Donovan's Brain (film)

Background

The story involves Dr. Patrick Cory and his wife Janice living in a mountain retreat, where Cory attempts to keep a monkey's brain alive after removal. When businessman Warren Donovan's plane crashes nearby, Donovan dies, and Cory removes his brain and keeps it alive in an electrified saline solution. Cory begins writing messages in Donovan's handwriting and later exhibits Donovan's personality traits, such as smoking cigars, using ruthless manipulation, and walking with a limp.

Janice and friend Frank Schratt suspect Donovan's consciousness is using telepathic mind control to overpower Cory's free will. News photographer Yocum discovers the stolen brain and demands money to keep the secret. Donovan's brain grows increasingly powerful, using Cory to collect a fortune and forcing Yocum into a fatal car crash.

After realizing Donovan can control only one person at a time, Janice and Frank plot to destroy the brain, but Frank's plan goes wrong when Donovan forces Frank to shoot himself. Ultimately, lightning strikes the Cory home and a fire breaks out, burning Donovan's brain. Frank survives, and Cory accepts the consequences for his actions, while Cory himself explains to authorities that it was his idea to connect the ranch's lightning rod to the power supply, resulting in the fire.