Search - The Mind Benders on DVD

MPAA Rating: NR Content Advisory: Not For Children Movie Release: 1963 DVD Release: 12/18/2001 Format: DVD - Black and White,Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 49 mins Studio: Anchor Bay Members Wishing: 3 Genres: Science Fiction, Paranoid Thriller, Psychological Sci-Fi

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. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Dirk Bogarde - Dr. Henry Longman
Mary Ure - Oonagh Longman
John Clements - Maj. Hall
Michael Bryant - Dr. Tate
Wendy Craig - Annabelle

One of the forgotten paranoid Cold War thrillers of the 1960s, The Mind Benders deserves to gain a new audience with this fine Anchor Bay DVD release. While not up to the brilliant level of The Manchurian Candidate or the entertainment level of The Ipcress File, the movie brims over with tense paranoia and predates the LSD-era interest in questioning how people perceive reality (the then-novel use of water immersion tanks and their effect on people is a major subplot of the movie). The movie has been digitally remastered and restored to its original widescreen aspect ratio and the Mono soundtrack is presented in well-balanced Dolby Digital. The only real DVD extra is the theatrical trailer though the disc also houses some information files of negligible worth (Anchor Bay even makes a mistake in saying that The Mind Benders influenced The Manchurian Candidate when that classic came out a year before this British psychological thriller). One of the main attractions of this intriguing movie is the exceptional lead performance from Dirk Bogarde; this DVD is also included in a budget-priced box set that is centered on the renowned naturalistic actor. ~ Nick Dedina, All Movie Guide