Donovan's Brain (1953)

Director:

Felix E. Feist

Writers:

Curt Siodmak (novel)
Hugh Brooke (adaptation)

Release Date:

30 September 1953 (USA)

Genre:

Sci-Fi | Horror

Plot:

Yet another version of Curt Siodmak's novel about an honest scientist who keeps the brain of a ruthless dead millionaire (Donovan) alive in a tank...

Plot Keywords:

Hit By Truck | Malpractice | Murder | Financial Fraud | Telepathy

Cast

Lew Ayres	...	Dr. Patrick J. Cory
Gene Evans	...	Dr. Frank Schratt
Nancy Davis	...	Janice Cory
Steve Brodie	...	Herbie Yocum
Tom Powers	...	Donovan's Washington Advisor
Lisa Howard	...	Chloe Donovan (as Lisa K. Howard)
James Anderson	...	Chief Tuttle (as Kyle James)
Victor Sutherland	...	Nathaniel Fuller
Michael Colgan	...	Tom Donovan
Peter Adams	...	Mr. Webster
Harlan Warde	...	Treasury Agent Brooke
Shimen Ruskin	...	Tailor

Runtime:

83 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved (PCA #16420)

Company:

Dowling Productions

Trivia:

Orson Welles played the part of Dr. Corey in "Donovan's Brain" on the only two-part broadcast ever produced on radio's "Suspense", 18 May and 25 May 1944.

Quotes:

Dr. Patrick J. Cory: [after Cory wakes Scratt up from a drunken stupor] My dear Dr. Schratt, you sober up with more
[pauses and shrugs]
Dr. Patrick J. Cory: grace than anyone I ever saw. You're terrific. C'mon, let's go.
Dr. Frank Schratt: Are you kidding?
[He hold out his shaking hand]
Dr. Frank Schratt: . Look! Nope.
Dr. Patrick J. Cory: Frank, don't let me down.
Dr. Frank Schratt: What's more useless than a surgeon with a hangover? I'm a drunken zero.! I pass!
Dr. Patrick J. Cory: No, you don't. I'd rather have you do a corneal transplant for me drunk than anyone else sober.
[Pulls him by the arm]
[...]

Movie Connections:

Remade as The Brain (1962)

Excellent and different 50's sci fi

Donovan's Brain is the best version of this story I have seen and makes a change from the usual 50's sci fi of giant monsters and alien invasions.

A mad Doctor who experiments trying to keep brains from monkeys alive finally achieves this after several attempts. The same day, a fatality from a car crash, a millionaire (Mr Donovan) is brought in and he decides to use this human brain to see if he can do the same. He succeeds, but gradually, the brain takes over his mind and it gets bigger. This leads to murder. Just as the Doctor is trying to murder his wife during a thunderstorm, lightning strikes their house and this "kills" the brain and burns it. The doctor and his wife are OK.

A British version of this story followed in 1962, but this is the best version.

The movie stars Dr Kildare actor Lew Ayres, future First Lady and Ronald Reagan's widow Nancy Davis and Gene Evans (The Giant Behemoth).

I found this movie very enjoyable and is worth seeking out.

Rating: 4 stars out of 5.