Donovan's Brain (1953) User Reviews

Out of the ashes of noir rises the sci-fi cycle

[bmacv · 6/10 · 25 February 2002]

When the noir cycle was running down (and out) in the early 1950s, the new spate of "sci-fi" movies could lay claim to being among its bastard offspring. These programmers about atomic mutants, mad scientists and monsters from the night sky took over the quick-and-dirty, bottom-of-the-bill status the noirs once occupied. Rarely, however, did they boast their known and seasoned casts or their distinctive visual style (how could they? They were all set out in the damn desert).

But they also inherited some noir veterans. Donovan's Brain was directed by Felix Feist (The Devil Thumbs A Ride, Tomorrow Is Another Day) and originally written by Curt Siodmak (Berlin Express).

Scientist Lew Ayres works on keeping monkey brains alive outside their bodies. When a powerful millionaire dies in a car crash conveniently nearby, Ayres volunteers to resuscitate the brain and succeeds beyond his hopes. In its electromagnetic bath, the organ pulsates and glows, developing telepathic powers. Soon it's taking over Ayres' personality; he starts living Donovan's life and continuing his dirty work, all the way to Washington.

Ayres' wife (Nancy Davis at her most charmless and plain-jane) grows alarmed, and plans to unplug the brain. Trouble is, it can sense hostility and defend itself....

Feist applies some practised suspense techniques to the story, and with Joseph Biroc's photography the movie doesn't look bad, either. But it's high point is Ayres as he shifts from mild researcher to the insolent, despotic Donovan. He makes the hour and a half something more than just passable.

The Evil Brain

[claudio_carvalho · 6/10 · 6 October 2015]

Dr. Patrick "Pat" J. Cory (Lew Ayres) is researching brains with his assistant and friend Dr. Frank Schratt (Gene Evans) and his wife Janice Cory (Nancy Davis, a.k.a. Nancy Reagan) through experiments with monkeys in a laboratory in his house. When an airplane crashes nearby his house, there is only one near-death survivor, the millionaire Warren H. Donovan that is brought still alive to his care. However Donovan dies and Dr. Cory decides to use his brain in his experiment keeping it alive in a tank. Pat, Schratt and Janice research about the life of Donovan and they discover that he was a ruthless and evil man. Soon Donovan's brain imposes his personality to Dr. Cory and possesses him to get rid of his enemies and to live again in his body. Schratt and Janice sees the transformation of Dr. Cory and plan to destroy the brain. Will they succeed in their intent?

"Donovan's Brain" is an entertaining B-movie with a combination of sci-fi and horror and a story in the style of Frankenstein, with a mad doctor and the result of his experiment. The conclusion is corny and commercial and would be better and better if the brain survives in the end. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "O Cérebro Maligno" ("The Evil Brain")

Not as corny as it sounds

[NavyOrion · 7/10 · 30 April 2010]

Made in an age when the science fiction film genre was dominated by giant insects and monsters from beneath the sea (not that there's anything wrong with those) "Donovan's Brain" stands out as a more understated (and under-appreciated) gem.

A movie about a dead financier's brain being kept alive in a fish tank as it takes over the minds of people around it could easily become silly; in fact it would be hard for such a premise NOT to be silly (which is why Steve Martin loosely adapted the premise for his comedy "The Man with Two Brains.")

But thanks to deliberate pacing and fine performances from its cast, what could have been an exercise in the ridiculous becomes instead a surprisingly effective film. The very reserved script keeps "techno-babble" to a minimum as the story unfolds, and a low budget limits most of the visual and special effects to the very basic, but rather than feeling "cheap," the film's spare quality instead tends to limit distractions from the story.

