THE MAN WHO CHANGED HIS MIND

UK, 1936, 66 minutes, Black-and-white.
Boris Karloff, Anna Lee, John Loder, Frank Cellier, Donald Calthrop, Cecil Parker.
Directed by Robert Stevenson.

This science-fiction thriller is better than might have been expected. It takes up the theory and the mad doctor – with Boris Karloff doing this type of thing in The Man They Could Not Hang, Black Friday, Before I Hang. This time he is the scientist in the Frankenstein-like laboratory rather than the monster.

This is a British production, with Robert Stevenson as director, later to go to Hollywood with such films as Jane Eyre and, then, in the 1960s with 19 Disney films and television series including Mary Poppins. Anna Lee, the doctor who works with Karloff in this film, was his wife at this time. John Loder is the romantic hero and there is an interesting performance by Frank Cellier as a press baron whose brain is changed with a cynical invalid, so he is doing both performances. There is a small role also for Cecil Parker.

The film raises scientific issues, the press and its interest, experiments with monkeys, the hubris of the scientist wanting to tamper with the human brain – but, after the twists in the plot, a word of repentance from the scientist.

1. An entertaining variation on the mad doctor theme? The theory of changing brains in humans?

2. British production, the mid 1930s, Boris Karloff and his reputation?

3. The interest in science, the prevalence of mad doctors, operating on the human brain? Experiments with monkeys?

4. The opening operation, Claire Wyatt and her going to join Dr Laurience, friendship with Dr Gratton? Her relationship with Dick? Journalist? His persistence, proposal, wanting to accompany her, arriving at the town, at the window, falling? The establishing of Claire and her strong personality? Her eagerness to work with Dr Laurience, the taxi driver and his hesitation to go to the door, meeting Clayton, his cynicism?

5. Boris Karloff as Dr Laurience, his reputation, in general, criticisms, moving to England, his experiments, wanting Claire to work with him? Clayton and his presence, criticisms? The demonstration, the two monkeys, the changing of the thought content in the brains, the behaviour? But the up the possibility of doing it with humans?

6. Lord Haslewood, owning the paper, erratic behaviour? Promoting science, his Institute? Nick being his son? Dick and his article, Lord Haslewood reprimanding the staff for not featuring the article? His going down to visit Dr Laurience, promising him the facilities? The experiments, the advertising of the talk?

7. Everybody gathering for the talk, the critical doctors? Dr Laurience absent-minded? His speech, explanation of his experiments, the harsh reactions? Having to cancel the arrangement?

8. Dr Laurience, wanting vengeance, discussions with Clayton? The decision to do the experiment? Clayton in Lord Haslewood’s body? Lord Haslewood in Clayton’s body? Clayton’s body deteriorating, death? Leaving Clayton to be Lord Haslewood? His behaviour with the company, with the secretary in the past relationship, with his son? Clayton enjoying himself? The meeting with Dick, discovery about his own health?

9. Claire working out what was happening, her fears for Dick? Dick, interviewing Dr Laurience, the drugs, the experiment, Laurience in Dick’s body? Laurience killing Clayton, arranging it so that he would be arrested for murder but it would be Dick arrested?

10. Claire, to the rescue, the confrontation, the fight, Dr Gratton, the reverse operation? Dr Laurience and his words of regret? The happy ending?

11. The popularity of this kind of science-fiction in the 1930s, speculation, variation on Frankenstein themes?