- A wealthy business man discovers he has a brain tumor and seeks medical help. The business man finds a scientist experimenting with transplanting monkey heads on different monkey bodies. The business man decides to steal the head of Nostradamus from the prophet's crypt.—Scott Blacksher
- The movie opens with title and credits shown over a background of a busy New York City street. We meet Karl Brussard (George Coulouris) in his apartment. He is a wealthy and busy man, surrounded by staff and servants. He is brusque, impatient, and most importantly he is dying of a brain tumor. He is on the phone and conferring in person with his financial assistant, Leslie (Peter Copley). He runs from the room to confront his ward, Odette Vernet (Nadja Regin). She is on the phone and hangs up abruptly. Brussard takes the phone, throws it to the floor and storms out of the room. She is the widow of Brussard's late business partner, and he is looking after her, but has romantic interests himself. Brussard returns to browbeat Leslie, then works out with his personal trainer, Bill (uncredited). He displays amnesia and hallucinations. The maid, Suzanne (Kim Parker) interrupts to announce that Odette has a razor and is threatening to cut her wrist. Brussard throws her out of his room. Suzanne delights in telling Odette the answer from the master, "Let her." Brussard's doctor, Charot (William Sherwood) arrives and is briefed by Leslie about his boss. When shown into Brussard's room, Brussard does not recognize the doctor. Charot shows him his skull x-ray. The source of his headaches are an inoperable brain tumor. His next symptom is double vision. Charot refers his patient to a young doctor doing experiments on brain transplantation in London.
In London, Brussard goes to consult with Dr. Merritt. His ward, Odette accompanies him. She remains in the car with the chauffer (Maurice Kaufmann). The offices and laboratory are modest. Brussard is greeted by Jean Cramer (Julia Arnall), Merritt's lab assistant, and Dr. Phil R. Merritt (Robert Hutton). Merritt was expecting a visit from Mr. Brussard. He pulls the medical file and escorts Brussard into his office. Merritt confirms Dr. Charot's diagnosis, but suggests his own diagnostic test to confirm it. Brussard agrees to the EEG exam. They walk into the lab where Brussard is introduced to Dr. Lew Waldenhouse (Sheldon Lawrence). Brussard looks around the lab. Various organs are sitting in tanks. He notices a human eyeball, hooked to equipment. It stares at him. A monkey's head is on the table. It is alive and attached to equipment that is keeping it alive. Jean wires Brussard up to the EEG machine. While the machine takes its readings, the scientists perform surgery on a pair of monkeys.
In the car, Odette tries her charms on the chauffer. He knows the game and rejects the advances of the beautiful woman. He gets a slap on his face for such an insult. Odette, humiliated by the chauffer, exits the car and goes for a walk. The surgery completed, Jean escorts Brussard into the office. Merritt confirms the diagnosis and notes that Brussard is losing feelings in his limbs. Merritt tells Brussard about the monkey's head and the transplant surgery. Brussard intimates that a brain could be procured. Merritt is shocked that Brussard would commit murder to be cured. Brussard and Merritt take the car to lunch to continue their discussion. They leave Odette, but she is rescued by Lew. They arrive at the same restaurant and have lunch. Lew doesn't realize Odette is under the influence of the jealous and possessive Brussard. Merritt and Brussard have lunch. Merritt explains that brain tissue can be restored as long as the storage was done correctly. Later in the day, Brussard goes to visit Madame Tussaud's exhibit. The guide (Stanley Van Beers) shows the customers various tableaus. The one on Nostradamus (Michael Golden) particularly interests Brussard. He is intrigued by the genius of the man, and starts to formulate a plan. Brussard asks the guide where he is buried. At a pub, Brussard asks the barkeep (Edwin Ellis) where he might find Dr. Brandon. He is directed to a man at the end of the bar. Brandon (Tony Quinn) is quite drunk. Brussard tells the man they will be going to France and he has a task he needs help completing. Brandon and two local men do a little grave robbing at a crypt. Brussard admires the prize as he closes a hat box. He pays Brandon for his work and then dismisses him rudely. Brussard and Odette return to London. A customs officer (Ernest Bale) checks their luggage. Inspection of the hat box reveals a plaster bust, a present for Odette. At the hotel Brussard opens the hollow plaster bust, revealing a wrapped human head. Merritt removes the wrappings and is shocked and horrified. He accuses Brussard of grave robbing. He notices the professional way the head was removed from the body.
Brussard is in the lab. He is disturbed by the human eye on the wall as it stares at him. He paces the lab. The head is now submerged in liquid. It has been in there for 22 days and shows no signs of revival. Merritt must remind Brussard that science doesn't work on a time table. Lew remains in the lab as Merritt and Jean leave for the evening. Brussard takes his limo home. Jean is romantically interested in Merritt, but he has been too busy to reciprocate. Lew calls Odette on the phone. Merritt warns Jean not to marry a doctor.
