The Brain Machine (Original title)
Dates: 1954 (Copyright), 07 February 1955 (Release)Country: United KingdomDirected by: Ken Hughes
Synopsis: Concerns efforts of doctor and his wife who try to stop a born killer from committing homicide. A divorcing couple, who are both doctors, work closely with an electroencephalograph - a machine that measures brain waves. An aggresive patient, Frank Smith, is tested on the machine and shown to have strong homicidal tendencies. He discharges himself from hospital, but kidnaps Dr. Phillipa Roberts when she discovers his involvement in an illegal pharmaceuticals racket.
Genres: Medical drama, Thriller
Subjects: Electroencephalography, Pharmacology
Releases
Date: 07 February 1955Country: United KingdomRelease type: TheatricalFormat: 35mm Film - Black and White - Sound - MonoRuntime: 83 mins Length: 7457 FeetDialogue (original): EnglishDistributor: Anglo Amalgamated
Date: February 1956Country: USARelease type: TheatricalFormat: 35mm Film - Black and White - Sound - MonoRuntime: 72 mins Dialogue (original): EnglishDistributor: RKO Radio Pictures
Date: March 1990Country: United KingdomRelease type: Home ViewingFormat: VHS Videocassette - Black and White - SoundRuntime: 80 mins Dialogue (original): EnglishDistributor: Warner Home Video
Title: [Motion Picture Herald - v202 n7 18 Feb 1956: no known title]Language: English
In: The Film Daily v109 n38 27 Feb 1956 Page: 6
Title: [The Film Daily - v109 n38 27 Feb 1956: no known title]Language: English
In: The Hollywood Reporter v138 n25 15 Feb 1956 Page: 3
Title: [The Hollywood Reporter - v138 n25 15 Feb 1956: no known title]Language: English
In: Monthly Film Bulletin v22 n253 February 1955 Page: 23
Title: [Monthly Film Bulletin - v22 n253 February 1955: no known title]Language: English
In: Daily Film Renter n6785 12 Jan 1955 Page: 3
Title: [Daily Film Renter - n6785 12 Jan 1955: no known title]Language: English
In: Today's Cinema v84 n7181 12 Jan 1955 Page: 10
Title: [Today's Cinema - v84 n7181 12 Jan 1955: no known title]Language: English
In: Today's Cinema v82 n6957 24 Feb 1954 Page: 9
Title: [Today's Cinema - v82 n6957 24 Feb 1954: no known title]Language: English
In: Kinematograph Weekly n2421 19 Nov 1953 Page: 29
Title: [Kinematograph Weekly - n2421 19 Nov 1953: no known title]Language: English
In: Page: 19
Title: [ - : no known title]
Film, Video or Digital materials held in BFI National Archive(6)
Accessible materials to view(2)
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: CTASound: CombinedLength: 7490 FeetBFI identifier: C-1221802
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: CTASound: CombinedLength: 7489 FeetBFI identifier: C-1473321
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Video materials(1)
Description: Digital BetacamDuration: 80.03 minutesLine standard: 625Colour standard: PALBFI identifier: C-1575098
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved videotape
Film materials(5)
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: CTASound: CombinedLength: 7490 FeetBFI identifier: C-1221802
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: CTASound: CombinedLength: 7489 FeetBFI identifier: C-1473321
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: 35mm Dupe NegativeBase: SafetySound: CombinedBFI identifier: C-27327
Status: Status pending - Material requires inspection to determine preservation or access status
Description: 35mm Duplicating PositiveBase: CTASound: CombinedFeetStock date: 1954BFI identifier: C-27324
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Description: 35mm PositiveBase: SafetyBFI identifier: C-27326
Status: Status pending - Location of material is under review
Dates: 1954 (Copyright), 07 February 1955 (Release)Country: United KingdomDirected by: Ken Hughes
Synopsis: Concerns efforts of doctor and his wife who try to stop a born killer from committing homicide. A divorcing couple, who are both doctors, work closely with an electroencephalograph - a machine that measures brain waves. An aggresive patient, Frank Smith, is tested on the machine and shown to have strong homicidal tendencies. He discharges himself from hospital, but kidnaps Dr. Phillipa Roberts when she discovers his involvement in an illegal pharmaceuticals racket.
