence Stamp is simply terrific in the titular role, as he puts a lot of heart and childish innocence in the persona of John Soames. Robert Vaughn delivers what is probably the most mature performance of his career and Nigel Davenport is reliable as always. This was a very atypical film for the Amicus production studios and a very atypical film altogether, but recommended for sure.
In Dr. Maitland's private clinic, cozily hidden in the rural British countryside, this 30-year-old patient John Soames has been lying in a coma ever since birth. Dr. Maitland has now invited the acclaimed American Dr. Bergen – as well as a whole army of TV reporters and journalists – to perform progressive brain surgery in an ultimate attempt to wake John up. The operation succeeds, but John naturally has 30 years of learning and development to catch up. Tension mounts when Dr. Maitland insists on subjecting John Soames to a strict schedule, while Dr. Bergen pleads for letting him explore and discover life freely. John himself clearly feels trapped within the clinic's walls and escapes, but the baby inside a grown man's body isn't ready to deal with the world or vice versa. The most admirable thing about "The Mind of Mr. Soames" is that it never reverts to clichés or cheap sensation. The character of Dr. Maitland, for example, easily could have been a stereotypical tyrant or obsessive scientist, but even he remains an integer and identifiable person. The (anti-)climax, often described as boring and unsatisfying, is actually a very honest piece of cinema. Director Alan Cooke, usually active in television, does a very good job and also could depend on really great actors. Terence Stamp is simply terrific in the titular role, as he puts a lot of heart and childish innocence in the persona of John Soames. Robert Vaughn delivers what is probably the most mature performance of his career and Nigel Davenport is reliable as always. This was a very atypical film for the Amicus production studios and a very atypical film altogether, but recommended for sure.
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Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Das zweite Leben des Mr. Soames
- Filming locations
- Pyrford Court, Ripley, Surrey, England, UK(Hospital exteriors and grounds.)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 38 minutes
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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By what name was The Mind of Mr. Soames (1970) officially released in India in English?
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