The Brain

While 'Donovan's Brain' wasn't the first movie version of Curt Siodmak's sci fi shocker, it is by far the best known and best remembered of the three adaptations (so far). As a corny but entertaining b-grade movie it is hard to beat, and wonderful fun. 'The Brain', an overlooked German/English remake, doesn't try to outdo it, it instead approaches the source material in a very different way. The sensationalistic thrills and mind control horror of the 1953 movie are replaced by a calmer, more atmospheric style which adds a mystery element not seen in the earlier version. The basic premise is the same (though the names have been changed). This time around the scientist experimenting with keeping monkey's brains alive outside the body is played by Peter van Eyck ('Wages Of Fear'). He is assisted by his beautiful wife (well, I think it's his wife) Ella (Ellen Schwiers, who is positively stunning, and a lot easier on the eye than Nancy Davis!), and his trustworthy alcoholic sidekick (Bernard Lee, 'M' of James Bond fame). Once again a plane crashes nearby and the sole survivor is taken back to their lab. Once again the man cannot be saved but the scientist decides to keep his brain. As in 'Donovan's Brain' the brain survives and begins to exert control over the scientist. But it isn't in the same way, it is much subtler, and instead of domination, the brain wants something else - justice. For in 'The Brain' the millionaire has been murdered, and most of his family and associates are suspects. This interesting twist, plus the superior cast, makes this movie a rarity - a worthwhile remake. However, I wouldn't go so far as to say it surpasses the earlier movie. It is less silly and more intelligent, but not necessarily more entertaining. I enjoy both movies in different ways, and recommend them both.

I just got myself an old issue of FANGORIA and they had an interview with Freddie Francis inside. It had been quite a while since I had watched a Francis horror film, so I figured why not try one of his films. I watched this one, which was his first horror film (2nd to date) he ever directed. Is it good? Not really. I would say that Francis' work does get leaps and bounds better after his initial horror film. Like TALES FROM THE CRYPT (1972) or THE DOCTOR AND THE DEVILS (1985). Maybe any true Freddie Francis fans might enjoy it more.

Brilliant Dr. Peter Corrie (Peter van Eyck) is conducting experiments on brains to try and further his knowledge in the field. He is working on a monkey's brain in the beginning of the film, which in one shot kind of looks like a watermelon. With the assistance of Dr. Frank Shears (Bernard Lee's next role after he had played M in DR. NO) he gets a hold of a still working brain within a dead body. Turns out it belongs to tyrannical tycoon Max Holt. During the film Holt and Dr. Corrie's brain are on the same wavelength, so Dr. Corrie knows things he shouldn't. In the end it turns into a murder mystery to solve his murder.

Sadly a mixture of good ideas with some kooky ones, which may have to do with it being a B-Movie from the early 60s, so it adds some silly sci-fi angles to things which are not believable. The whole murder mystery element when added really does suck a lot of the horror out of the picture. A blend of two genres that does not really work.

Also starring JacK MacGowran as Furber, who may be the most interesting character in the whole movie. He is aware of Dr. Corrie's theft of Max Holt's brain and is looking for payment to keep quiet.

This Anglo-German co-production by Raymond Stross based on the novel by Kurt Siodmak represented an early film by Freddie Francis, when he still had serious ambitions to establish himself as a director.

As befits a man who had recently been an Oscar-winning black & white cinematographer Francis provides the film with a vivid visual style. Among the cast comprising Ango-Saxons and Teutons in fairly equal measure Peter Van Eyck as usual gives a sound dramatic performance as Dr Corrie both before and after coming under the control of the recently deceased megalomaniac Max Holt. The producer's wife provides a memorably glacial femme fatale, while a surprisingly large number of actors associated with comedy - including Miles Malleson - fleetingly appear in straight roles.

Freddy Francis directs another retelling of Donovan's Brain.

This is the story of a rich SOB industrialist who is killed, however his brain is saved. As scientists try to study the still living organ the personality of the "dead" man begins to exert itself on those around the brain tank.

Good, with expressive black and white photography, this too is a bit unremarkable and slightly dull, which is odd considering Francis' films tend to have a bit more life in them, even when they are poor.Interesting to see Bernard Lee (M from the early Bonds) in a different sort of role. Not bad but not really the gripping drama I wanted at 2am to keep me awake...it put me out.

Back in 1944, Hollywood produced "Lady and the Monster". Not even a decade later, they remade the film as "Donovan's Brain". Now, less than a decade after that, the British remade the film yet again as "The Brain"! I've seen the other two films and decided to see if the British version is any better. And, after seeing it, I am not sure I'd say it was better...more very different.

Dr. Corrie (Peter van Eyck) is one of those researchers whose humanity and ethics take a back seat to his research. He's been working on trying to keep brains alive after the rest of the monkey has died and he's longing to try his experiments out on humans. Soon, an opportunity practically drops in his lap when an airplane crashes nearby. Everyone on board is dead or dying and the one living victim is nearly dead. So, Corrie decides to try out his experiment and he ends up keeping the brain of a cruel industrialist alive.

This brain apparently is from a man with a strong will, as soon it begins controlling Corrie and makes him investigate the airplane crash. Soon, folks are alarmed that Corrie keeps declaring that it was murder and that he seemed to know details of the case he shouldn't have known. How long until the murderer decides that Corrie is a liability and needs to be gotten out of the way?

This film, unlike the other two, is less a horror film and more a murder mystery. Van Eyck's acting is very nice and the story held my interest. Very good and different enough from the others that it's still worth seeing.

By the way, the prop brain they used in the film was too big...more like an elephant's brain than a human one!