Genres: Medical drama, Thriller
Subjects: Electroencephalography, Pharmacology
Releases
Date: 07 February 1955Country: United KingdomRelease type: TheatricalFormat: 35mm Film - Black and White - Sound - MonoRuntime: 83 mins Length: 7457 FeetDialogue (original): EnglishDistributor: Anglo Amalgamated
Date: February 1956Country: USARelease type: TheatricalFormat: 35mm Film - Black and White - Sound - MonoRuntime: 72 mins Dialogue (original): EnglishDistributor: RKO Radio Pictures
Date: March 1990Country: United KingdomRelease type: Home ViewingFormat: VHS Videocassette - Black and White - SoundRuntime: 80 mins Dialogue (original): EnglishDistributor: Warner Home Video
Credits
(28)
© [US TV version]: Inc. RKO Teleradio Pictures, [Production Company]: Merton Park Studios, Produced by: Alec C. Snowden, Assistant Director (1st): Jim O'Connolly, Assistant Director (2nd): Fred Ruff, [Assistant Director (3rd)]: John Smith, Continuity: Angela Allen, Written by: Ken Hughes, Director of Photography: Josef Ambor, Camera Operator: Ron Robson, [Focus Puller]: Cyril Gray, [Clapper Loader]: Ken Clarke, Stills Cameraman: Richard Cantouris, Film Editor: Geoffrey Muller, [Assistant Editor]: Pamela Bunce, Art Director: George Haslam, [Assistant Art Director]: Stan Shields, Wardrobe Mistress: Alice Mclaren, Make-up: Jack Craig, Music Director: Richard Taylor, Sound Supervisor: Richard A. Smith, Sound System: Western Electric Recording, Sound Recordist: Dick Smith, Ron Abbott, [Boom Operator]: Dave Drinkwater, Technical Assistance by: Mr. Frederick Wilson of the Edison Swan Electric Company Ltd., [Studio]: Merton Park
Cast
(22)
Patrick Barr (Dr Geoffrey Allen), Elizabeth Allan (Dr Philippa Roberts), Maxwell Reed (Frank Smith), Russell Napier (Inspector Durham), Gibb McLaughlin (Spencer Simon), Edwin Richfield (Ryan), Vanda Godsell (Mae Smith), Neil Hallett (Sergeant John Harris), Mark Bellamy (Louis), Bill Nagy (Charlie), Anthony Valentine (Tony, Charlie's son), John Horsley (Dr Richards), Donald Bisset (Major Gifford), Gwen Bacon (matron), Clifford Buckton (Jarrit), Cyril Smith (prison warder), Tom Gallagher (factory foreman), Dan Wilson (personnel manager), Henry Webb (tenement caretaker), Joan Tyrell (mother at tenement), Marianne Stone (nurse), John Preston
Articles held in BFI Reuben Library
(9)
In: Motion Picture Herald v202 n7 18 Feb 1956 Page: 787Title: [Motion Picture Herald - v202 n7 18 Feb 1956: no known title]Language: English
In: The Film Daily v109 n38 27 Feb 1956 Page: 6
Title: [The Film Daily - v109 n38 27 Feb 1956: no known title]Language: English
In: The Hollywood Reporter v138 n25 15 Feb 1956 Page: 3
Title: [The Hollywood Reporter - v138 n25 15 Feb 1956: no known title]Language: English
In: Monthly Film Bulletin v22 n253 February 1955 Page: 23
Title: [Monthly Film Bulletin - v22 n253 February 1955: no known title]Language: English
In: Daily Film Renter n6785 12 Jan 1955 Page: 3
Title: [Daily Film Renter - n6785 12 Jan 1955: no known title]Language: English
In: Today's Cinema v84 n7181 12 Jan 1955 Page: 10
Title: [Today's Cinema - v84 n7181 12 Jan 1955: no known title]Language: English
In: Today's Cinema v82 n6957 24 Feb 1954 Page: 9
Title: [Today's Cinema - v82 n6957 24 Feb 1954: no known title]Language: English
In: Kinematograph Weekly n2421 19 Nov 1953 Page: 29
Title: [Kinematograph Weekly - n2421 19 Nov 1953: no known title]Language: English
In: Page: 19
Title: [ - : no known title]
Film, Video or Digital materials held in BFI National Archive(6)
Accessible materials to view(2)
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: CTASound: CombinedLength: 7490 FeetBFI identifier: C-1221802
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: CTASound: CombinedLength: 7489 FeetBFI identifier: C-1473321
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Video materials(1)
Description: Digital BetacamDuration: 80.03 minutesLine standard: 625Colour standard: PALBFI identifier: C-1575098
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved videotape
Film materials(5)
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: CTASound: CombinedLength: 7490 FeetBFI identifier: C-1221802
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: CTASound: CombinedLength: 7489 FeetBFI identifier: C-1473321
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: 35mm Dupe NegativeBase: SafetySound: CombinedBFI identifier: C-27327
Status: Status pending - Material requires inspection to determine preservation or access status
Description: 35mm Duplicating PositiveBase: CTASound: CombinedFeetStock date: 1954BFI identifier: C-27324
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Description: 35mm PositiveBase: SafetyBFI identifier: C-27326
Status: Status pending - Location of material is under review