DONOVAN'S BRAIN

US, 1953, 83 minutes, Black and white.
Lew Ayres, Gene Evans, Nancy Davis, Steve Brodie, Tom Powers.
Directed by Felix E. Feist.

Donovan’s Brain is a version of a novel by Curt Siodmak, German-born engineer who became novelist and screenwriter – especially from the 1940s of many horror films.

The film was directed by Felix E. Feist, director of small-budget and supporting features, though at this time he also made The Big Trees with Kirk Douglas.

Donovan’s Brain is a variation on the Frankenstein Monster theme. Lew Ayres plays Doctor Cory, a rather mild-mannered doctor who is able to save the brain of Donovan, a high financial executive who barely survives a plane crash. With the aid of his assistant, Gene Evans and his wife Janice (Nancy Davis – Mrs Reagan), he tries to investigate the power of the brain. However, his scientific advances are overcome by the brain’s taking him over – in all kinds of blackmail situations, ruthless plans to plunge the world into depression. It takes a huge effort on the part of his associates to disentangle Doctor Cory from the power of the brain.

In a way, this is minor science fiction – but the theme of Frankenstein creating monsters in his laboratory as well as monsters taking over retains interest – especially in terms of themes of mind control.

1. Was this an A grade or a B grade film? Why? Comment on the photography and its quality, the screenplay, the quality of the acting?

2. How did the film utilise thriller techniques and the driving on of suspense? How melodramatic was the film in its conception and execution? The use of such things as thunderous storms?

3. The film was science fiction. How interesting as science fiction? How well did it utilise the conventions? What expectations did the science fiction conventions ask of the audience?

4. How did the film resemble the Frankenstein myth? The scientist creating a monster? How did it resemble the mad scientist films? The scientist playing god who tries to create life etc? What relation did the film have to the Jekyll and Hyde story? Of the scientist playing God and experimenting with personalities? Being taken over by another personality? How well did the film utilise these conventions?

5. How did the opening of the film create the normal atmosphere? Patrick Cory as a normal doctor? His family life, relationship with his wife, his experiments?

6. How did the tone of the film change via the experiments? The dangers of the experiments with the mice- the real temptation of playing God and trying to create life? How much did the film make of the theme of scientific arrogance in the face of experiments?

7. How plausible was the story of Donovan’s brain remaining alive, of its growing back to normal, of its powers taking over Cory? how horrifying is this prospect? Why?

8. The risk of the brain taking over a person and the risk of the brain being evil? Donovan as evil?

9. Comment on the evil consequences of Donovan’s Brain: the journalist, the threats to his family?

10. How did the drama and the experiment turn into tragedy? The familiar pattern of the evil Dr Jekyll taking over Mr Hyde? The threats to the wife and the close colleague?

11. How contrived was the storm (Frankenstein overtones) for the destruction of Donovan’s brain in fire? Was the melodrama happily made to give some kind of suspense? was the ending happy?

12. What insights into human nature and behaviour did the film give? Is this the function of science fiction? Was the film successful science fiction?