The Mind of Mr. Soames

An underrated, pretty much forgotten movie that deserves to be better known. The premise - a 30 year-old man in a coma since birth suddenly awakened - had me hooked from the start. Terence Stamp gives an excellent performance as a baby in a man's body. How do you treat such a patient? Scientist Vaughn believes Stamp deserves a proper childhood, including play and affection. Scientist Davenport thinks that it's important that that Stamp be given an intense regular schedule of learning to catch up. It turns out both men are right (AND wrong). What happens in the second half of the movie will be foreseen by many viewers, but it's handled with intelligence and believability. Some viewers today may not be pleased with the ending, which is not cut-and-dried and sweetly happy. But it's not without hope, and it feels more real than any artificial ending that would probably be tacked on if the movie was made today.

1969's "The Mind of Mr. Soames" was an adaptation of a 1961 Charles Eric Maine novel, perhaps his best known work and certainly superior to earlier efforts like "Spaceways," "The Atomic Man," or "The Electronic Monster." Overshadowed in the wake of Cliff Robertson's similar "Charly," we find Terence Stamp in the title role, a 30 year old man in a lifelong coma only now being prepared surgically to be 'born' through the skills of Dr. Michael Bergen (an engagingly warm turn from Robert Vaughn). Supervising the around the clock television coverage and the patient's lengthy training program is Dr. Maitland (Nigel Davenport), a rather inflexible individual who seems more interested in personal glory than John's welfare. Bergen remains present to offer much needed 'play time' to ease the long term dreariness of teaching lessons, even unlocking the door to allow Soames to explore the outside world for the first time, until Maitland's staff drag him back inside (he was quite willing to return, had they not forced the issue). Rather than risk being hurt again Soames finally rebels, using a chair to knock out his captor and climb over the institution wall to freedom. This adult male with the aptitude of a child learns harsh lessons on his own, unable to pay for meals, facing rejection from schoolchildren playing ball, and finally being injured by a passing motorist whose wife treats him with genuine kindness. Once he's been tracked down to a lonely country barn, Bergen goes inside to help John plead his case, to make his own decision to return without anyone taking him by force. Producer Milton Subotsky's obvious obsession with the name Maitland does not necessarily make Nigel Davenport an out and out villain, though he does clash with Robert Vaughn's more humane treatment, the surgeon well versed in child psychology as father to three kids. Terence Stamp ably conveys the frustration, boredom, and finally sheer joy of first time experience, a difficult role that he carries off in entirely believable fashion. Only a few television airings preceded its fall into complete obscurity, a sad fate for Stamp compared to Cliff Robertson's Oscar-winning performance, but one that also deserves long neglected recognition.

A new take on the Frankenstein myth. Terence Stamp is the man in a coma since birth but kept alive in a kind of oxygen tank, who is awakened after 30 years. Alan Cooke's "The Mind of Mr. Soames" is an unusually intelligent piece of sci-fi which, like Mary Shelley's novel, is really about the relationship between the doctor who 'awakens' him and his 'creature' , the unfortunate Mr Soames who might have been better off had he been left in his tank. In these roles Robert Vaughan, (the doctor), and in particular Stamp, (Soames), are excellent. If the plot proceeds along a somewhat predictable path, the superb handling and good performances all round, more than redeem it. Not really a success when it came out, it is now destined for cult status.

A unique and fascinating film. Terence Stamp should have received an Oscar for his haunting appearance as an adult man revived after 30 years from a coma he had lapsed into at birth. He is totally convincing as the little child in the body of a grown-up man. Much more effective than Tom Hanks in "Big", but "The mind of Mr. Soames" is not a comedy, although it contains many comical and touching scenes. And in spite of the subject it is surely not an overly sentimental or sensational film, it's rather more a character study (although occasionally it is also very thrilling), in fact it's presented in an almost documentary manner, which makes it the more interesting. The film also gives a nice outlook upon the world & society seen through the eyes of a little child. Outstanding photography, even poetical (the scenes when Soames is happy in the garden), and top quality actors in thoughtful roles. An undeservedly obscure film that should be more widely known.

I would like to see this movie shot today and see what differences an other director would make of the subject. Excellent production values give notice that the effort to make a unique movie for the late 60's was undertaken. Stamp gives a strong performance and the movie is not boring. Robert Vaughn and Nigel Davenport serve as capable teachers to the brain injured man and give fine supporting roles in this less than successful movie. What holds this movie together is the fine close ups of Stamp as he discovers a world of wonderment and allows the viewer an opportunity to see if the human condition is retarded by 30 years of laying in a bed in a vegetative state. Finding out that question is what makes this movie fun.