The Brain (1962 film)
A dead tycoon's brain seeks his murderer through hypnosis.
The Brain (also released as *Vengeance* and *Ein Toter sucht seinen Mörder*) is a 1962 science fiction thriller co-produced by the UK and West Germany. Directed by Freddie Francis, the film stars Anne Heywood and Peter van Eyck. The screenplay, written by Robert Banks Stewart and Philip Mackie, adapts Curt Siodmak's 1942 novel *Donovan's Brain*. Unlike earlier versions of the story, this one features a twist: the deceased tycoon Max Holt uses hypnotic contact to compel the doctor who keeps his brain alive to find his murderer. The film was one of several produced by Raymond Stross that featured his wife, Heywood. Francis later dismissed it, saying it was "a film I should have left early on."
The plot follows Dr. Peter Corrie and his colleague Dr. Frank Shears, who remove the brain of tycoon Max Holt after he dies from injuries sustained in a plane crash. Corrie tries to keep the brain alive in a chemical bath. The brain takes hypnotic control of Corrie, who comes to believe Holt was murdered. Corrie is framed for the killing of Holt's chauffeur, Thomas Gabler, and under the brain's influence nearly commits murder himself. Shears eventually disconnects the brain's life-support system, allowing Corrie to track down the real murderer.
The film had two producers: Artur Brauner and Raymond Stross. Stross insisted on Heywood starring. Francis recalled that Stross "had told Artur Brauner that Anne Heywood was the biggest female name in Britain. This is one of the things that happens in this business. Somebody who is really so bright can still be fooled." The original title was *Over My Dead Body*. A week before filming, Brauner told Stross he wanted a German actor to play the killer instead of Stross's choice, so two versions were made—one with Heywood as the killer, another with a different actor. Francis had continuity person Pamela Davis rewrite the script accordingly. Francis also noted that Peter van Eyck disliked Heywood and refused to be on set at the same time as her.
Critical reception was mixed.
Quick Facts
- Director
- Freddie Francis
- Producer
- Artur Brauner / Raymond Stross
- Writer
- Robert Banks Stewart / Philip Mackie
- Based On
- Donovan's Brain · Curt Siodmak
- Starring
- Anne Heywood / Peter van Eyck / Cecil Parker / Bernard Lee
- Music
- Kenneth V. Jones
- Cinematography
- Robert Huke
- Editing
- Oswald Hafenrichter
- Studio
- Central Cinema Company/ Raymond Stross Productions
- Distributor
- British Lion/Columbia (UK) / Europa-Filmverleih AG (West Germany) / Governor Films (US, 1964)
- Released
- 9 October 1962 · Germany · 1963 · 12 · 9 · United Kingdom · 1964 · U.S.
- Runtime
- 84 minutes (UK/Germany) / 83 minutes (US)
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The film was produced by Artur Brauner and Raymond Stross, with Stross's involvement conditional upon his wife Anne Heywood starring. Director Freddie Francis recalled that Stross had told Brauner that Heywood was the biggest female name in Britain, adding, 'This is one of the things that happens in this business. Somebody who is really so bright can still be fooled.' The movie's original title was Over My Dead Body. A week before filming, Brauner told Stross he wanted a German actor to play the killer rather than Stross's choice, so two versions of the film were made: one with a German actor as the killer, another with a different actor. Anne Heywood played the female lead in both versions, not the killer. Francis had continuity person Pamela Davis rewrite the script accordingly. Francis also noted that Peter van Eyck disliked Heywood and refused to be on set at the same time as her.
Reader's Guide
The Brain is one of several film adaptations of Curt Siodmak's novel Donovan's Brain, following The Lady and the Monster (1944) and Donovan's Brain (1953). It stands out for its altered premise: the dead man actively seeks his murderer through hypnotic control of the doctor. Critical reception was mixed but not dismissive. The Monthly Film Bulletin called it 'a preposterous mixture of crime, horror and science fiction' that 'comes off unexpectedly well,' praising Francis's visual style and the cast's credibility. The Radio Times Guide to Films gave it 3/5 stars, calling it 'more of a mystery than an all-stops-out horror' with 'some eerie moments.' Leslie Halliwell described it as a 'twisty remake... not too badly done.' Director Freddie Francis later said of the film, 'It's a film I should have left early on.' The film's production was marked by behind-the-scenes tensions, including the dual-casting of the killer and van Eyck's refusal to be on set with Heywood.
Did You Know?
- The film was originally titled Over My Dead Body.
- Peter van Eyck refused to come on set at the same time as Anne Heywood.
- Director Freddie Francis later called it 'a film I should have left early on.'
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