Donovan's Brain (1953)

Overrated Movie, mostly because it is so seriously handled that it seems intelligent. Only seems. It is rather routine in all respects and is for the most part bland and boring. It does move along quickly and the best Scenes are outside the lab. Not a good thing for a Sci-Fi Film. In fact, it is the money manipulations and Government Investigations that come off as the most interesting.Another thing. There just isn't too much Horror or intrigue in watching a floating disembodied Brain in a fish tank. Some of the mumbo-jumbo is also quite elementary and stilted. Given all this, there must be something inherently haunting about "Brain" Movies because they do make quite a number of them. But nobody seems to know why. Everyone talks about how this is the best of this type of thing. But that isn't saying much. They most always are Kitsch or just Bad. But there are a lot of them out there when you get that uncontrollable urge and succumb to that particular brand of Mind Control or Brainwashing, you won't have much choice but to watch one of them. Actually you can take your pick without missing too much.

Yet another story inspired by a Curt Siodmak science fiction novel. This adapted by Hugh Brooks has an earnest Dr. Pat Cory(Lew Ayres)maintaining the living brain of a dead millionaire. The more research discovered by Cory and his wife(Nancy Davis)and assistant Dr. Schratt(Gene Evans), Dr. Cory begins to be controlled by the power of the ruthless millionaire's brain. Cory subconsciously takes on the mannerisms and thought processes of the brain's owner. A freelance reporter(Steve Brodie)tries to blackmail Dr. Cory by revealing his dangerous experiment to the public. Veteran actor Ayres goes about the role as if routine. Miss Davis, the future First Lady, seems talentless.

Scientists Dr. Patrick Cory(Lew Ayres)and partner alcoholic Dr. Frank Schratt(Gene Evans)have successfully removed a living brain and have kept it from dying within a tank using an oscilloscope to measure the current and gain response to any reactions that might occur. Schratt tries to talk sense into Cory, because his actions(which are for the greater good and benefit of mankind)are illegal and could very well lead to his losing his medical license. But, losing his medical license will be the least of Cory's problems because the brain of a wealthy millionaire named Donovan gains control of the good doctor, growing stronger and healthier through a form of hypnotic suggestion(..Cory does admit to allowing Donovan control, not truly knowing the consequences of such a decision). The longer Donovan has control, the weaker Cory's hold is on his own body. Donovan begins plans to build a vault for his brain, using Cory to make shady, corrupt business dealings with past associates. It's known that Donovan failed to pay taxes and was a pariah to his family and those around him. His firm, aggressive, "don't take no for an answer" attitude begins to show itself(as does physical traits such as a limp and this ugly, cold visage)through the once tender, warm, loving Cory and soon his wife, Janice(Nancy Davis)and Frank begin to worry about him. The longer the brain has control of Cory the stronger and healthier it gets, with the powerful influence to force anyone in it's proximity to do whatever Donovan wills. Such as a crooked reporter whose camera takes a snapshot of Donovan's brain..his blackmailing scheme threatens Donovan's plans. We see as the movie continues that the brain's powerful influence becomes too great to overcome even as Frank tries to shoot it with a pistol. Meanwhile, Donovan uses Cory's body to write checks, and with that money laying the groundwork for a vault to house his brain while also purchasing fancy suits, $2 cigars, and underhanded business associates he once worked with. As Donovan speaks through Cory to a former associate, "Mr. Donovan intends to dominate the international financial scene, and a fatal accident will occur to all who happen to stand in his way." The blackmailing reporter finds out the hard way what that statement entails..will Frank and Janice, suffer the tragic consequences of knowing too much as Donovan plans to finish them off?This seems to have a rather lackluster rating on the IMDb, but I think it's quite brilliant in it's rich, intelligent script..I'm guessing many find the flick dated and premise rather corny. I think the idea regarding a pulsating, living brain could command another(..and others)to not only do it's bidding, but order those in close contact to even harm themselves quite a terrifying concept. The brain itself may also cause the film to receive criticism because it's basically rubber with a light glowing inside, submersed in a water tank. I loved Ayres performance as the victim of his science, even if it was for the welfare and benefits of helping others in the future. He actually shows the change from Cory to the notorious Donovan on his face. I certainly thought the dialogue was rich. I think this is a great B-movie, worth a look by less skeptical sci-fi fans who can see through the budgetary restrictions. Only the ending, with the help of an appropriate lightning strike that assists in helping our protagonists against the evil brain, "hurts" this film.

In the original Frankenstein film, the good doctor's experiment is flawed from the start when Dwight Frye takes the brain of a criminal from the medical school to give to Colin Clive for the final touch to his research. That was what Lew Ayres overlooked.Imagine if Dr. Albert Schweitzer had been in a plane crash and his brain had been harvested by Lew Ayres and Gene Evans? Would Ayres's experiment have turned out differently? We'll never know because on the day that research scientist Ayres was called away from his work to do actual doctoring it was for Warren H. Donovan, misanthropic millionaire. Ayres and Evans have devised away to keep Donovan's Brain alive in a saline solution with electrodes. Unfortunately the brain's really thriving in it, the brain and the ego inside. As it grows it takes over the personalities around it, though at this early stage it can only dominate one person at a time and it does need sleep like the normal human brain.Donovan's Brain has some big ambitions, nothing less than world domination of the global marketplace. The suspense that the film has involves whether this thing can develop before they're capable of destroying it. Stars Lew Ayres, future first lady Nancy Davis, and Gene Evans all do good work here. The performance I like the best is that of blackmailing reporter/paparazzi Steve Brodie. Donovan's Brain deals quite nicely with him.For modern audiences who think it can't happen, imagine in the age of the internet Donald Trump's disembodied brain in saline solution like Donovan's Brain near a laptop.