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.

Leofwine_draca A stodgy retelling of the classic sci-fi novel, DONOVAN'S BRAIN. Disembodied brains were all the rage when this film was made, with the likes of THE BRAIN THAT WOULDN'T DIE and various Hammer Frankenstein movies playing with the possibility of life after death. However, this being a UK/West Germany co-production, the narrative actually has far more in common with the German krimi genre than a typical sci-fi movie.The narrative sees a millionaire being blown up in a plane crash, and it soon transpires that there was a bomb on board. Novelty value comes from the millionaire's brain being used to hunt down the culprits responsible, and he does so by possessing the body of the man (Peter van Eyck) keeping him alive.The sci-fi elements are kept to a minimum here, with the emphasis instead on the murder mystery genre. As with many krimi films, stark black and white photography is the order of the day, with the cast populated by criminals, detectives and femme fatales. Director Freddie Francis contributes atmosphere to the narrative but this is one of his lesser pieces.The story just doesn't have much in the way of oomph or excitement to it, even though there are a handful of decent moments. There are a couple of familiar faces in the cast, including Miles Malleson and Bernard Lee, but no performances here to get excited about. Definitely a potboiler, this one, and not a decent one either.

dbborroughs Freddy Francis directs another retelling of Donovan's Brain.This is the story of a rich SOB industrialist who is killed, however his brain is saved. As scientists try to study the still living organ the personality of the "dead" man begins to exert itself on those around the brain tank.Good, with expressive black and white photography, this too is a bit unremarkable and slightly dull, which is odd considering Francis' films tend to have a bit more life in them, even when they are poor.Interesting to see Bernard Lee (M from the early Bonds) in a different sort of role. Not bad but not really the gripping drama I wanted at 2am to keep me awake...it put me out.

sundar-2 If the science fiction elements were absent from this film, it would have been a good film noir movie. A remake of "Donovan's Brain", "Ein Toter sucht seinen Morder" (American title: The Brain), falls between two stools. In it, a scientist keeps alive the brain of a dead colleague while keeping the fact a secret from dead man's relatives who he suspects of murdering him; he turns detective and investigates.The brain is kept alive in what looks a formalin-filled tank with wires sticking out of it - amateurish, but in keeping with the low budget science fiction films of that era. The film noir camera work is excellent as are the other film noir elements in this flick. The movie has a fast pace most of the time. Peter van Eych's acting is wooden at best and he looks too old for the part.Worth watching if you are into old science fiction films of that era.(Reviewed by Sundar Narayan)