Donovan's Brain

"A dead man's brain in a hidden laboratory told him to KILL... KILL... KILL"

1953 1h 23m EN

😐

6.2

MID

★6.2TMDB · 42

Science FictionHorrorThriller

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A scientist takes the brain of dead man and revives it via electrodes as it lays suspended in a tank of liquid. Soon, the brain grows to possess enormous psychic powers and inflicts its personality upon the doctor who saved it, creating a "Jekyll and Hyde" paradigm.

“A dead man's brain in a hidden laboratory told him to KILL... KILL... KILL”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Lew Ayres
Dr. Patrick J. Cory
Nancy Reagan
Janice Cory
Gene Evans
Dr. Frank Schratt
Steve Brodie
Herbie Yocum
Tom Powers
Donovan's Washington Advisor
Lisa Howard
Chloe Donovan
James Anderson
Chief Tuttle
Victor Sutherland
Nathaniel Fuller

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Felix E. Feist
Writers: Felix E. Feist
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

83 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

73 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Felix E. Feist, shot by Joseph F. Biroc. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Eddie Dunstedter. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Herbert L. Strock shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Lew Ayres and Nancy Reagan and Gene Evans carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "A dead man's brain in a hidden laboratory told him to KILL... KILL... KILL".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0045699 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Felix E. Feist directs. Joseph F. Biroc behind the camera. Eddie Dunstedter scores. Herbert L. Strock cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

183 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
273 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
3Directed by Felix E. Feist, shot by Joseph F. Biroc. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Eddie Dunstedter. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Herbert L. Strock shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Lew Ayres and Nancy Reagan and Gene Evans carry the top of the cast.
7Marketing tagline: "A dead man's brain in a hidden laboratory told him to KILL... KILL... KILL".
8IMDB entry: tt0045699 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Only 42 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.