‘It’s becoming an obsession. All this power and money. Who needs it?’
The Brain from Planet Arous is a 1957 American science fiction horror film directed by Nathan Juran [as Nathan Hertz] (The Boy Who Cried Werewolf; 20 Million Miles to Earth; The Deadly Mantis) from a screenplay by Ray Buffum. The Howco International production stars John Agar, Joyce Meadows and Robert Fuller.
An outer-space terrorist from a planet named Arous – a brain-shaped creature named Gor – arrives on Earth and possesses young scientist Steve March.
Gor proceeds to use his vast, destructive powers to bend the world to his will, threatening to wipe out the capital city of any nation that defies him.
Meanwhile, another brain from Arous – named Vol – arrives on Earth and eventually inhabits the body of March’s fiancee’s dog. Vol explains that Gor is a wanted criminal on their world. Gor’s only weakness is the Fissure of Rolando and he is only vulnerable during one brief period when he needs to exit his host to absorb oxygen…
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Reviews:
“Nowhere else have I seen Agar give such a gleefully unrestrained performance. Watching him as the possessed Steve March, blustering at a roomful of generals or feeling up Joyce Meadows like there’s no tomorrow, you get the feeling that Agar had never had so much fun on a movie set in his life.” Scott Ashlin, 1000 Misspent Hours and Counting
“Look, the plot is not important. What is important is that this film features two giant brains floating around and arguing. It also features an adorable dog and some atomic weapon testing stock footage. It’s not good but it’s a lot of fun.” Lisa Marie Bowman, Through the Shattered Lens
“The reason Arous stands apart from the Ed Woods is its smart script and its earnest playing. The writing and production knows the whole enterprise is ridiculous, but refuses to surrender. Meadows and Agar go at their noble profession even when swinging axes at Gor’s ‘fissure of Rolando’, as if the inflated-looking brain were a party Piñata.” Glenn Erickson, DVD Talk
“Nathan Juran directs with admirable briskness (one shot of Agar through a water cooler is especially inspired) and the film is amusingly daft, with a hilarious final line.” Graeme Clark, The Spinning Image
Cast and characters:
- John Agar as Steve March
- Joyce Meadows as Sally Fallon
- Robert Fuller as Dan Murphy
- Thomas B. Henry as John Fallon
- Kenneth Terrell as Colonel in Conference Room
- Henry Travis as Colonel Frogley
- E. Leslie Thomas as General Brown
- Tim Graham as Sheriff Wiley Pane
- Bill Giorgio as Russian
- Kenner G. Kemp as Military Man at Meeting
- Dale Tate as Professor/Voices of Gor and Vol [uncredited]
Filming locations:
Bronson Canyon, Los Angeles, California, USA