In 1944's "The Lady and the Monster" (a lesser and earlier adaptation of Curt Siodmak's novel) the brain's takeovers were signaled obviously, using lighting and musical cues. But in "Donovan's Brain" you know the brain has taken control solely due to the controlled and subtle performance of Lew Ayres, who indicates a transformation in Dr. Cory by as little as a change in posture and a hardening of his expression (no such kudos for Steve Brodie as Herbie Yocum, whose inane "zombie walk" stands out in its cheesiness.) Gene Evans also did well in the movie playing Cory's assistant Dr. Frank Schratt, and future first lady Nancy Davis turns in a serviceable, if somewhat wooden, performance as Cory's steadfast wife.

"Donovan's Brain" will not be anyone's favorite movie; coming out in a year which also saw the release of classics like "The War of the Worlds," "The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms," "It Came From Outer Space" and "Invasion from Mars," it's not even anyone's favorite sci-fi movie of 1953. But although it's not considered a classic, this small film far overcomes its B-movie title. It's better than it sounds, and well worth a look.

Great Science Fiction Mafia Story

[gavin6942 · 6/10 · 26 October 2010]

A doctor tries to keep a brain alive after the body dies, but the brain is too powerful and soon commands the doctor around. With the deceased man's mob connections, life is soon troublesome for the brilliant doc.

Starring Nancy Davis (the future Nancy Reagan) and written by Curt Siodmak, who had written many sci-fi and horror films (most notably "The Wolf Man")... this came from his original novel of the same name.

Although not the original film version of this story (that would be "The Lady and the Monster" in 1944) it went on to influence a great many other films and television shows, from "Star Trek" to Stephen King's "It". (The "Star Trek" influence is on the episode "Spock's Brain", though it should be noted that a character in this film does say, "I'm a doctor, not an electrician." Bones?)

May I Borrow Your Brain, Please

[dougdoepke · 1 August 2011]

Well-crafted sci-fi with minimal special effects. Of course, the premise of a disembodied brain taking thought control of its master has kicked around more than a few times. However, this is arguably the best version, thanks to a tight screenplay and a fine central performance. Ayers must go from nice guy doctor to tyrannical business tycoon whenever the evil brain takes control. And he does both in highly convincing fashion—sure a long way from young Dr. Kildare. Nancy Davis (Reagan) also delivers as the loyal wife. Her films may never have been very distinguished, but she was always a credible low-key performer. Note also that usual tough guy Gene Evans gets the thankless "Igor" role as the lab assistant.

I guess I could have done with fewer close-ups of the pulsating brain. Unfortunately, the effect comes across in fairly hokey 50's fashion. Then too, that all-out thunder and lightning sequence amounts to more than just a storm. Instead , it looks more like a rage in heaven, like someone above is really angry at what's going on below. The heavy-handed theatrics is really out of sync with what's gone before. Despite the two drawbacks, the overall result is better than expected, thanks to the A-grade performances in a B-grade movie.

Biz-Fi?

[jabailo-1 · 7/10 · 26 November 2014]

Most here have commented on the Sci-Fi aspects, but I wanted to focus on what seems to be an element of Business Fiction underlying the Sci-Fi (the science and experimentation being perhaps a way to cover another theme that some might want not to hear).

The antagonist is a ruthless businessman whose brain is preserved...or more importantly, his mind. This mind lives on and infects others to do its will. The businessmen does not want to be bound by the rules of Government, taxation or even normal morality, it merely wants to conquer, possess and benefit itself. Some of you may be familiar with the work of Napoleon Hill and his book "Think and Grow Rich" which posits that business empires are the work of forming a Mastermind between people to accomplish and build great corporations.

Wow. And the year is 1953? Can you imagine if someone had made a plain spoken film about such things? I wondered if Donovan (who flies in small planes a lot) is based maybe on Howard Hughes?

Then there is the doctor. He is driven to perform his highly irregular experiments. He seems driven, but also reckless. He hustles his obviously inebriated friend into the operating room! He gets him to perform illegal and unregulated experiments on humans! This all goes on in the California mountains, away from the eye of the law (Nancy Reagan's future husband would be proud!) Law Enforcement are mere tax collectors, looking for their cut.

