The Mind Benders (1962) - Britmovie

asiamiles · 10-12-2007, 05:58 PM

What starts out as a potentiallly interesting mystery, becomes increasingly dull and ultimately fizzles out in a somewhat bizarre choice of ending, thanks to a script that only seems to have had a first act, Basil Dearden's uninspired handling (showing the brainwashing seems a major mistep to me), and a generally uninterested cast; Dirk Bogarde gives one of his most removed performances while a presumably pregnant Mary Ure seems to have other things on her mind. Film has some fairly daring dialogue for its day, as if it was trying to create a bit of stir, but it's been largely forgotten and for good reason. Give me ALTERED STATES any day.

stevie boy · 10-12-2007, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asiamiles

What starts out as a potentiallly interesting mystery, becomes increasingly dull and ultimately fizzles out in a somewhat bizarre choice of ending, thanks to a script that only seems to have had a first act, Basil Dearden's uninspired handling (showing the brainwashing seems a major mistep to me), and a generally uninterested cast; Dirk Bogarde gives one of his most removed performances while a presumably pregnant Mary Ure seems to have other things on her mind. Film has some fairly daring dialogue for its day, as if it was trying to create a bit of stir, but it's been largely forgotten and for good reason. Give me ALTERED STATES any day.

The Mindbenders was a very daring and interesting film in its day and quite obviously an influence on Altered States. The beauty of Bogardes removed performance is spot on. It is all about opinions of course but I do not think that Basil Dearden handlng was uninspired.

asiamiles · 11-12-2007, 12:40 AM

I thought the film failed to involve partly because there was no single character to identify with. It begins as an investigation into the death of the scientist but then the "detective" disappears from the film and the film loses the viewer. If the brainwashing scene hadn't been shown earlier then the later playback of the tape might have been quite suspenseful and shocking but as it is there's no impact. I wonder if the climax was in the original script as it feels like they just worked it in to justify Ure's being pregnant...of course, I'm only guessing that she really was pregnant at the time, but looking at her bio it seems highly likely.

10-12-2007, 05:58 PM	#1
asiamiles has no status. Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Asia Posts: 62 Country: iTrader: (0)	The Mind Benders (1962) What starts out as a potentiallly interesting mystery, becomes increasingly dull and ultimately fizzles out in a somewhat bizarre choice of ending, thanks to a script that only seems to have had a first act, Basil Dearden's uninspired handling (showing the brainwashing seems a major mistep to me), and a generally uninterested cast; Dirk Bogarde gives one of his most removed performances while a presumably pregnant Mary Ure seems to have other things on her mind. Film has some fairly daring dialogue for its day, as if it was trying to create a bit of stir, but it's been largely forgotten and for good reason. Give me ALTERED STATES any day.

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11-12-2007, 12:40 AM	#3
asiamiles has no status. Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Asia Posts: 62 Country: iTrader: (0)	I thought the film failed to involve partly because there was no single character to identify with. It begins as an investigation into the death of the scientist but then the "detective" disappears from the film and the film loses the viewer. If the brainwashing scene hadn't been shown earlier then the later playback of the tape might have been quite suspenseful and shocking but as it is there's no impact. I wonder if the climax was in the original script as it feels like they just worked it in to justify Ure's being pregnant...of course, I'm only guessing that she really was pregnant at the time, but looking at her bio it seems highly likely.