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Brain from Planet Arous, The

Entry updated 4 April 2017. Tagged: Film.

Film (1957). Marquette Productions Ltd/Howco International. Produced by Jacques R Marquette. Directed by Nathan H Juran (credited as Nathan Hertz). Written by Ray Buffum. Cast includes John Agar, Joyce Meadows and Dale Tate. 71 minutes. Black and white.

Young Scientist Steve March (Agar) is about to marry Sally (Meadows) when the criminal Alien brain Gor (voiced by Tate) arrives on Earth, and takes possession of Steve's body. Gor/March begins his quest to take over the world by destroying a jetliner in flight with his vast powers of Telekinesis, as well as detonating a nuclear bomb (stock footage). He threatens to destroy the capital City of any nation which does not capitulate to his demands. Once Earth is conquered, Gor plans to return to his homeworld Arous, and conquer that too before building a Galactic Empire. Police brain Vol (also voiced by Tate) has tracked Gor to Earth, though, and works with Sally to stop the miscreant (who shows more than casual interest in Sally). Choosing Sally's dog as a good hiding place to avoid warning Gor that he has been followed, Vol takes over the animal. He explains his race's only weakness – a blow to the Fissure of Rolando area of the brain – and that an opportunity will come when Gor briefly exits Steve's body to recharge himself. Sally leaves this data on a note which Steve finds in time to use an axe (with zeal) on Gor, saving himself and the world.

Agar wore contact-lenses lined with silver foil to indicate alien control, but was not a good enough actor to play the possession sequences convincingly, resulting in unintentional humour. Giving each brain two eyes did not help. The plot has similarities to Hal Clement's Needle (May-June 1949 Astounding; exp 1950), suggesting that screenwriter Buffum had some knowledge of written sf. [GSt]

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