Donovan's Brain Movie Review

Curt Siodmak's novel is the basis for this McCarthy-era brain-control thriller. Jerk millionaire W. H. Donovan is killed in a plane crash. So far, so good. Genius-type Patrick Cory (Lew Ayres) takes Donovan's brain and keeps it alive in his lab. Cory becomes obsessed with the brain…or is it possessed? Gradually he is changed by the more and more powerful brain. No more Mister Nice Guy; in fact, he is doing the Jekyll/Hyde flip-flop, turning into the not-so-"Mellow Yellow” Donovan. Some of the subtleties of the book are gone, but overall a fine adaptation featuring future first lady Nancy (Reagan) Davis.

1953 85m/B Lew Ayres, Gene Evans, Nancy Davis, Steve Brodie; D:Felix Feist. VHS, Beta, LV MGM, IME, MLB