Donovan s brain is a 1953 film about a scientist who preserves the living brain of ruthless millionaire. Directed the colossus of new york 1958, the giant behemoth 1959, and gorgo 1961. Lew ayres, who achieved stardom as the benevolent dr. Lew ayres stars in felix feists adaptation of the 1942 novel by curt siodmak. Orson welles guest stars on the longrunning thriller. Corys lew ayres discovery of a method to keep disembodied brains alive. Donovans brain is a 1953 film about a scientist who preserves the living brain of ruthless millionaire.
The film is about a scientist who preserves the brain of a millionaire in a tank in order to keep it alive. In addition to inspiring the entire killer brain subgenre. A, schematic cross section through the s2 segment of the spinal. Unfortunately, it isnt long before donovans brain somehow possesses the kindhearted dr. Film donovan s brain film complet en francais 1953. 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 nice to have this venerable classic out on hd bluray. Trailers from hell trailer of the 1953 classic horror film donovan s brain. A scientist takes a the brain of dead man and revives it via electrodes as it lays suspended in a tank of liquid. There is a commentary track by film historian richard smith. Feist directed this second adaptation of the novel by curt siodmak filmed previously in 1944 as the lady and the monster and later in 1963 as the brain, which tells the story of a brilliant brain specialist whose attempts to save the life of an accident victim result in the extraction of the dying patients brain, kept alive via electrodes and a special solution.
Donovans brain is a film that was released in 1953. After an horrific plane crash, despised millionaire tom donovan michael colgan is declared dead. Feist directed this second adaptation of the novel by curt siodmak filmed previously in 1944 as the lady and the monster and later in 1963 as the brain, which tells the story of a brilliant brain specialist whose attempts to save the life of an accident victim result in the extraction of the dying patient s brain, kept alive via electrodes and a special solution. If you create a free account and sign in, you will be able to customize what is displayed. Donovan s brain is an independently made 1953 blackandwhite science fiction horror film, produced by allan dowling and tom gries, directed by felix e. 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. And whenever the title monstrosity is plotting something evil, it glows from within like some phosphorescent sea. Cory decides to use his brain in his experiment keeping it alive in a tank. Curt siodmaks oftadapted science fiction novel receives a nofrills treatment at the hands of director felix feist the devil thumbs. Download scientific diagram studies of sacral neurons with rostral projections through the vf. Cory, cold, inquiring scientist, takes the first opportunity he gets and removes a brain from the victim of a plane crash.
Donovans brain is a terrific science thriller by curt siodmak. Donovans brain ep01of02 suspense thriller old time. The best known of these adaptations, from 1953, is the only one to use siodmaks original. Frankenstein fantasia, in this tory of a brain, kept alive by a doctors invention, whose powers for evil soon exceed the originators control. Three scientists unlawfully remove the still living brain of a dead tycoon. Pat, schratt and janice research about the life of donovan and they discover that he was a ruthless and evil man. 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. Cory s lew ayres discovery of a method to keep disembodied brains alive. Donovans brain biography, albums, streaming links allmusic.
The equipment in the lab also indicates that there are thought waves occurring in the brain. Donovans brain is an independently made 1953 blackandwhite science fiction horror film, produced by allan dowling and tom gries, directed by felix e. This 1953 effort concerns a well to do scientist played by lew ayers who acquires the brain of a recently departed man from a plane accident. Download the tv guide app for iphone, ipad and android. 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. Yet one of siodmaks biggest successes would be a novel. This second remake of curt siodmaks donovans brain the lady and the monster 1944 and vengeance 1963 were also based on. Donovans brain is a ripping good time, especially for science fictionhorror fans. Cory and possesses him to get rid of his enemies and to live again in his body. Save this scifihorror for a dull friday night when there is nothing happening. Donovans brain is a sci fihorror which somehow seems to feature very little of each genre. Based on the novel by curt siodmak, this horror film follows scientist dr. Donovans brain would be a best seller in the forties. Oct 08, 2014 donovan s brain trailer 1953 director.
Remade in 1953 as donovans brain and in 1962 as the brain. Soon, the brain grows to possess enormous psychic powers and inflicts its personality upon the doctor who saved creating a. Soon donovan s brain imposes his personality to dr. The film is based on a horror novel, donovan s brain, that was written in 1942 by curt siodmak. Lady and the monster 1944 donovan s brain 1953 the brain 1962 im pretty sure i foolishly watched at least one of those movies in my youth. Made in an age when the science fiction film genre was dominated by giant insects and monsters from beneath the sea not that theres. Donovan s brain stars former first lady nancy davis reagan with lew ayres in this shocking sciencefiction tale about a laboratory experiment that unleashes a powerful and outofcontrol brain. Schratt gene evans try to intervene, with horrific results. The performance i like the best is that of blackmailing reporterpaparazzi steve brodie. Feist on allmovie the best filmization of the curtis siodmak book. 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.
