***SPOILERS**** It took a lot of brain power for billionaire industrialist Max Holt to survive after in air explosion of his private plane that only it-his brain-survived. With Dr. Peter Corrie, Peter Von Eyck, assigned to do an autopsy on the what looked like dead Max Holt he noticed that his brain was still active and against regulations, as a man of medicine, keeps it alive on ice for farther study or until he can find a body to attach it to. This leads Dr. Corrie to notice that the brain-Max Holt's-is starting to somehow communicate to him the reason he was murdered not died in a plane accident as well as the motives of those who murdered him. It turned out that Max Holt who was a low life scum*g all his life was about to turn over a new leaf in death by informing the world of a new drug that that he had the right to and kept under wraps, while he was alive, that can cure cancer and the man who invented it. It seems that in death Holt saw the evil in his ways and now wants to rectify it by saving millions of people to make up for it. Max or Mr. Holt is also using Dr. Corrie to identify and bring to justice the person who planted a bomb on his plane that killed him and the entire crew as well! ***SPOILERS***The third version of this brain of a movie after "The Lady and the Monster" in 1944 and the far more popular "Donovan's Brain" in 1953 the "Brain" has a lot of gray matter to it in that its made to be far more likable then the previous two. Here it tries to save humanity instead of destroying it that in the end keeps it from being dislike by those watching and turning it's enemies, who tried to both kill and exploit it into the villains of the movie who in the end get everything that's coming to them.

While 'Donovan's Brain' wasn't the first movie version of Curt Siodmak's sci fi shocker, it is by far the best known and best remembered of the three adaptations (so far). As a corny but entertaining b-grade movie it is hard to beat, and wonderful fun. 'The Brain', an overlooked German/English remake, doesn't try to outdo it, it instead approaches the source material in a very different way. The sensationalistic thrills and mind control horror of the 1953 movie are replaced by a calmer, more atmospheric style which adds a mystery element not seen in the earlier version. The basic premise is the same (though the names have been changed). This time around the scientist experimenting with keeping monkey's brains alive outside the body is played by Peter van Eyck ('Wages Of Fear'). He is assisted by his beautiful wife (well, I think it's his wife) Ella (Ellen Schwiers, who is positively stunning, and a lot easier on the eye than Nancy Davis!), and his trustworthy alcoholic sidekick (Bernard Lee, 'M' of James Bond fame). Once again a plane crashes nearby and the sole survivor is taken back to their lab. Once again the man cannot be saved but the scientist decides to keep his brain. As in 'Donovan's Brain' the brain survives and begins to exert control over the scientist. But it isn't in the same way, it is much subtler, and instead of domination, the brain wants something else - justice. For in 'The Brain' the millionaire has been murdered, and most of his family and associates are suspects. This interesting twist, plus the superior cast, makes this movie a rarity - a worthwhile remake. However, I wouldn't go so far as to say it surpasses the earlier movie. It is less silly and more intelligent, but not necessarily more entertaining. I enjoy both movies in different ways, and recommend them both.

When I saw this movie it was, as you can assume from the language I'm typing this in, in English. Specifically, it was titled "The Brain." I personally thought that it was a good movie. However, I'm a fan of old science fiction movies in general. Many viewers who can't live without stunning visual effects and 3D surround-sound are doomed to disappointment with this one, and the fact that it was dubbed from German obviously detracts from the value of the movie somewhat, but in all it was a decent movie. The plot was somewhat more difficult to follow than that of other movies, but if you can follow (for instance) Buckaroo Bonzai, then it shouldn't be a problem.Still, I don't think I would mind seeing this movie turned into an episode of MST3K. It's just the type of thing that they would do.

If the science fiction elements were absent from this film, it would have been a good film noir movie. A remake of "Donovan's Brain", "Ein Toter sucht seinen Morder" (American title: The Brain), falls between two stools. In it, a scientist keeps alive the brain of a dead colleague while keeping the fact a secret from dead man's relatives who he suspects of murdering him; he turns detective and investigates.The brain is kept alive in what looks a formalin-filled tank with wires sticking out of it - amateurish, but in keeping with the low budget science fiction films of that era. The film noir camera work is excellent as are the other film noir elements in this flick. The movie has a fast pace most of the time. Peter van Eych's acting is wooden at best and he looks too old for the part.Worth watching if you are into old science fiction films of that era.(Reviewed by Sundar Narayan)