The next morning, Merritt is the first to arrive. Lew is asleep at the desk. The head starts blowing bubbles. Jean arrives at the lab and notices the bubbles. They remove the bandages. The head now rests on a metal ring attached to various hoses and electrical leads. They apply electrical power to revive the head. There is a knock at the door. The chauffer has Brussard in his arms, and tells Lew he fainted getting out of the car. Lew directs the chauffer upstairs to a bedroom. Merritt goes up to examine his patient. He and Lew give Brussard a sedative. Merritt is on to Brussard's plan to use the brain to replace his own. Lew gets a call from Odette and makes a date for that evening. Odette arrives at the offices and asks about Brussard, but she is really there to meet with Lew. She pretends she is stranded, as she let her taxi go. Lew offers her a ride. Of course, Jean recognizes the voice from the telephone and is wise to Lew's little game. Merritt and Jean continue to work on the head of Nostradamus.
Lew and Odette relax in her hotel room. Odette warns Lew about Brussard. Odette asks about Merritt's skills and ability to cure Brussard. She asks Lew to sabotage any chance Brussard might have. Brussard wakes and enters the lab. He walks over and examines the head. Merritt enters the lab. Brussard accuses Merritt of trying to drug and kill him. He pulls an electrical cable from the wall and is mildly electrocuted. The eyeball on the wall stares at him and he faints. Merritt and Jean are talking when the head begins to speak. It says its name, Michel. The head opens its eyes and tells him his name, "Michel de Nostredame." Nostradamus tells Merritt and Jean where he was born. Merritt explains he is now in the 20th century. Exhausted, the head falls asleep. Later, Lew returns and talks to the head. Brussard is now awake in his room. Merritt goes to see him and tells him the head is that of Nostradamus. After Lew explains how the machinery works, Nostradamus concludes that he knows they want his brain. Brussard starts his brainwashing of the head. Brussard tells it his life story. He finally briefs the head on his financial position.
Odette returns from a night on the town. Brussard is there to confront her. She claims she was alone. A cable is delivered. Brussard reads it, then places it in his pocket and rushes off. Brussard returns to the lab and divulges the contents of the cable to Nostradamus. He seeks guidance on oil properties and the future of his net worth. Lew arrives at the office. Nostradamus advises Brussard to sell his holdings. Lew hides and Brussard calls Leslie in New York and tells him to come to London. After Brussard departs, Lew enters the lab and turns off the breathing equipment. The head tells Lew, "Stop. You want to destroy Brussard, not me. I know the purpose I serve. Think. He can get another brain. There is one way to destroy Brussard and I am doing it."
Leslie arrives in London and works the phones. Brussard is selling his holdings, but the plan backfires as Nostradamus planned and Brussard is wiped out. A stock broker and bank representative (Donald Marley) come to see Brussard. He requires additional security and presents an order for signature. All assets are now pledged to the bank. Odette answers the phone and informs Brussard. He picks up the phone, but Odette listens to the call. She overhears the conversation and knows Brussard is broke. Odette packs her jewels. Brussard returns to the lab and accuses the head of Nostradamus of tricking him. Merritt and Jean prevent Brussard from striking the head with his walking stick. He returns to the hotel, only to see Odette taking a cab. He orders his chauffer to follow the cab. Odette goes to Lew's apartment. She admires her jewelry. Brussard accuses Odette of walking out on him. He strangles her with one of her own pieces. Lew comes home to find Odette's body. Brussard is there with a gun. Lew manages to escape with Brussard in hot pursuit. Lew makes it back to the lab, but Brussard shoots him in the head and escapes. Merritt and Jean carry the body into the lab. Jean calls the police. Brussard makes a return visit to the lab. Merritt talks to the detective (Frank Forsyth) and tells him of Lew's condition. Brussard tries to shoot the head of Nostradamus on the table but misses. He does damage the circulator equipment. Merritt and Jean decide to operate on Lew to save the brain of Nostradamus. The detective and Dr. Alexander (Norman Shelley), the county medical officer, come to see Dr. Merritt after the surgery is completed. Merritt asks Dr. Alexander if he agrees on the surgery.
That evening, Brussard again returns to the lab. He breaks the glass on the door to gain entry. He intends to finish the job on the head, but notices it is missing. The head is now attached to the body of Lew and covered with a large, square shaped cast. Nostradamus is now mute and pulls the tubes from its body and approaches Brussard. Brussard runs, and Dr. Merritt follows him. Jean tries to reattach the tubes but Nostradamus attacks her. Merritt hears Jean scream and returns to find her on the floor. She complains of the creature's cold hands. Nostradamus leaves the lab and walks the streets. Merritt calls the police to report the escape. The police call back to tell Merritt that the creature was spotted. The police spot, then chase Brussard. Nostradamus walks into a school building. Brussard spots the creature and follows it inside. All converge on the schoolhouse. Nostradamus walks upstairs to the bell tower. Brussard follows his prey, but falls over the stair rail down to his death. The body of Lew without the Nostradamus head also falls to the floor. The head and cast are tangled in the bell rope. We close with credits shown over the heavily bandaged head still swinging from the bell rope.
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