For modern audiences who think it cant happen, imagine in the age of the internet donald trump s disembodied brain in saline solution like donovan s brain near a laptop. It would be adapted to radio and then to film three separate times. Twentyfive years after donovans brain now a classic of science fiction came a superb new novel from the pen of curt siodmak. 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. Donovan s brain is a film that was released in 1953. 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.
The film is based on a horror novel, donovans brain, that was written in 1942 by curt siodmak. Cory lew ayres knows he must resort to unorthodox methods in order to save ailing tycoon tom donovan, so the surgeon removes the wealthy man s brain and manages to keep it. Despite siodmak s negative attitude toward donovan s brain, the film is a superior bmovie thriller that features one of the greatest laboratory props of all time a big, rubberylooking human brain, suspended in a tank of liquid. Studies of sacral neurons with rostral projections through the vf. He anchors the film with a very fine performance that takes advantage of the jekyll and hyde nature of the story without going too.
A scattered collection of like minded friends make records. Gene evans, lew ayres, nancy davis, steve brodie, tom powers, lisa howard official content from mgm home entertainment a scientist. Also available online at the escape and suspense website. He was a prolific writer and hollywood film director in the 1940s and 50s. Taho, paul nazca, ian odonovan, brain kage, yoshi horino, dimitri kneepers f. Kildare, plays yet another kindly doctor who nurtures a living brain kept alive in an electrified fish tank only to have its sinister personality consume him. Donovan s 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. A recording released in 1982 won a grammy award for best spoken word album.
Scifi and horror rub elbows in 1953s donovans brain, a classy thriller that, thanks to the popularity of curt siodmaks source novel, rests on a higher shelf than most fifties films sourced in pulp fantasy fiction. Trailers from hell trailer of the 1953 classic horror film donovans brain. 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. Donovan s brain is a sci fihorror which somehow seems to feature very little of each genre. Shop for vinyl, cds and more from donovans brain at the discogs marketplace. Patrick cory ayres has ideas beyond his station however when he decides to operate on the corpse and retrieve the brain for research purposes. The film was distributed by united artists and is based on the 1942 horror novel donovans brain by curt siodmak the story involves an attempt to keep alive the brain of. Donovan falls into his possession, bringing him back to life becomes his. Curt siodmaks oftadapted science fiction novel receives a no. 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. If you are a fan of this movie and want the best possible picture, this is easily the best version for you.
The elements have always been in good shape, and the transfer presents them at their best. Here is the east coast version of donovans brain part 1 taken from an old radio reruns tape. Patrick cory ayres has ideas beyond his station however when he decides to. Cory, who then begins to behave like the heartless donovan. Donovans brain stars former first lady nancy davis reagan with lew ayres in this shocking sciencefiction tale about a laboratory experiment that unleashes a.
Donovans brain is actually sending out thoughts telepathically. Donovans brain 1953 free download rare movies cinema of. Once again the author probed the horizons of scientific endeavour in an extraordinary story which blended. Although its executive producer allan dowlings only real foray into feature film production, its a quality. Curt siodmak s 1942 book donovan s brain apparently was the basis of three b movies. Overview of donovans brain, 1953, directed by felix feist, with lew ayres, gene evans, nancy reagan, at turner classic movies. Donovans brain cast and crew cast photos and info fandango. Also sign me up for fanmail to get updates on all things movies. Save this scifi horror for a dull friday night when there is nothing happening. The film was distributed by united artists and is based on the 1942 horror novel donovan s brain by curt siodmak. He started out designing ballets in paris, was the art director for strange confession 1944, the strange affair of uncle harry 1945, limelight 1952, shock. Patrick correy lew ayers and his wife janice nancy reagan.
Several trailers are included and also joe dantes trailers from hell segment. The tag line from the movie poster for donovans brain 1953 succinctly sums up the plot. Includes unlimited streaming via the free bandcamp app, plus highquality downloads of clear ep. 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.
428 533 809 822 875 218 1483 2 548 1042 987 1305 279 971 1297 169 396 789 1456 377 534 710 958 1457 1173 1378 1204 847 251