La mort vient du passé

One of my sci-fi/horror/fantasy reviews written 50 years ago: Directed by Boris Sagal; Produced by Jack Laird, for Universal TV, broadcast by NBC-TV. Screenplay by Adrian Spies, from Curt Siodmak's novel; Photography by Petrus Schloemp; Edited by Frank Morriss; Music by Bill Byers. Starring: David McCallum, Susan Strasberg, Helmut Kautner, Leslie Nielsen, Robert Webber, Lilli Palmer, Barbara Lass and Arthur Brauss.

Fast-paced science fiction thriller, expertly done, concerning RNA memory transfer, plus Nazi, anti-Semitic and secret formula shtick, as well as Cold War intrigue, man taking over another's body and the perils of scientific experimentation.

A scientist is convinced by the CIA to inject the brain fluid of a dying colleague into himself, in order to maintain missile/defence secrets known only to the dying man. But in doing so, the memories of the dead man intermingle with the scientist, leading him experiencing flashbacks of events during Europe in WWII; he heads off to Prague to discover what it all means. Yes, this means the Nazis are involved! This is a pretty good TV movie with an interesting premise. It stars David McCallum. One of the boys in my class at primary school always used to say that David McCallum was his uncle. He definitely wasn't.

NBC's Hauser's Memory is a gripping, well-made Euro-Sci-spy thriller with Robert Webber, Lili Palmer, Leslie Nielsen, Susan Strasberg, with another compelling lead performance from the consistently excellent, David McCallum. A noted Scientist working with laboratory animals is asked to utilise his, as yet untested, procedure upon a human subject in order to transfer one deceased individual's memory into another living human subject. Needless to say, once the potent psychoactive serum has been administered, the pell-mell story provides a wealth of exciting, twist-laden incident. I simply can't get enough of these smart, well-acted, inventively written 70s TV movies! Anything but disposable entertainment, Hauser's Memory is a bustling hive of delicious intrigue, excitingly directed by the enormously experienced TV dramatist, Boris Sagal! The terse, increasingly sinister Cold War thriller is given additional production value by its handsome exterior location shots in Copenhagen, Berlin and beautifully baroque Prague.

This story assumes that experimental research has allowed memories to be transferred from one person to another by injection. Though technically science fiction, this story is really another cold war tale at its best. The memories are those of an aged German scientist held captive in the USSR after World War II. Considering that this was made for TV, the production value is high. The acting is also very good, and there are many colorful European locations. The story holds together well, as our hapless young volunteer (who received the injection) discovers more and more about the aged scientist and the kind of life he had. Imbued with wartime memories and secrets, he is pursued by CIA and KGB agents. Made in 1970, it is also dated, which adds to the fun!

I saw this movie a couple of times many years ago, and still remember it as being very different. I would love to see it again. I noticed that it is not listed on David McCallum's filmography in Wikipedia which is surprising... I found David McCallum with dark hair rather unsettling.The story is about a scientist who has his memory transformed when he uses an experimental drug and the consequences of this. Considering that the cast also included Lesley Nielsen and Lilli Palmer, I think it is strange that it has sunk without trace. There are quite a few excellent movies from the 60s and 70s which have been forgotten and when they feature actors and actresses who have gone on to be significant, you would think that they would be worth reviving. I know that the old Man from UNCLE movies have been issued on DVD quite recently so maybe there is hope yet. If you get a chance to see Hauser's Memory and you are interested in the development of serious ideas in science fiction, I recommend you watch it.