The Brain Machine (film)

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The Brain Machine
The Brain Machine film poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Ken Hughes
Written by Ken Hughes
Produced by Alec C. Snowden
Starring Maxwell Reed
Elizabeth Allan
Patrick Barr
Russell Napier
Cinematography Josef Ambor
Edited by Geoffrey Muller
Music byRichard Taylor
Production
company
Distributed by Anglo-Amalgamated
Release date
  • February 1956 (1956-02)(US) [1]
Running time
84 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

The Brain Machine is a 1956 British thriller film directed and written by Ken Hughes and starring Maxwell Reed, Elizabeth Allan and Patrick Barr. [2]

Contents

Plot

A husband and wife team of doctors attempt to stop a dangerously unbalanced man from committing a series of crimes.

Cast

Production

The film was made at Merton Park Studios in South London by Anglo-Amalgamated. [3] It was released as a co-feature, as part of a double bill. [4] Berkshire Pictures Corp. later sued RKO claiming the latter did a poor job distributing. [5]

Critical reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "Ihe opening scenes lead one to anticipate a science fiction story, but the film soon develops into a conventional crime thriller. Within its terms of reference, though, it is a good one, lacking in neither pace nor incident. Although the plot is largely formula, Ken Hughes' script is lively and his direction often shows imagination, particularly in the use of sound. Of the cast, Maxwell Reed is competent as Smith and Elizabeth Allan convincing as the psychiatrist; the acting otherwise is variable." [6]

The Radio Times Guide to Films gave the film 2/5 stars, writing: "This British B-movie begins, promisingly, in sci-fi mode but soon lapses into routine thrillerdom. ...Despite its cheap production values and leaden acting, the picture has a trashy energy that can be enjoyed if you disengage your own brain." [7]

Filmink called it " a decent little thriller that feels like it wants to be sci-fi but isn't." [8]

References

  1. ↑ "The Brain Machine". imdb.com. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  2. ↑ "The Brain Machine". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  3. ↑ Vagg, Stephen (12 January 2025). "Forgotten British Moguls: Nat Cohen – Part One (1905–56)". Filmink. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
  4. ↑ Chibnall, Steve; McFarlane, Brian (2009). The British 'B' Film. London: BFI/Bloomsbury. p. 147. ISBN   978-1-8445-7319-6.
  5. ↑ "Efforts Not Best". Variety. 10 April 1957. p. 10.
  6. ↑ "The Brain Machine". The Monthly Film Bulletin . 22 (252): 23. 1 January 1955. ProQuest   1305825356.
  7. ↑ Radio Times Guide to Films (18th ed.). London: Immediate Media Company. 2017. p. 125. ISBN   9780992936440.
  8. ↑ Vagg, Stephen (14 November 2020). "Ken Hughes Forgotten Auteur". Filmink.
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