The Man Who Changed His Mind

Rating:
Summary: Rarest Of Karloff Classics Is Here!
Review: I ordered this DVD without any idea as to it's quality --- the original title for the disc (as opposed to the American release monicker, "The Man Who Lived Again" ) tipped me off that it could be something special. Well, Karloff fans, it is something WONDERFUL, and every bit the Karloff "event" as last year's "The Ghoul". As most of you know, the pic was virtually lost for decades, and the only video source was a well-used 16mm print with the American main title. This DVD is, however, very much the real thing, and it looks and sounds terrific --- it's the major vintage horror release of 2004 (so far), and I dare say it will be hard for anyone to top it. As to the movie, it is one of Karloff's best from any period, and I would recommend this DVD without reservation!

Rating:
Summary: Of all the things I've lost I miss my mind the most ...
Review: In the English production The Man Who Changed His Mind (1936) aka The Brainsnatcher aka Doctor Maniac Who Lived Again aka Dr. Maniac aka The Man Who Lived Again (whew!), directed by Robert Stevenson, who later went on to direct primarily for Disney on such features as Old Yeller (1957), The Absent Minded Professor (1961), Mary Poppins (1964), The Love Bug (1968) among many others, stars Boris Karloff as Dr. Laurience, a scientist who has perfected a means to remove the content of one's mind, store it, and transfer it to another host body. The film also stars Anna Lee, whose film and television credits, spanning 65 years, are too numerous to mention here, as Dr. Clare Wyatt along with John Loder, another actor with an extensive history in film, as Dick Haslewood.

The film begins with a young couple, Dr. Clare Wyatt and Dick Haslewood, discussing Clare's imminent departure to go and work with the well known, but now reclusive, brain specialist Dr. Laurience. It's a great opportunity for Clare, but Dick feels uneasy about it, and uses the chance to badger Clare with his endless proposals of marriage, which contain all the charm of asking one what'd they like for lunch. He's a real smooth one, that Dick...oh yeah, I almost forgot to mention Dick is a news reporter, and the newspaper he writes for is also owned by his father, Lord Haslewood (I don't think Lord is his name but more like his title, as the English are apt to lavish such things on you if you got the dough). A classic case of nepotism? Sure looks that way to me...anyhow, Dick decides to follow (can you say stalker?) Clare out to the small village where Dr. Laurience is holed up on the pretense that maybe there's a story to be had, but we all know he's jonsin' for the Clare. Clare arrives at a dilapidated old house, where she meets Dr. Laurience, along with his cranky, gimpy, wheelchair-confined psuedo manservant Clayton. Clayton seems to suffer from any number of normally fatal maladies, but the doctor manages to keep him alive. Why? It couldn't be for the man's wit and personality, as he's a real crank and quite curmudgeonly. We soon learn of what the doctor has been doing, his whole saving the contents of the mind deal. At first the notion, while intriguing, doesn't seem to be very practical, but then we see the real application as Dr. Laurience transfers the minds of two chimpanzees (you see, one monkey was docile while the other hostile, and, after strapping electrified colanders to their heads, the once docile monkey was now hostile, and vice versa). Isn't science a wonderful thing? Anyway, after the success, the doctor now ponders another experiment, one with human subjects...

Dick, who isn't aware of any of this, writes a fluff piece to which his father, Lord Haslewood, a pompous goof and supposedly supporter of science, offers Dr. Lauirence an opportunity to work in his institute, and access to much better equipment and resources on the condition that Haslewood's newspaper gets exclusive rights to publish the results of the doctor's experiments, whatever they may concern. The trouble really begins after Lord Haslewood calls together the scientific community so that Dr. Lauirence may announce his theories, which elicits much derision, and subsequently Lord Haslewood not only cuts off the doctor's funding, but then he claims all the work Dr. Lauirence has done is now his property, to do with as he wishes, based on the contracts signed. This sends Dr. Lauirence over the edge, in a particularly great scene, and the mad scientist now becomes an evil mad scientist, declaring his intentions to use his machines and theories not for the betterment of mankind as he once hoped, but for his own, personal gain. Just what exactly does this entail? Well, you'll have to watch and see...

I really enjoyed this little known creepy classic. Karloff plays the mad scientist wonderfully, managing to squeeze out a certain amount of pathos and dimension in a role others would have played in more traditional, straight up form. Purely interested in the science of screwing around in realms not meant to be delved into my man, he soon finds himself betrayed by those who once seemed to support him, and now he reverts to the very callous base human attributes of greed, lust, and revenge. The supporting actors, all accomplished within their own right, were wonderful and seemed to flourish within the context of good scripting, snappy and polished dialogue, and excellent direction. I did love Karloff's mind snatching machine...it was kind of subdued, certainly not in the grand nature of that of Frankenstein, but certainly believable and adequate, despite the fantastical theories and possibilities behind it...the morality of Dr. Lauirence's experiments within the story were rarely focused upon, but it did seem to be an underlying aspect imbedded in the story, allowing for the viewer to come to his/her own conclusions, which I appreciated. The film, which runs approximately 66 minutes, moves quickly, wasting little or no time on useless elements. I did sort of question Clayton's relationship with the doctor, as he didn't seem capable of much anything given his state, and his presence seemed a bit contrived as the plot unfolded, but this was a minor issue. I really loved the bits of humor injected within the script, which worked wonderfully to round out some of the characters.

The full screen (original aspect ratio) print provided on this disc looks remarkably good, despite its' age, and the audio is clear and crisp, much better than I would have expected, given the rarity (until now) of the film. There are no special features available other than chapter stops, but that matter little to me given the excellent quality of the film available here.

Cookieman108

Rating:
Summary: KARLOFF THE GREAT!
Review: this is a wonderful film. fantastic production values from gainsborough films in england, a wonderful print, and a good performance from anna lee, who starred later with karloff in "bedlam." p.s. when are the val lewton films coming out on DVD????

and karloff of course great. the release of this and a mint print of THE GHOUL add greatly to the karloff oeuvre of the 30s.

now when are they going to release THE BLACK CAT and THE RAVEN on DVD???????

Rating:
Summary: KARLOFF THE GREAT!
Review: this is a wonderful film. fantastic production values from gainsborough films in england, a wonderful print, and a good performance from anna lee, who starred later with karloff in "bedlam." p.s. when are the val lewton films coming out on DVD????

and karloff of course great. the release of this and a mint print of THE GHOUL add greatly to the karloff oeuvre of the 30s.

now when are they going to release THE BLACK CAT and THE RAVEN on DVD???????