The Mind Benders (1963)

The Mind Benders (1963) (DVD) (*)

$22.99

Language Selections:
English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 )
Italian ( Dolby Digital 2.0 )
Italian ( Subtitles )

Product Origin/Format:
Italy ( PAL/Region 0 )

Running Time:
99 min

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen (1.66:1)

Special Features:
Featurette
Interactive Menu
Photo Gallery
Scene Access

Movie filmed in 1963 and produced in:
United Kingdom ( Great Britain, Ireland )

Directed By:
Basil Dearden

Written By:
James Kennaway

Actors:
Dirk Bogarde ..... Dr. Henry Laidlaw Longman
Mary Ure ..... Oonagh Longman
John Clements ..... Major Hall
Michael Bryant ..... Dr. Danny Tate
Wendy Craig ..... Annabella
Harold Goldblatt ..... Professor Sharpey
Geoffrey Keen ..... Calder
Terry Palmer ..... Norman
Norman Bird ..... Aubrey
Terence Alexander ..... Coach (uncredited)
Grace Arnold ..... Train Passenger (uncredited)
Timothy Beaton ..... Paul Longman (uncredited)
Elizabeth Counsell ..... Girl Student on Station (uncredited)
Roger Delgado ..... Dr. Jean Bonvoulois (uncredited)
Ashik Devello ..... 2nd Indian Student (uncredited)
Ian Dewar ..... Crowd Ringleader (uncredited)
Terence Edmond ..... 1st Student at Party (uncredited)
Christopher Ellis ..... Peers Longman (uncredited)
Edward Fox ..... Stewart (uncredited)
Robin Hawdon ..... Student in Oxford (uncredited)
Georgina Moon ..... Persephone Longman (uncredited)
Edward Palmer ..... Porter (uncredited)
Philip Ray ..... Father (uncredited)
Rene Setan ..... 1st Indian Student (uncredited)
Anthony Singleton ..... Boy Student on Station (uncredited)
Teresa Van Hoorn ..... Penny Longman (uncredited)
Pauline Winter ..... Mother (uncredited)

Synopsis:

A scientist's attempts to clear the name of a friend nearly destroy his life in this intelligent science fiction drama. Prof. Sharpley (Harold Goldblatt) is a research scientist from Oxford University working with the British government on experiments in sensory deprivation. One day, Sharpley suddenly and shockingly commits suicide by throwing himself under an oncomming train while holding a briefcase stuffed with cash. While investigating the death, the police present the theory that Sharpley was a double agent, perhaps allied with the Communists, and that the death was the final result of his shame over betraying Great Britain. However, Sharpley's friend and associate Dr. Henry Longman (Dirk Bogarde) strongly disagrees, and he speculates that Sharpley's death had something to do with his research. In hopes of clearing Sharpley's name with police investigator Maj. Hall (John Clements), Longman begins subjecting himself to sessions in a sensory deprivation tank in order to prove that use of the technique can make one unusually suceptable to brainwashing or hypnotic suggestion. Longman emerges from the chamber frightened and disoriented, and in Long's presence one of his associates is able to convince Longman that he no longer cares for his wife Oonagh (Mary Ure). The doctor returns home displaying a callous and distant attitude toward his pregnant wife, and his personality begins to display an increasing number of deeply troubling changes. James Kennaway adapted the screenplay from his own novel.

One of a number of early 1960s spy thrillers to incorporate the paranoia of the Cold War into a film that defied convention (THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE and THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD also come to mind), THE MIND BENDERS is a fascinating science fiction influenced tale that begins when a British spy is discovered to be selling secrets to the soviets. Convinced that this man would never betray his country, a British scientist, Dr. Tate, theorizes that his treachery must have been the result of brainwashing. Dr. Tate finds an ally in a colleague, Dr. Henry Longman (Bogarde), who agrees to undergo brainwashing experiments to discover if such a thing is possible. Soon, Dr. Longman is undergoing sensory deprivation experiments designed to convince him that he no longer loves his wife.

Following the suicide of a fellow scientist under suspicion of passing information to the Communists, Dirk Bogarde plays an Oxford Scientist who submits himself to a particularly dangerous experiment in total isolation to try and prove that his colleague had been brainwashed. The experiment consists of being submerged in a tank full of water for up to ten hours completely out of touch with the outside world. He is without sight, without taste, without touch, without smell and without hearing, and the result is disturbing to say the least...

This product was added to our catalog on Sunday 16 August, 2020.