We have the professional class, serving the business class and inflicting pain on the "little people". The Press, represented by a two-bit hustler named Herbie Yocum are no more than a bunch of blackmailing ambulance chasing paparazzi. Bankers, who are supposed to safeguard money, are more concerned with losing a big account than with giving money away to a potential fraud. And everyone else, hotel clerks, and so on, are bullied or cajoled by money. (Oddly, the one solid citizen is a taxi driver, who can't be persuaded by Donovan's money to ruin his livelihood for a short term payday.)

Donovan's partners, confronted with the absurdity of their boss now inhabiting the body of someone else, pause for just a minute, then, seeing dollar signs, nod their heads and move on with the deal making.

The Horror here is not a pulsating growing brain, but the giant Mastermind manipulating, and perhaps corrupting, all of America.

"Thanks, dear. Now go make us one of those wonderful stews, will you?"

[utgard14 · 6/10 · 18 September 2014]

When evil millionaire Donovan dies on his operating table, scientist Dr. Patrick Cory (Lew Ayres) seizes the opportunity and removes Donovan's brain, which still shows signs of life. He manages to keep the brain alive in a tank in his laboratory, where it grows in size in a short time as well as exhibiting telepathic abilities. Soon Donovan's brain becomes powerful enough to force his will on Cory and make him do his bidding.

Entertaining '50s sci-fi with few bells & whistles but an enjoyable cast and decent ideas. Lew Ayres is good. I like to imagine this is what happened to Dr. Kildare: he left medicine to become a research scientist and things went horribly wrong. Nancy Davis (Reagan) does a fine job, though her obedient housewife role is likely to draw criticisms from the huff & puff crowd. Gene Evans is great as Ayres' surgeon buddy with a drinking problem who gives Ayres the inevitable "you're playing God" speech. Steve Brodie is fun as a nosy reporter who gets what's coming to him. Based on a novel by screenwriter Curt Siodmak (The Wolfman, I Walked with a Zombie, Earth vs. the Flying Saucers, etc.). Siodmak doesn't write the screenplay here. The movie was adapted before as The Lady and the Monster and Siodmak didn't write that either. Not sure why he didn't try to write his own movie version of the novel. This is a good sci-fi flick, though the middle is little more than Ayres going from place to place barking orders at people and handing out money. The beginning and ending are best. Not a lot of action, which won't sit well with everybody, but I was never bored.

Creepy thriller

[jpbarham · 7/10 · 4 July 2011]

A neat example of what you can do on a small budget. Dr. Cory starts out a regular, married scientist who just happens upon a body crushed in a car wreck but with the brain still functioning and normal. The brain is removed from the mangled body and kept alive in a fish tank. It isn't long before the brain starts sending telepathic messages to the good doctor. Soon he's doing the bidding of Donovan's living brain, like gaining access to the Donovan fortune and using it to intimidate just about anybody who stands in the late millionaire's path to gain control of most of the country's economic resources. Cory's change of manner is noted by his wife and best friend, and it isn't long before they are both targeted for removal.

Lew Ayres is in top form as the good Dr. Cory evolves into misanthrope Donovan. Amusing if one realizes Ayres began his career playing the gentle, heroic Dr. Kildare. Creative casting! Along for the ride is Nancy Davis - - the future Mrs. Reagan - - and Gene Evans, as Cory's loyal but confused assistant. Steve Brodie plays a blackmailing reporter who gets just what he deserves.

All in all, "Donovan's Brain" is well worth watching if you're in the mood for something different. It has been selected to premiere on TCM later this month.

So Brainy It's Boring

[ccthemovieman-1 · 4/10 · 1 December 2007]

This is brainier (yeah, pun intended) than almost all the other 1950's sci-fi/horror movies but that doesn't mean it is that great and it certainly doesn't live up to its billing. Critics have overrated this movie for decades.

I give it one thing: unlike most in its genre, it leans more toward the cerebral than the shock or visual. That's the good news. The bad news is that it gets boring by the halfway mark. Even at just 80 minutes, it is not an easy movie stay with, or one that rivet you to your movie seat. Don't believe the "elitists" who like to tell you how "intelligent" - and thus entertaining - this film is, because there is a reason less than 20 people have reviewed it here as of late 2007: it's not that good.

