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The stalwart Stroheim is cast as a scientist who keeps alive the brain of a dead criminal financier, which eventually takes over the mind of lab assistant Arlen. Stroheim does what he can to keep the malevolent brain under control, but it is able to force Arlen into killing the gangster's enemies. The plot is familiar and has had two sequels--DONOVAN'S BRAIN (1953) and VENGEANCE (1962), both based on the same novel. Republic president Herbert Yates continued to push the debatable talents of his future wife, then-skating star Ralston. Appearing in her first nonmusical role, Ralston suffers from her inability to handle the English language (she was a Czech), and the overpowering presence of Stroheim, who had the tendency to overshadow anyone he acted with. Director Sherman teamed with Stroheim and Arlen again with STORM OVER LISBON (1944), but it would be another six years before Stroheim would get a decent role in Billy Wilder's SUNSET BOULEVARD.