Lew ayres is no olivier, but gets the job done here in this version of curt siodmaks novel about. Shop for vinyl, cds and more from donovans brain at the discogs marketplace. Overview of donovans brain, 1953, directed by felix feist, with lew ayres, gene evans, nancy reagan, at turner classic movies. The 2 parter is my favorite, its pretty graphic for the day and every time i think of donovans brain all i can think of is orson welles as the doctordonovan shuurr, shuurr, shuurr i believe that you can download the radio program for free, just do a search for donovans brain and orson welles here it is. Donovans brain is a terrific science thriller by curt siodmak. Donovans brain is a 1953 american science fiction horror feature film directed by felix e. Corys lew ayres discovery of a method to keep disembodied brains alive. Now, corys wife nancy reagan must put a stop to the devious brain before it destroys the.
Frankenstein fantasia, in this tory of a brain, kept alive by a doctors invention, whose powers for evil soon exceed the originators control. Since then the book has become something of a cult classic, with fans including stephen king, who discussed the novel in his 1981 book danse macabre and mentions it in his novelminiseries it. The brain of a ruthless industrialist who is killed in a plane crash is stolen and kept alive by a scientist. The best known of these adaptations, from 1953, is the only one to use siodmaks original.
Donovans brain would be a best seller in the forties. Lew ayres stars in felix feists adaptation of the 1942 novel by curt siodmak. A scientist keeps a dead mans brain alive and the dead man gains telekinetic powers enabling him to possess the scientist and live though him. Reiner stated in the 3 jun 1983 lat that the screenplay was originally conceived by martin, who wanted to lampoon one of his favorite films, donovans brain 1953, see entry. Donovans brain film donovans brain is an independently made 1953 blackandwhite science fiction horror film, produced by allan dowling and tom gries, directed by felix e. Donovans brain approved 1h 24min scifi, horror 30 september 1953 usa three scientists unlawfully remove the still living brain of a dead tycoon and experiment with it but the evil brain begins to telepathically control the lead scientist. Former first lady nancy davis reagan stars with lew ayres in this shocking science fiction tale about a laboratory experiment that unleashes a powerful and out of control brain. The tag line from the movie poster for donovans brain 1953 succinctly sums up the plot. Winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film festival toronto intl film festival awards central festival central all events. The brain gradually takes control of the scientist and the scientists wife must put a stop to the devious brain before it destroys the man she loves.
He collaborated with fellow filmmakers billy wilder, fred zinnemann and his brother, director robert siodmak, on films in the early thirties before moving to england from germany, and then on to hollywood. Donovans brain is actually sending out thoughts telepathically. Amazing stories, the hbo film the second civil war, the masters. Donovans brain 1953 film locations dear old hollywood. The second film version of the curt siodmak novel about a malevolent brain. Considering how divisive a film as this is, the uninitiated should probably consider streaming or renting it first. In a thriller, the hero must stop the plans of an enemy rather than uncover a crime that has.
There is a commentary track by film historian richard smith. Patrick corey lew ayres has a hideous hobby he keeps brains alive. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. Its greatest distinction is featuring first lady to be nancy davis. Sci fi film directors sci fi movies in iran science fiction movies best. Based on the novel by curt siodmak, this horror film follows scientist dr. Three scientists unlawfully remove the still living brain of a dead tycoon and experiment. Unfortunately, it isnt long before donovans brain somehow possesses the kindhearted dr. He is noted mainly as the creator of donovans brain,which spawned three adaptations and countless other uncredited brain movies, and of larry talbot, the wolf man, eternally part of the horror folklore created by the famed series of films made by universal in the 1930s and 1940s. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing donovans brain near you.
Curt siodmak is not a name one normally conjures with. Cory lew ayres knows he must resort to unorthodox methods in order to save ailing tycoon tom donovan, so the surgeon removes the wealthy mans brain and manages to keep it. It has all the fun qualities of a 50s drivein flick with elements of film noir sprinkled in. Its a solid adaptation of the novel by curt siodmak. The film was completed in 1959 under the working title the black door but was not theatrically released until may 3, 1962, when it was released under its new title as a double feature. But the one film that people keep referring to as the essential braininavat film is the independently produced donovans brain, made in 1953, based on curt siodmaks novel of the same name. Donovans brain 1953 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Donovan s brain 1953 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. If you know what youre getting into, meanwhile, this release of donovans brain is easily recommended, boasting a reasonably robust presentation and a solid.