B-movie stars Gene Evans, Lew Ayers, Steve Brodie and Nancy Davis star in the film. Evans overacts and is horrible - the worst actor in the film - while Davis - better known as the former First Lady Nancy Reagan - had a pleasant voice back then, but that was about it.

Tautly efficient black & white thriller from yesteryear.

[Idiot-Deluxe · 7/10 · 14 March 2016]

Fun stuff. A wicked little thriller from the early 1950's, palpably flavored with some early Sci-Fi elements. These "Sci-Fi" elements, are primarily due to the doctors (quite humble) laboratory. And because of the consistently good (occasionally great) acting and steady direction, the movie moves along at a good pace and proves to be very entertaining for such a low-budget production. Not all good movies cost mega-bucks to make and "Donovan's Brain" is a fine example of that. Like several reviewers have stated before me, this is the best film adaption of the famous Curt Siodmak novel (in contrast to the laughably dismal, MST3K-panned "The Brain That Wouldn't Die"). By watching this movie, it's quite obvious that it came out of the same decade that gave light to The Twilight Zone; as I found the film to play out much like a long-play episode of that show. The film is tautly put together and well-acted, the cast (which includes a young-ish Nancy Davis/Reagan) and crew did a lot with a little, in creating a highly entertaining psychological/sci-fi thriller. Certainly somewhat dated, but in a most charming way. Take note of those great, highly excitable sound effects coming from the professor's laboratory - very fun sounds. Perfect viewing on a dismal rainy afternoon (or night).

On a morbid sidenote, by sheer coincidence, I happened to see "Donovan's Brain" for the first time, on the very same day that Nancy Reagan was put in the ground. Like I said a bit on the morbid side.

Well, that was crap

[ldkj73 · 1/10 · 25 August 2016]

Wow. That was both boring and uninteresting. I just finished watching this movie and there were only three things of note:

First, Nancy Reagan is in it and she does a good job of portraying a 1950's housewife who is almost blindingly supportive of her husband. This was a standard trope during the 50's and she does a believable job of being that stupid when I know that she isn't. So, props to her for her acting.

Second, I'm something of a movie connoisseur and I've gotten to the point in my viewing that I can usually predict the outcome and the plot twists. Well, I didn't see the plot twist coming (*spoiler* the one that put him in the hospital). It was well done.

Third, Lew Ayres did a very good job with his acting. The scene where we see him change, but can only see his face while he does it, was extremely well done. Kudos to Lew for pulling that off.

However, those few points don't make up for trite dialog, bad directing, hacked together plot points, a weak supporting cast, a horrible but well-lit inflatable brain "special effect", and one of the most poorly paced endings I've had the misfortune to see.

Avoid this movie. It's just not worth it.

The best version of Curt Siodmak's often filmed novel.

[youroldpaljim · 8/10 · 12 August 2001]

This film is one of my favorite 1950's horror/science fiction movies. I first saw this film on T.V. when I was about four and five years old, and it thrilled me then and I still enjoy it today. The story based on Curt Siodmak's novel was previously filmed in 1942 as LADY AND THE MONSTER. While that version has some virtues, the overall result was mediocre. It was filmed again 1962 as THE BRAIN with several character name changes and different plot elements. I last saw that version in 1970's. While I recall it being not bad, I don't remember it being as good as this version.

