Donovan's Brain (1953): cast, story & where to watch
1953 · Film · ★ 6.2
Released in 1953, Donovan's Brain is a drama, horror and science fiction film directed by Felix E. Feist, running about 83 minutes. “A dead man's brain in a hidden laboratory told him to KILL... KILL... KILL” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. 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.
Who’s in it. Donovan's Brain stars Lew Ayres as Dr. Patrick J. Cory, Nancy Davis Reagan as Janice Cory, Gene Evans as Dr. Frank Schratt and Steve Brodie as Herbie Yocum, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.2/10, Donovan's Brain has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on YouTube TV, FlixFling, ScreenPix Apple TV Channel and ScreenPix Amazon Channel and rent or buy it from FlixFling. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Donovan's Brain page.
If you liked it. Fans of Donovan's Brain tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Donovan's Brain (1953)?
- In US, Donovan's Brain is available to stream on YouTube TV, FlixFling and ScreenPix Apple TV Channel, and rent or buy from FlixFling. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Donovan's Brain worth watching?
- Donovan's Brain holds an audience score of 6.2 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama, horror and science fiction. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Donovan's Brain?
- Donovan's Brain stars Lew Ayres, Nancy Davis Reagan, Gene Evans, Steve Brodie and Tom Powers.
- When was Donovan's Brain released?
- Donovan's Brain was released in 1953, with a runtime of about 83 minutes.