The Man Without a Body (also known as Curse of Nostradamus) is a low budget 1957 British horror film, produced by Guido Coen and directed by Charles Saunders and W. Lee Wilder. It stars Robert Hutton, George Coulouris, Julia Arnall and Nadja Regin. The screenplay concerns a wealthy American man with a brain tumour who plans to replace his brain with that of Nostradamus. The film was released theatrically in England in 1957 on a double bill with the Japanese film Half Human (1958) and a year later in the US on a double bill with Fright (1956).
Plot
Wealthy, vain New York City businessman Karl Brussard (George Coulouris) is behaving oddly - answering telephones that aren't ringing, forgetting that he owns ships in Miami, failing to recognise his own physician, Dr Charot (William Sherwood). Charot shows Brussard an x-ray of his head. Brussard looks at it admiringly and says, 'Ah, beautiful - the brain of Karl Brussard!' But Charot tells him that he has an inoperable brain tumour and advises him to go to England, where Dr Phil Merrit (Robert Hutton) is researching brain transplantation. Brussard and his much younger companion, Odette Vernet (Nadja Regin), leave at once.
Brussard meets Merritt, his nurse Jean Cramer (Julia Arnall) and Dr Lew Waldenhouse (Sheldon Lawrence) in London. Merritt confirms Charot's diagnosis, but Brussard is more interested in the living monkey's head that he's seen in Merritt's laboratory. Merritt explains that its brain came from a monkey, which had been dead for six years and that he and his staff 'revitalised' the brain and implanted it into the head. Merritt says that the brain will 'change its personality' to the one the monkey formerly had. Brussard decides that he needs a new brain and, during a visit to Madame Tussaud's wax museum, learns of Nostradamus.
Brussard hires the drunken Dr Brandon (Tony Quinn) and they go to France, open Nostradamus' crypt and steal his head. Brussard takes it to Merritt's lab. Without knowing whose head it is, Merritt's staff revitalise it. Brussard, who hasn't been told of this development, goes to the lab alone and finds the head, exclaiming, 'It's alive! My brain! It's alive!' When Merritt tries to force him out of the lab, Brussard, in a rage, accuses Merritt of trying to kill him and damages the Omnigizer, a vital piece of medical equipment.
After Jean repairs the Omnigizer, the head speaks, identifying itself as Michel de Notre Dame. 'It's Nostradamus!' exclaims Meritt. He, Jean and Lew tell Nostradamus that his predictions have come true. 'A great mind that can see into the future!' declares Brussard. 'Worthy to be Karl Brussard!' When told that he's alive again, Nostradamus says, 'It's against nature' and asks 'Why have you done this?' Brussard answers by yelling at Nostradamus, telling him that he (Nostradamus) is now him (Brussard).
Later, a mentally confused Brussard asks Nostradamus what he should do with his oil stocks. Nostradamus, knowing that stock prices are dropping, deliberately tells him to sell. Brussard does and is financially ruined.
Odette, meanwhile, has been secretly dating Lew. Brussard discovers the affair, follows her to Lew's flat and strangles her. Lew arrives and finds Odette's body. Brussard, who has been hiding in another room, steps out, revolver in hand. Lew runs for his life, Brussard in pursuit. Lew goes to the lab and Brussard shoots him in the back then flees. Merritt examines Lew and says that 'his cranial nerves have been severed'. He tells a police detective (Frank Forsyth) that Lew can't be saved. Brussard returns and shoots Nostradamus' head. Merritt decides to attach Nostradamus' head to Lew's body in an attempt to save them both.
Brussard returns again and discovers that Lew has become a monster, with Nostradamus' head encased in what appears to be a shoulder-width box covered with surgical tape. Brussard runs away; Nostradamus wanders off. Merritt calls Dr Alexander (Norman Shelley) and tells him that Nostradamus 'seems demented' and has 'lost the power of speech'. But then the police spot Nostradamus. Merritt and Jean run to a building with a bell tower and find Brussard chasing Nostradamus up a staircase. Brussard becomes dizzy and falls to his death. The bells begin to ring and Lew's body comes crashing down, leaving Nostradamus' head dangling in the bell ropes.