DONOVAN'S BRAIN is the best version primarily due the good performance of Lew Ayers as the possessed Dr. Cory with good support from Gene Evans. When I first saw this film again after many years I was impressed by Lew Ayers. When the evil brain of Donovan possesses Dr. Cory and he becomes Donovan, I had to remind myself that it was Ayers playing both "minds". This was done entirely by Ayers; the film employs no make-up or lighting tricks (as the 1942 version does) to create the different minds in the same body. Gene Evans lends good support as Cory's alcoholic but sympathetic doctor assistant. Steve Brodie is also good as the blackmailing reporter, but his role is somewhat shoehorned into the plot. He appears merely as someone for Cory as Donovan to knock off, and once he is gone, his blackmail threats are forgotten. However the scene's with Brodie are good. Note that when he confronts Cory/Donovan for a blackmail payment, he is wearing a worn out suit. When he returns for another payment, he shows up in a very expensive looking suit! The film is loaded with subtle touches like that.

As silly as the idea of a an evil brain in a tank sounds, this is actually a pretty good movie

[dbborroughs · 7/10 · 8 November 2008]

Second official film version of the "classic" of a brain in a tank.(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 it now being clichéd and almost laughable in premise.

For those that don't know this is the story of the doctors who save a wealthy industrialist after a car accident, or rather they save his brain since his body is badly banged up. The problem is that the industrialist was a real SOB and he somehow manages to use psychic mind control to control those around his tank.

Yes it sounds silly, but for what ever reason it still kind of works. The trick is of course you have to go with the basic premise, and assuming that you've picked up the tape or DVD odds are you're at least going to make that effort. Well made and containing its share of tension this is one of the better versions of the story that has come down the pike. Well acted by Lew Ayres as the doctor who probably shouldn't have made the effort and Davis Nancy (soon to be Regan) as his love interest, this is the sort of movie that works because the actors sell it. Ayres in particular manages to make the shifting personalities, his own and Donovan's, believable especially since in this tale we have nothing to go on of what Donovan was like before other than what we are told.

If you are in the mood for a good, though slightly silly, thriller for a dark and stormy night this should be right up your alley.

Between 6 and 7 out of 10

Familiar but pretty well-done

[preppy-3 · 5/10 · 27 November 2004]

A kindly doctor (Lew Ayres) keeps the brain of a rich man alive in a tank in his office. Unfortunately that rich man was also evil and starts to take over the doctor. His wife (Nancy Davis) and best friend (Gene Evans) realize there's something wrong...

This story has been told many times before...and this is considered the best version. To be honest I wasn't that thrilled. I found it VERY slow (probably because I know the story so well) and the (obvious) low budget hurts. The brain itself looks fake and when it started moving (and glowing) I burst out laughing. Still it's pretty well-done with a straight face. Ayres is actually very good as the scientist and Evans leads capable support. The real interest this movie has is Nancy Davis who later went on to marry Ronald Reagan and become the First Lady. It's good she did that because her acting is pretty lousy--and she looks horrible too.

So, if you've never read the story or saw any version of this, you might like it a lot. Otherwise, beware.

Excellent and different 50's sci fi

[chris_gaskin123 · 30 June 2004]

Donovan's Brain is the best version of this story I have seen and makes a change from the usual 50's sci fi of giant monsters and alien invasions.

A mad Doctor who experiments trying to keep brains from monkeys alive finally achieves this after several attempts. The same day, a fatality from a car crash, a millionaire (Mr Donovan) is brought in and he decides to use this human brain to see if he can do the same. He succeeds, but gradually, the brain takes over his mind and it gets bigger. This leads to murder. Just as the Doctor is trying to murder his wife during a thunderstorm, lightning strikes their house and this "kills" the brain and burns it. The doctor and his wife are OK.

A British version of this story followed in 1962, but this is the best version.

The movie stars Dr Kildare actor Lew Ayres, future First Lady and Ronald Reagan's widow Nancy Davis and Gene Evans (The Giant Behemoth).

I found this movie very enjoyable and is worth seeking out.

Rating: 4 stars out of 5.

