The Brain, also known as Vengeance and Ein Toter sucht seinen Mörder, is a 1962 UK-West German co-production science fiction thriller film directed by Freddie Francis and starring Anne Heywood and Peter van Eyck.[1] It was written by Robert Banks Stewart and Philip Mackie adapted from the 1942 Curt Siodmak novel Donovan's Brain. In this film, differing from earlier adaptations, the dead man seeks his murderer through hypnotic contact with the doctor keeping his brain alive.
| The Brain | |
|---|---|
 Movie poster | |
| Directed by | Freddie Francis |
| Written by | Robert Banks Stewart Philip Mackie |
| Based on | Donovan's Brain by Curt Siodmak |
| Produced by | Artur Brauner Raymond Stross |
| Starring | Anne Heywood Peter van Eyck Cecil Parker Bernard Lee |
| Cinematography | Robert Huke |
| Edited by | Oswald Hafenrichter |
| Music by | Kenneth V. Jones |
Production company | Central Cinema Company/ Raymond Stross Productions |
| Distributed by | British Lion/Columbia (UK) Europa-Filmverleih AG (West Germany) Governor Films (US, 1964) |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 84 minutes (UK/Germany) 83 minutes (US) |
| Countries | United Kingdom West Germany |
| Language | English |
Plot
editDr Peter Corrie and his colleague Frank Shears remove the brain from the corpse of tycoon Max Holt, who was injured in an air-crash but subsequently died. Corrie attempts to keep the removed brain alive in a chemical bath. The brain hypnotically controls him, and Corrie suspects Holt was murdered. Corrie is framed for the murder of Holt's chauffeur, and under the brain's control Corrie almost commits murder himself. Shears disconnects the brain's support system, and Corrie tracks down Holt's murderer.
Cast
edit- Anne Heywood as Anna Holt
- Peter van Eyck as Dr. Peter Corrie
- Cecil Parker as Stevenson
- Bernard Lee as Dr. Frank Shears
- Jeremy Spenser as Martin Holt
- Maxine Audley as Marion Fane
- Ellen Schwiers as Ella
- Siegfried Lowitz as Mr. Walters
- Hans Nielsen as Immerman
- Jack MacGowran as Furber
- Miles Malleson as Dr. Miller
- George A. Cooper as Thomas Gabler
- Victor Brooks as farmer at crash site (uncredited)
- Allan Cuthbertson as Da Silva (uncredited)
- John Junkin as Frederick (uncredited)
- Bryan Pringle as dance hall MC (uncredited)
- Patsy Rowlands as young woman at dance hall (uncredited)
- Alister Williamson as Inspector Pike (uncredited)
Critical reception
editMonthly Film Bulletin wrote: "This preposterous mixture of crime, horror and science fiction, with a dash or two of neurosis, art and medical ethics stirred in, comes off unexpectedly well. With some notable photography credits to his record, director Freddie Francis not surprisingly has an eye for the startling or sinister image: the shadowy airport, the wild-eyed portrait of the telepathic tycoon, the brain dying in a swirl of chemicals. Once past the turgid dialogue of the opening scenes in the laboratory, direction, script and editing keep things roaring along with piled-on complications confusing the trails, and a neat pay-off. A strong cast gives momentary credibility to the hocus-pocus, with Jeremy Spenser enjoyable as a repulsive father-hater. But pointless miplausibilities in the story – brain-baths apart – will jar on the observant spectator. And it's a bit much having apparently two alcoholics in one picture."[2]
The Radio Times Guide to Films gave the film 3/5 stars, writing: "Hammer Horror veteran Freddie Francis does a decent job directing this version of Curt Siodmak's Donovan's Brain. Peter Van Eyck is the scientist controlled by the power-crazed organ of a sadistic tycoon kept alive after a plane crash. More of a mystery than an all-stops-out horror, the moody tale has some eerie moments and is efficiently involving. A competent cast injects new life into a familiar story."[3]
Leslie Halliwell said: "Twisty remake of Donovan's Brain [1953], not too badly done."[4]
See also
edit- The Lady and the Monster, a 1944 film adaptation of the novel
- Donovan's Brain, a 1953 film adaptation of the novel
References
edit- ^ "The Brain". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
- ^ "The Brain". Monthly Film Bulletin. 30 (348): 174. 1963 – via ProQuest.
- ^ Radio Times Guide to Films (18th ed.). London: Immediate Media Company. 2017. p. 125. ISBN 9780992936440.
- ^ Halliwell, Leslie (1989). Halliwell's Film Guide (7th ed.). London: Paladin. p. 1077. ISBN 0586088946.
External links
edit