MOVIES & MANIA ranking:
‘Alive… with no physique… fed by an unspeakable horror from hell!’
The Mind That Wouldn’t Die is a 1962 sci-fi horror movie about a physician experimenting to maintain his girlfriend’s head alive after she is decapitated in a automotive crash, then goes attempting to find a brand new physique.
The film was directed by Joseph Inexperienced from a screenplay co-written with producer Rex Carlton (Unearthly Stranger; The Satan’s Hand; Nightmare in Wax; Blood of Dracula’s Fort). Additionally launched as The Head That Wouldn’t Die
The film stars Herb Evers (Barracuda; Basket Case 2), Virginia Leith (Nice Ghost Tales; One Step Past) and Leslie Daniel [Anthony La Penna] (later a dubbing actor on Italian trash films reminiscent of Strip Nude for Your Killer; Eaten Alive! and Cannibal Ferox).
In 2020, the film was pointlessly remade by producer and director Derek Carl.
Launch:
The movie’s working title was The Black Door and it was shot in 1959 however remained unreleased till Might 3, 1962, when it was picked up for distribution by American Worldwide Footage (AIP). It will definitely lapsed into the general public area and was launched many occasions on VHS after which on DVD in numerous states of high quality however often poor. Blu-ray launch particulars are under.
Plot:
Physician Invoice Cortner (Jason Evers) is a profitable scientist with a good looking fiancée named Jan Compton (Virginia Leith). After a horrible automotive accident decapitates Jan, Physician Cortner collects her severed head and rushes it to his laboratory, the place he revives it and manages to maintain it alive in a liquid-filled tray.
Cortner now decides to commit homicide to acquire a lovely new physique to connect to his fiancée’s head. As he hunts for an appropriate feminine specimen, Jan begins to hatch some murderous plans of her personal. Stuffed with hatred for Cortner as a result of he received’t let her die, she communicates telepathically with a hideous mutant within the laboratory cell, telling it to kill the scientist…
Evaluation:
This gleefully lurid sci-fi horror has constructed a deserved cult fame through the years. The camp scenes of Virginia Leith’s supposedly severed head arguing with a deformed lab assistant, or grimacing wildly whereas utilizing her thoughts to regulate a dreaded thing-in-the-closet are priceless examples of foolish cinema.
What’s extra, the chain-smoking mad physician’s seek for the right feminine specimen supplies the plain excuse for tacky sleazy scenes by which he checks out buxom babes by way of magnificence pageants, gyrating go-go dancers, a high-heeled catfight and a mannequin he hires to pose for ‘glamour’ photographs. Naturally, the latter has a scarred face, making her the prime alternative for the randy would-be Doc Frankenstein.
The film seems to be more moderen than its 1959 classic, on account of author and first-time director Joseph Inexperienced’s use of location taking pictures, point-of-view photographs and hand-held camerawork, which supplies it an urgency missing in most of the studio-bound style pics of the interval. It additionally options some surprisingly graphic black-and-white splatter. For some cause, all the unique promo paintings encompasses a mind with a big beady eye floating in a tank of liquid!
Ade Smith, MOVIES & MANIA
Purchase Claws & Saucers: Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.com | Amazon.ca
Selection dialogue:
“No, the alcoholic has his bottle. The dope addict has his needle. I had my analysis. I was a surgeon. It was once my life!”
“The road between scientific genius and obsessive fanaticism is a skinny one.”
Purchase on DVD from Amazon.com
In 2002, an uncut, 35mm print was used for the Particular Version DVD launch by Synapse Movies. Operating 85 minutes, this model options extra of the stripper catfight, in addition to stunning (for the time) splatter. Some stills – featured as extras on the DVD – characteristic topless nudity meant for a racier European model that sadly by no means bought launched. Extras embrace the amusing theatrical trailer and a gallery of ten behind-the-scenes stills that opens with a shot of a topless actress being molested by the monster.
Purchase Blu-ray: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk
On 22 December 2015, the movie was launched on Blu-ray by Scream Manufacturing unit. This model of The Mind That Wouldn’t Die is uncut and consists of elements of the mind surgical procedure scene that had been lacking from earlier releases. Extras are:
Excessive Definition (1080p) Switch from the damaging restored to its uncut model
Thriller Science Theater 3000 Episode – The Mind That Wouldn’t Die (Normal Definition)
Audio Commentary by Movie Historian and creator Steve Haberman and Author Tony Sasso
Alternate nude scene from The Worldwide Lower
Theatrical trailer
Nonetheless gallery
Forged and characters:
Jason Evers … Physician Invoice Cortner (as Herb Evers); Virginia Leith … Jan Compton/Jan within the Pan; Anthony La Penna … Kurt (as Leslie Daniel); Adele Lamont … Doris Powell; Bonnie Sharie … Blonde Stripper; Paula Morris … Brunette Stripper; Marilyn Hanold … Peggy Howard (as Marlyn Hanold); Bruce Brighton … Physician Cortner; Arny Freeman … Photographer; Fred Martin … Medical Assistant; Lola Mason … Donna Williams; Doris Brent … Nurse; Bruce Kerr … Magnificence Contest M.C.; Audrey Devereau … Jeannie Reynolds; Eddie Carmel … Monster
Filming areas:
Tarrytown, New York
Technical specs:
1 hour 22 minutes (US model)
Black and white
Facet ratio: 1.66: 1
Audio: Mono
Trailer:
Free to observe on-line on YouTube [1080p HD]:
Free to observe on-line in color on YouTube [4K UHD]:
Free to observe on-line in color on YouTube [1080p HD]:
MOVIES & MANIA supplies previews of latest movies, our personal film opinions/rankings, and hyperlinks to different opinions from reliable advisable sources – multi functional helpful net location. Plus, hyperlinks to legitimately watch 1000s OF MOVIES FREE ONLINE by way of platforms reminiscent of Amazon Prime, Plex, Roku, Tubi and on YouTube. As an Amazon Affiliate, we earn a really tiny quantity from any qualifying purchases.
Associated
Uncover extra from MOVIES & MANIA
Subscribe to get the newest posts despatched to your e-mail.
