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Director Charles Haas', THE BRAIN OF COLONEL BARHAM,
is an odd, if not entirely satisfactory, Sci-Fi yarn.
Anthony Eisley ("77 Sunset Strip"), as the crippled astronaut,
gives a grim, one note performance. Oddly enough, once he donates his
brain to science, and is reduced to just being a voice on a radio, Eisley's
performance improves.
Grant Williams, ("The Incredible Shrinking Man"), under Haas'
direction, also gives a performance of limited depth. It perhaps is
unfortunate that Williams character didn't donate his brain to science
as well, since a brain in a jar would be more interesting to look at
than Williams' bland mug.
Elizabeth Perry delivers a solid performance as Barham's wife. She brings
a welcome sense of reality to an otherwise very far out story.
The Teleplay, by Robert C. Dennis, (Story by Sidney Ellis), contains
some sharp dialogue. When General Pettit, played by Douglas Kennedy
("The Amazing Transparent Man"), proposes that Eisley, who's
estranged from his wife, donate his brain for use in a robot space probe,
Eisley asks, "How would I do with pretty girls?" Pettit/Kennedy
tersely replies, "How you doin' now?"
The Special Effects, particularly smoky energy beams going from Eisley/Barham's
brain to people and objects, are quite good. Van Der Veer Photo Co.
appears to be the responsible party.
My favorite scene takes place early on. We see pretty good FX of a spaceship
flying through space, as well as a Martian landscape. Most of the rest
of the episode takes place in a military hospital, which feels pretty
confining after awhile.
Director of Photography, Kenneth Peach, once again does a highly professional
job, delivering visually interesting screen imagery.
The music, frequently utilizing violins, weaves an appropriately weird
mood. Harry Lubin gets the credit.
THE BRAIN OF COLONEL BARHAM will be somewhat watchable for most Sci-Fi
fans. Viewers who like stories set mostly outdoors will not dig this
episode. BACK TO: EPISODE
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