Don't Let Brains into the House

[Hitchcoc · 6/10 · 14 December 2016]

There's always someone out there who feels he can do whatever he wants. A scientist finds a man, hanging on to life by a thread, from plane crash. He is unable to save his body, but decides he has the ability to keep the brain alive. It turns out that the brain is that of a man name Donovan who was a ruthless, cutthroat businessman, with no moral or ethical sense. Somehow, the brain begins to inflict its will on the scientist. It isn't long before the brain is ordering the man around and he isn't having him do acts of kindness. This movie is pretty bad, but it has a history, and people seem to enjoy it. My father, who probably saw about three movies in his life, knew this one. If you just want to have some fun and don't want to ask too many questions, this may be your cup of tea. Perhaps they should have sent the thing into politics. They could use some brains in congress.

Calling Dr. Gillespie!

[mark.waltz · 6/10 · 14 August 2012]

Almost ten years after his last "Dr. Kildare" film, Lew Ayres is back in the medical field, here playing Patrick Corey, a scientist who experiments on living organs. His whole personality is taken over by the evil brain of a deceased millionaire who appears to have been a bullying criminal, blackmailing former associates and even trying to kill one of Ayres' associates. Ayres gives a complex performance which outshines his leading lady, future first lady Nancy Davis (Reagan) whose acting is extremely inconsistent. In one scene, she's told that she'll end up outshining Madame Curie. Well, her mixed performance will never be compared to Greer Garson! The sound effects are quite eerie, some of the scientific explanations somewhat palatable, and the brain itself is a stagnant monster of such unrelenting evil that you really hope to see it explode. Add in some revelations about the dead man's family which expose much about the way the brain controls, and you have a creepy "B" feature that you just can't turn away from, no matter how corny it gets.

Gray Matters

[stmichaeldet · 7/10 · 20 May 2006]

Donovan's Brain is one of the better known and highly respected science fiction films of the fifties, and it's plain to see why. The scant special-effects requirements, serious tone, high-profile cast, and human-interest driven plot would have put it in good position to cross over and appeal to a more mainstream audience than the typical, lurid invasion or radioactive-monster flicks of the day. But can it satisfy the needs of the modern fan of black and white SF? Let's take a closer look.

The story centers on Dr. Patrick Cory (Lew Ayres of "Dr. Kildare" fame) and his experiments in preserving brain tissue. His goal is to keep an entire brain alive in a tank, so that he can study it and learn its secrets for the betterment of all mankind. He is assisted by his wife, Janice (Nancy Davis of, well, being-married-to-Ronald-Reagan fame), and Dr. Frank Schratt, who provides the surgical expertise despite his near-constant drunken binges. While Dr. Cory has begun to have success with keeping monkey brains alive, his big break arrives when the dying millionaire W.H. Donovan is delivered to his lab for emergency treatment after a plane crash. So, when Donovan dies on the operating table, Cory thinks nothing of swiping his brain.

While Donovan's brain thrives in its tank of nutrient solution, Cory becomes frustrated at his inability to determine what a disembodied brain might be thinking about just by looking at it and measuring its brain waves. So, to Janice and Frank's dismay, he pins his hopes on a theory of establishing telepathic contact with the brain. Unfortunately, Donovan is way ahead of him on this, and uses the opportunity to take over Cory's mind and force him to take steps to gain control of the Donovan fortune and use it to ensure the brain's continued survival.

Donovan may have been a ruthless, brilliant financier, he proves not to be very good at covering his tracks, and Cory soon has the Treasury Department, an unscrupulous journalist, Donovan's heirs, and an increasingly worried Frank and Janice dogging his steps. Curiously, though, despite the fact that Frank and Janice go from being concerned about Cory's sanity to believing that Donovan has taken over Cory's mind, and while they discuss pulling the plug on the brain several times in the course of the film, each time they decide that it would be better to let Dr. Cory or God decide when the "experiment" should end.

Once they've finally had enough of Donovan, they hatch a plan whereby Janice will distract Cory/Donovan while Frank puts a bullet in the brain's, er, brain. Donovan trips to the plan in time to stop Frank, mainly because Janice's idea of distraction is to tell Donovan that they intend to put an end to his influence over Cory. So, God finally steps in Himself and pulls the plug on the brain with a well-placed lightning bolt. Apparently, God got an assist in this via taped instructions from Cory (recorded in one of his lucid, Donovan-free periods) to monkey with the house's lightning rod, but this explanation feels kind of tacked-on to avoid a completely Deus Ex Machina ending.

