When the private plane of megalomaniac multi-millionaire Max Holt crashes nearby, Dr. Peter Corrie (Peter van Eyck) transports Holt, the only survivor, to his laboratory, only for his patient to promptly cark it. Seizing the opportunity to advance his research on brain activity, Corrie removes Holt's brain and places it in an experimental glass tank, after which he discovers that the disembodied organ continues to function, eventually forming a telepathic connection with him.
The Brain is the third movie adaptation of Curt Siodmak's novel Donovan's Brain, after The Lady and the Monster in 1944) and Donovan's Brain in 1953. A British production, directed by Freddie Francis, this one deviates from the original story, with Corrie suspecting foul play and turning detective to try and find out who was responsible for the plane crash. The result is an enjoyably daft noir-ish thriller that mixes mystery and murder with existential metaphysics (disclaimer: I know nothing about existentialism or metaphysics, so I could be talking hogwash). Francis was a wildly uneven director, his work ranging from the terrible - The Deadly Bees (1966) and The Vampire Happening (1971) - to the very entertaining - Mumsy, Nanny, Sonny & Girly (1970), Craze (1974) and Paranoiac (1963); The Brain is one of his more accomplished movies, featuring solid performances and plenty of intrigue, and even if it does lose its way somewhat in the final act, it's definitely worth a watch.
6.5/10, rounded up to 7 for IMDb.
The Brain is the third movie adaptation of Curt Siodmak's novel Donovan's Brain, after The Lady and the Monster in 1944) and Donovan's Brain in 1953. A British production, directed by Freddie Francis, this one deviates from the original story, with Corrie suspecting foul play and turning detective to try and find out who was responsible for the plane crash. The result is an enjoyably daft noir-ish thriller that mixes mystery and murder with existential metaphysics (disclaimer: I know nothing about existentialism or metaphysics, so I could be talking hogwash). Francis was a wildly uneven director, his work ranging from the terrible - The Deadly Bees (1966) and The Vampire Happening (1971) - to the very entertaining - Mumsy, Nanny, Sonny & Girly (1970), Craze (1974) and Paranoiac (1963); The Brain is one of his more accomplished movies, featuring solid performances and plenty of intrigue, and even if it does lose its way somewhat in the final act, it's definitely worth a watch.
6.5/10, rounded up to 7 for IMDb.