rodrig58 Peter van Eyck was a good actor but no matter how good he was, he could not save this movie from failure. It's a cheap story with the brain of a very rich Romanian, Max Holt, who died in an plane "accident" and then had a very "intimate" relationship with the doctor Peter Corrie, played by van Eyck. Only if you're a fan of van Eyck.

kapelusznik18 ***SPOILERS**** It took a lot of brain power for billionaire industrialist Max Holt to survive after in air explosion of his private plane that only it-his brain-survived. With Dr. Peter Corrie, Peter Von Eyck, assigned to do an autopsy on the what looked like dead Max Holt he noticed that his brain was still active and against regulations, as a man of medicine, keeps it alive on ice for farther study or until he can find a body to attach it to. This leads Dr. Corrie to notice that the brain-Max Holt's-is starting to somehow communicate to him the reason he was murdered not died in a plane accident as well as the motives of those who murdered him. It turned out that Max Holt who was a low life scum*g all his life was about to turn over a new leaf in death by informing the world of a new drug that that he had the right to and kept under wraps, while he was alive, that can cure cancer and the man who invented it. It seems that in death Holt saw the evil in his ways and now wants to rectify it by saving millions of people to make up for it. Max or Mr. Holt is also using Dr. Corrie to identify and bring to justice the person who planted a bomb on his plane that killed him and the entire crew as well! ***SPOILERS***The third version of this brain of a movie after "The Lady and the Monster" in 1944 and the far more popular "Donovan's Brain" in 1953 the "Brain" has a lot of gray matter to it in that its made to be far more likable then the previous two. Here it tries to save humanity instead of destroying it that in the end keeps it from being dislike by those watching and turning it's enemies, who tried to both kill and exploit it into the villains of the movie who in the end get everything that's coming to them.

gridoon Not having seen any of the previous versions of this story, the film this one reminded me more of is Lucio Fulci's (!!) 1990 shocker "Voices from Beyond". The plotlines are different but still share some similarities, as they both involve revenge from beyond the grave, rich families with hidden secrets, a murder investigation carried out on behalf of the murdered man himself, etc. Unfortunately, "The Brain" takes an interesting sci-fi concept and turns it into a forgettable murder mystery; you won't exactly be on the edge of your seat trying to figure out "who-did-it". What's more, the chintzy production makes the movie look as if it were made in the 40s. (**)

Infofreak While 'Donovan's Brain' wasn't the first movie version of Curt Siodmak's sci fi shocker, it is by far the best known and best remembered of the three adaptations (so far). As a corny but entertaining b-grade movie it is hard to beat, and wonderful fun. 'The Brain', an overlooked German/English remake, doesn't try to outdo it, it instead approaches the source material in a very different way. The sensationalistic thrills and mind control horror of the 1953 movie are replaced by a calmer, more atmospheric style which adds a mystery element not seen in the earlier version. The basic premise is the same (though the names have been changed). This time around the scientist experimenting with keeping monkey's brains alive outside the body is played by Peter van Eyck ('Wages Of Fear'). He is assisted by his beautiful wife (well, I think it's his wife) Ella (Ellen Schwiers, who is positively stunning, and a lot easier on the eye than Nancy Davis!), and his trustworthy alcoholic sidekick (Bernard Lee, 'M' of James Bond fame). Once again a plane crashes nearby and the sole survivor is taken back to their lab. Once again the man cannot be saved but the scientist decides to keep his brain. As in 'Donovan's Brain' the brain survives and begins to exert control over the scientist. But it isn't in the same way, it is much subtler, and instead of domination, the brain wants something else - justice. For in 'The Brain' the millionaire has been murdered, and most of his family and associates are suspects. This interesting twist, plus the superior cast, makes this movie a rarity - a worthwhile remake. However, I wouldn't go so far as to say it surpasses the earlier movie. It is less silly and more intelligent, but not necessarily more entertaining. I enjoy both movies in different ways, and recommend them both.