In the end, Dr. Cory is back to his old self, and is off to defend his experiment to the legal and medical authorities, which, excuse me? I'm sorry, Dr. Cory, but not only did you hijack a brain at the drop of a hat, but people died as a result of your actions, which I think puts the nails in the coffin of any medical-ethics defense. You'll be luckier than you deserve if you don't end up serving jail time for bank fraud, extortion, and manslaughter.

So, what have we got? Well, apart from the nonsense of Dr. Cory's hope for redemption in the denouement, we've got a very tight little story, an excellent cast, decent production values, and a fine director in Felix Feist. But it all comes across as a little dry and underwhelming. After all, if you're a fan of old SF films, it's probably because you like rubber monster suits, cheesy effects, and whacked-out scripts. Still, it is a classic, and as such is worth a look. But you might want to have a copy of something like The Brain that Wouldn't Die on hand in case you end up feeling a bit deprived in the cheap-thrills department.

A brain is not to be wasted.

[michaelRokeefe · 6/10 · 24 January 2009]

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.

The Brain That Controlled Lew Ayres

[BaronBl00d · 5/10 · 23 October 2010]

This is a relatively cheaply made sci-fi vehicle from the Golden Age of Science Fiction with some fairly big stars. Lew Ayres stars as Doctor Cory, a genial man who wants to find cures to diseases of the mind through experimentation with monkey brains. Nancy Davis(Mrs. Reagan) plays his devoted wife, and Gene Evans his drunken doctor sidekick. Anyway, a plane crashes and the body of a nearly dead millionaire is at stake, so Dr. Cory goes to him, brings him back to his lab, and when it is evident that his life can no longer be sustained - Dr. Cory, against the wishes of his wife and alcoholic helper, extracts his brain and houses it in a fish aquarium with some metal rods and tubing attached to it. The brain looks like an inflatable football, heaving and deflating every now and then. And man is that one big brain. Is it true what they say about men with big brains? The brain somehow takes over Ayres genial mind and he slowly becomes two personalities - the genial(wow - talk about repetition with a word)doctor and the repulsive, selfish, mean-spirited millionaire - hated by family and friends. Look, you know what you will get for the rest of the film. Ayres does a decent job surveying both roles. Evans and Davis are also okay, not they really have much to do. There is a nice small performance from Steve Brodie as a reporter with few scruples. Director Felix Feist, a journeyman director with more misses than hits, is competent behind the camera if nothing else. The movie is slow and talky at times, and the plot really meanders in the final third. The special effects though are a real let-down even by 1950s standards. Donavan's Brain, based on a novel by Curt Siodmak, is definitely a more thought-provoking sci-fi film of its era, but also, in my humble opinion, one of the lesser quality ones.

Good 50s sci-fi, not for the "so bad it's good" crowd

[funkyfry · 6/10 · 8 January 2007]

This is a film for sci-fi fans who are able to put up with some outdated effects and technology, not for people who like "so bad it's good" films. The film is not campy at all, and is handled very straight and serious. Good thing too, because it does have a lot of disturbing elements.

Dr. Cory (Lew Ayres) and his wife (Nancy Davis, later Reagan) are engaged in an experiment in preserving living animal brains when fortune puts an irresistible opportunity in his path -- a private plane crashes and he is able to harvest one passenger's brain after his body expires and before the brain dies. Unfortunately for him the brain happens to belong to Donovan, a Hearst-esquire multi-millionaire with a really bad attitude and a lot of mental prowess. The brain soon learns to communicate telepathically with the doctor and eventually begins to control him, even inspiring Cory to begin wearing the dark suits and smoking the cigars that were trademarks of Donovan's extravagant lifestyle. The brain also begins to take control back of his financial empire and to scheme for a permanent house for itself, seeking to control the international financial world with his new mental powers and his old financial cunning.

