Donovan's Brain (1953)

Based on the novel by Curt Siodmak and preceded by an earlier version, The Lady and the Monster (44), this remains the most famous "super evil brain" movie, still regarded as the first and the best in most quarters. Donovan refers to a ruthless, corrupt millionaire but we never actually see him; he is seriously injured in a small airplane crash in a desolate area as the story begins and is brought to the local doctor (Lew Ayres), who happens to be conducting radical brain experiments. Specifically, Dr. Cory has managed to keep a monkey's brain alive outside the body. He is assisted by his wife (Nancy Davis a.k.a. Mrs. Ronald Reagan) and an alcoholic doctor (Gene Evans). Donovan dies almost immediately but we can guess what Dr. Cory decides to do to further his experiments.

The new experiment is a great success - but even more than anticipated: the disembodied brain of Donovan actually thrives and even starts to grow in mass. Very soon, it begins to subtly manipulate and control Cory. Soon after, Cory is heading out to  a California city to conduct business and his behavior & mannerisms are very un-Cory-like; he is obviously behaving like a certain recently-deceased millionaire. Donovan, using Cory's body, has certain plans to get back at various business partners and relatives who were trying to sabotage him before he died.  Cory's wife and doctor friend realize what is happening, but they're unsure of what to do.

All this is unsettling and disturbing up to this point, but things escalate further with the interference of a snoopy reporter who also blackmails Cory for a couple of grand. When the reporter goes for more money, Donovan's brain deals with him with finality and now we're talking outright murder. Donovan's brain will dispose of anyone who gets in its way, and that includes Cory's wife and his friend. This brain will not go quietly into the night. Some fans of this film think that the evil being represented here is big business (not science) but this also is off the mark. Donovan is someone who perverted the ideals of the business world; he was an aberration which, unfortunately, was pulled into Cory's scientific research. The ending is curiously benign and anti-climactic. BoG's Score: 7 out of 10