The disembodied brain has also turned up in a number of tv series and films, and the basic concept has been drawn upon for cyborgs like robocop. Cory, cold, inquiring scientist, takes the first opportunity he gets and removes a brain from the victim of a plane crash. In addition to inspiring the entire killer brain subgenre. Second official film version of the classic of a brain in a tank. Donovan falls into his possession, bringing him back to life becomes his obsession. Trailers from hell trailer of the 1953 classic horror film donovans brain. Mccoy from star trek barks, im a doctor, not an electrician. A scientist takes a the brain of dead man and revives it via electrodes as it lays suspended in a tank of liquid. Donovans brain is a film that was released in 1953. Also sign me up for fanmail to get updates on all things movies. In 1982, the lp album release of the 1944 radio version of this story from the series suspense, starring orson welles won the grammy award for best spoken word album. Donovans brain lew ayres nancy reagan lot of 7 photos. Starring nancy davis the future nancy reagan and written by curt siodmak, who had written many scifi and horror films most notably the wolf man. The novel has been adapted for the screen three times as the lady and the monster 1944, donovans brain 1953, and the brain 1962.
Lew ayres, who achieved stardom as the benevolent dr. Scifi and horror rub elbows in 1953s donovans brain, a classy thriller that. The experiment is a success and donovans brain is taking in all the nourishment it needs to become stronger, it actually begins to increase in size. Reactions to donovans brain run the gamut from wildly influential genre classic to overthecounter sleep aid. One highly doubts that the decidedly nonpsychedelic donovans brain will, as kino lorbers wonderfully hyperbolic ad copy screams, blow your brain and fry your mind, but it is. If you are a fan of this movie and want the best possible picture, this is easily the best version for you.
The equipment in the lab also indicates that there are thought waves occurring in the brain. But it is doubtful if this weird mass of tissue could accomplish quite the mischief it does, under the circumstances here presented, in the film called donovans brain, which put in a personal. Schratt gene evans try to intervene, with horrific results. The film was distributed by united artists and is based on the 1942 horror novel donovans brain by curt siodmak. After an horrific plane crash, despised millionaire tom donovan michael colgan is declared dead.
Donovans brain is an independently made 1953 blackandwhite science fiction horror film, produced by allan dowling and tom gries, directed by felix e. The film is about a scientist who preserves the brain of a millionaire in a tank in order to keep it alive. Donovans brain may also be available with public performance rights ppr and digital site licensing dsl for colleges and universities. Sometimes the warnings or threats came from disembodied heads and brains, like donovans brain 1953, fiend without a face 1958 and the brain from planet arous 1957. The film is based on a horror novel, donovans brain, that was written in 1942 by curt siodmak. Patrick cory ayres has ideas beyond his station however when he decides to operate on the corpse and retrieve the brain for research purposes. But the cunning cranium has its own agenda to control the doctors mind through telepathic messages. The film comes to bluray by kino lorber with a nearly flawless transfer and clean audio.
At one point in the movie, gene evans shades of dr. Donovans brain is a 1942 science fiction novel by american writer curt siodmak the novel became an instant classic and was adapted to movie form three times. First was the lady and the monster and the brain followed the basic story has influenced probably hundreds of films and stories over the years that proves that there is life in the story despite. Both reiner and gipe were opposed to the idea, but martin gradually eroded their resistance. Thrillers often overlap with mystery stories but are distinguished by the structure of their plots. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. Cory, who then begins to behave like the heartless donovan. The movie is crisply photographed, nicely shot and fun to watch. Only after corys repeated experiments on donovans brain, it starts to subconsciously control him.
Its not a horror film, but donovans brain 1953 is creepy enough ok, campy enough for october halloween viewing. Get the best deals on movie photos when you shop the largest online selection at. Soon, the brain grows to possess enormous psychic powers and inflicts its personality upon the doctor who saved creating a jekyll and hyde paradigm. With the deceased mans mob connections, life is soon troublesome for the brilliant doc. It would be adapted to radio and then to film three separate times. Hes done everything short of spending a week asking the last. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel.
Donovans brain is an aboveaverage thriller about a physician who has developed a method for keeping a brain alive after it has been removed from a body. Donovan falls into his possession, bringing him back to life. Yet one of siodmaks biggest successes would be a novel. He was a prolific writer and hollywood film director in the 1940s and 50s. Were not talking about just any dead mans brain here but a brilliant mass of gray matter that once governed the thoughts and actions of tom donovan, a powerful and ruthless millionaire. Donovans brain is a 1953 film about a scientist who preserves the living brain of ruthless millionaire.
15 931 655 869 365 460 24 318 1060 278 1050 796 80 992 661 349 1528 539 1068 704 547 804 289 767 210 905 488 680 368 313 1256 1385 1085 543 363 963 966 239 517 15 1294 323 445 465 758 501 1327 356