It's a bizarre but very interesting and effective premise, from Curt Siodmak's (The Wolf Man) novel. The directing is only average as far as actors are concerned but it is well enough handled in the terror sequences, such as when the brain sets out to kill one investigative journalist who gets too close to the truth by "driving" him to suicide, literally. Ayres is good as well as Davis, and all the actors treat the material with respect and add a level of dignity to the film that other "living brain" films lack. There's also a very interesting parallel between Dr. Cory's tendency to enable the alcohol addiction of his assistant (Gene Evans) and his wife and the assistant's enabling of his increasingly strange behavior with regards to Donovan's brain. Good solid 50s sci-fi without the laughs, for those who are interested.

Fabulous 1950s Sci-Fi

[plan99 · 9/10 · 19 November 2022]

For lovers of 1950s Sci-Fi this is a real cracker, youngsters probably won't like it however having been brought up on a diet of repetitive super-hero films with OTT CGI with silly plots. I did recognise the future Mrs. Regan but was confused by her maiden name but it was her after all. Great acting all round especially by the pulsating expanding rubber brain. Lew Ayres was great in this playing his dual personalities very well and the cars were chrome endowed bouncy wonders and probably used more fuel and caused more pollution than twenty modern cars. Great fun all the way through and well worth watching.

AMAZING! ASTOUNDING! And A Pretty Good Little Movie Too!

[gftbiloxi · 7/10 · 18 May 2005]

There is something grotesquely ironic about seeing former First Lady Nancy Regan as the caretaker of a disembodied brain bent on world conquest--but at the time the movie first appeared the great irony in casting concerned actor Lew Ayres, who was best remembered as for his screen series as the respectable and responsible Dr. Kildaire, and who here plays a mad scientist. One way or another, cult-film enthusiasts will have tremendous fun with this one. But even so, DONOVAN'S BRAIN has a lot more going for it than cult-film appeal: the story line continues to resonate in the modern era of medical ethics issues, the script is surprisingly intelligent, and the director and actors play it out at a snappy pace.

Based on a successful novel, DONOVAN'S BRAIN concerns a scientist (Ayers) who is experimenting with keeping monkey brains alive in tanks--and when a nearby plane crash lands a terminal accident victim on his surgery table he presses his wife (Nancy Davis, later Regan) and surgical sidekick (Gene Evans) into recovering a human brain for his work. And he succeeds beyond all expectation. Trouble is, the brain belongs to a truly evil multi-millionaire who wants to take over the world, and under Ayres' care the brain grows... and begins to exert an unexpectedly nasty psychic influence on those around it.

Ayres was a gifted leading man whose credits ranged from ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT to JOHNNY BELINDA, and the film owes much of its success to his talents; Gene Evans is also quite good as the drunken surgeon Ayres befriends. As for Nancy, she is clearly a B-Movie actress, but she is a surprisingly competent one. Cult fans will have a field day, but the movie is too interesting as a whole to be designated such pure and simple; it has a lot going for it, and just about every one who sees it will have a good time. Recommended.

Gary F. Taylor, aka GFT, Amazon Reviewer

Missing that extra something

[AngelHonesty · 5/10 · 16 February 2021]

Great filming for its day. I liked how the music was only used in selective places to give the film more umph. The filming was surprisingly clear and well done for its time. The acting was great, it was fun to see Lew Ayres take on the role of his original character and Donovan's, he did a great job that made it seem very real and caused the viewer to dislike Donavan. The storyline was pretty good. It was an interesting idea to have a mad scientist bring a brain to life, but the after affects could have not been predicted. Most of the movie felt realistic in a way, that a simple experiment went wrong. I found the biggest downfall to the movie is that it dragged on too long. It made no sense why they didn't try to kill the brain earlier. And it would have been a better horror movie if Donavan would have been a convict to start with, someone who was a murderer and perhaps kept murdering. Instead he was just a selfish man who was way to greedy for his own good.