Donovan’s Brain
Year: 1953
Runtime: 83 mins
Language: English
Director: Felix E. Feist
In a hidden laboratory, a scientist revives a dead man’s brain by suspending it in a liquid tank and stimulating it with electrodes. The awakened brain quickly gains enormous psychic powers and begins to dominate the scientist’s mind, creating a Jekyll‑and‑Hyde split personality that compels him to act on the brain’s murderous urges.
Warning: spoilers below!
Haven’t seen Donovan’s Brain yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!
Donovan’s Brain (1953) – Full Plot Summary & Ending Explained
Read the complete plot breakdown of Donovan’s Brain (1953), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
Dr. Patrick Cory, Lew Ayres, and his wife Janice Cory, Nancy Reagan, live in a secluded mountain retreat where Cory pursues a controversial medical experiment: keeping a monkey’s brain alive after it’s removed from the skull. When a private plane carrying Warren Donovan crashes near their cabin, rescuers call on Cory to help. Donovan is badly hurt and rushed to Cory’s cabin, where his heart stops. In a daring, forbidden move, Cory seizes Donovan’s brain to study it, preserving it in an electrified saline solution. As nights pass, Cory begins to receive messages written in Donovan’s handwriting while the man is unconscious, and he starts to believe that Donovan’s consciousness survives and can be contacted through the living brain.
Gradually, Cory begins to take on Donovan’s traits: smoking cigars, manipulating people, and walking with a limp.
Janice and Dr. Frank Schratt, Gene Evans, Cory’s friend and assistant, worry that Donovan’s consciousness is using telepathic mind control to override Cory’s free will. Meanwhile, news photographer Herbie Yocum, Steve Brodie, uncovers that Cory has illegally stolen Donovan’s brain and tries to shake down Cory for money.
Donovan’s brain grows more powerful, turning Cory into a tool for amassing wealth and even seizing control of Yocum’s mind, driving him into a fatal car crash. Realizing Donovan can influence only one person at a time, Janice and Schratt plot to destroy the brain. But the plan backfires when Donovan compels Frank to shoot himself.
Ultimately, a lightning strike hits the Cory home and a fire breaks out, burning Donovan’s brain and ending the horror. Frank survives, and Cory chooses to face the consequences for his actions, while Janice reminds authorities that it was Patrick’s idea—to connect the ranch’s lightning rod to the power supply in a moment of freedom from Donovan’s brain—that caused the fire.
Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 11:46
Unlock the Full Story of Donovan’s Brain
Don't stop at just watching — explore Donovan’s Brain in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Donovan’s Brain is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Donovan’s Brain Timeline
Track the full timeline of Donovan’s Brain with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
