The Man Who Changed His Mind

The Man Who Changed His Mind

Year: 1936

Runtime: 66 mins

Language: English

Director: Robert Stevenson

Science FictionHorrorHorror the undead and monster classicsChilling experiments and classic monster horrorCreepy chilling and terrifying horror

Dr. Laurence, once a respected scientist, turns his attention to the origin of the mind and the soul. Facing rejection from the scientific community, he watches his life's work crumble. Desperate, he begins to weaponize his discoveries to protect his research and advance his own agenda, evolving into a relentless, almost unstoppable mad scientist.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – The Man Who Changed His Mind (1936)

Trace every key event in The Man Who Changed His Mind (1936) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Isolation fuels groundbreaking research

Dr. Laurience, once a respected scientist, begins radical investigations into the origins of mind and soul in an isolated manor house. He is aided by the wheelchair-bound Clayton and the promising surgeon Clare Wyatt, while the wider scientific community meets his theories with scorn. His obsession risks everything he has built as the investigation advances.

early phase isolated manor house
2

Brain transfer creates a powerful new vessel

Using his emerging brain transfer technique, Laurience replaces Lord Haslewood's mind with Clayton's personality, granting the latter control over Haslewood's wealth and social power. The experiment seems to succeed, and Laurience basks in the new leverage his work provides. The Haslewood estate becomes a stage for his increasingly dangerous ambitions.

after initial experiments Haslewood estate / Laurience's laboratory
3

Wealth and influence fuel the mad scientist

With Haslewood's status at his command, Laurience leverages resources to push his research further and defend his theories against critics. The living vessel now under Clayton's consciousness allows him to operate with both public influence and private control. His bold experiments grow bolder as wealth shields his endeavors.

mid phase Haslewood estate
4

Laurience seeks Clare through a dangerous body swap

Seeking to seduce Clare Wyatt, Laurience attempts to transfer his mind into Dick Haslewood's body. He believes occupying the heir's form will put him closer to Clare and secure her cooperation. The plan reveals how deeply his obsession has corrupted the science.

mid-phase Haslewood estate / laboratory
5

Disguise fails; his true nature shines through

Even in Dick's body, Laurience cannot fully hide his unusual physicality, and Clare quickly suspects something is amiss. The disguise is imperfect, exposing the dangerous flaws in his plan. Laurience's personal stakes become increasingly evident as his scheme unravels.

mid-phase manor / lab
6

Clayton is murdered to safeguard the plan

Before he can complete the transfer to Dick, Laurience strangles Clayton, who is inhabiting Lord Haslewood's body. The murder ensures that any later accusation will be pinned on Dick, rather than on the already compromised Haslewood or Laurience. The act marks a brutal turning point in the experiment.

pre-transition Haslewood estate
7

Dick ends up trapped in Laurience's body

Dick Haslewood finds himself imprisoned within Laurience's body, a living prisoner in a grim twist of fate. He becomes the suspect in the murder of the man believed to be his father. The case drags the science into the realm of law and consequence.

post-murder Laurience's body / Haslewood estate
8

Clare and Gratton uncover the truth

Clare Wyatt and Dr. Gratton realize the mind transfer has gone awry and Laurience's consciousness is not in its proper body. They resolve to reverse the transfer to restore order and prevent further harm. The moral balance of the experiment becomes a central concern.

late stage lab
9

Mind transfer is reversed but at a cost

Clare and Gratton manage to return Laurience's mind to its proper body, but that body has been badly broken in a panicked fall. The life that the experiment ripped apart leaves lasting damage. The scientific dream collapses under the weight of its own consequences.

late stage lab / Haslewood manor
10

Laurience confronts the wreck of his invention

Face to face with the ruined results of his work, Laurience admits that he wasted an incredible invention on a selfish and murderous scheme. He recognizes the harm his ambition has caused and the moral cost of playing with human souls. The will to continue fades in the face of reality.

final stage lab
11

A vow to abandon the dangerous path

Laurience declares he should never have meddled with the human soul and chooses to forsake further pursuit of the method. He resolves to keep his knowledge, if any, buried rather than shared. The obsession that defined his career is put to rest, though at a steep personal price.

final stage lab
12

The knowledge dies with the man

In the end, Laurience takes the knowledge to the grave, erasing the method from the world. The mind-transference dream dies with him, leaving only the shattered legacy of a scientist who dared too much. Clare and Gratton are left to pick up the pieces of science and ethics he left behind.

final stage manor

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 12:26

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Man Who Changed His Mind

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