MovieChat Forums > The Outer Limits (1963) Discussion > Is "The Brain of Colonel Barham" the ins...

Is "The Brain of Colonel Barham" the inspiration for "Transcendence?"

posted 10 years ago by AntoineMDevine
3 replies | jump to latest

Brain links with computer, soon develops from physical brain to omnipotent mind, power grows exponentially to a god-like state, sees humans as puny and insignificant. Somehow still "loves" wife and goes on rampage to keep her, even though "he" only exists in a jar. Controls other peoples minds to do his bidding. Close enough.

[–] SirWizard 9 years ago

No, not close enough.
Colonel Barham was an angry man who served as the week's "bear" (brain-in-the-jar). He is corrupted by the ability to manifest his tantrums and wreak havoc in a very one dimensional story.
Transcendence's Will Caster is a thoughtful, gentle mind offering to heal the infirm and providing a networkable mind while preserving autonomy. The story is based on and filled with other subtle ideas that bear no resemblance to the Outer Limits episode.

[–] DD-931 9 years ago

No.

[–] gbennett5 9 years ago

It hails from the classic "Donovan's Brain." Highly unoriginal ep of
the OL, although it's still scary, despite a budget that appears to
be about 29 cents.