Donovan’s Brain (1953)

Donovan’s Brain
Directed by Felix Feist
Written by Feist and Hugh Brooke from the novel by Curt Siodmak
1953/USA
Dowling Productions
First viewing/Amazon Prime

[box] Dr. Patrick J. Cory: Perhaps I’ll cure Frank and every other alcoholic if I can solve the mystery of Donovan’s Brain. I think it’s a matter of chemistry how the brain thinks. The problem is to find out what chemical combinations are responsible for success… failure… happiness… misery.[/box]

Dr. Patrick Cory has been experimenting in his basement lab with keeping monkey brains alive with the assistance of his devoted wife Janice (Nancy Davis Reagan) and alcoholic friend surgeon Dr. Frank Schratt (Gene Nelson).  On the day his experiment succeeds, he is called to assist at an airplane crash in the area.  There is only one severely injured survivor and Dr. Corey takes him back home for treatment.  He cannot be saved so Dr. Corey decides this is the ideal time to start experimenting on human brains.

The victim turns out to be eccentric billionaire Warren Donovan.  Dr. Corey discovers a way to communicate with the living brain through mental telepathy.  Soon, the billionaire has taken over the doctor and looks to be set on the road to world domination.

This is a solid and enjoyable film with some mild horror.  It’s odd to see Ayres as a tough guy, and that’s even before Donovan takes over.  Isn’t he Dr. Kildare?  Siodmak’s novel has been filmed several times.  First came The Lady and the Monster (1944).  Erich von Stroheim plays the scientist far madder in that one.

Trailer