ALL SCI-FI

[The Spike]

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Instrument of Terror!

An adaptation of film noir legend Curt Siodmak's novel, Donovan's Brain, The Brain offers up a murder mystery narrative to go with the mad science angle. It's not particularly thrilling, but it does tick along nicely, and director Freddie Francis has a keen eye for scene staging.

The cast features Peter Van Eyck, Anne Heywood, Cecil Parker, and Bernard Lee. They all do what is required to make the material work.

Stand out moments involve some delightfully monstrous paintings, a lie detector scene, and all the sequences where Van Eyck is possessed by the brain of the powerful industrialist who was murdered by person or persons unknown.

Good and safe "B" schlocky fare for the so inclined. 6/10
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The quality of mercy is not strnen.

[Bud Brewster]

I never seen this one, but I made some notes about it from a few books about sci-fi movies, years ago. Here's what I found out -- pretty much the same as what you said about it.
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Also released as: "Vengeance", this is the third version of "Donovan's Brain", one which remains reasonably faithful to the original story by Curt Siodmak.

A ruthless tycoon dies in a plane crash, a scientist preserves the tycoon's brain in a nutrient solution, and the brain begins using telepathy to control the scientist so he can find out who deliberately caused the plane crash.

Highly rated by most reviewers. Directed by Freddie Francis.
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[Bud Brewster]

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YouTube doesn't seem to have the trailer, but they do have a watchable version of the full movie. So . . . have at it "Brain" fans!
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________________________ The Brain (1962)


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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)