The Happiness Cage

The Happiness Cage is a 1972 American science fiction film directed by Bernard Girard. The film stars Christopher Walken in his first starring role and Joss Ackland. The film was also known as The Mind Snatchers.

This film is based on Dennis J. Reardon’s acclaimed play The Happiness Cage, which opened at Joseph Papp Public Theater’s Newman Theater in New York on October 4, 1970.

Plot
The story takes place in a Veterans Hospital in Frankfurt, where experiments are being conducted by United States Army to drill into the patients’ skulls, attach wires, and alter their brains to create better soldiers and happier men — human robots. The patients are three veterans waiting to go into the operation clinic.  The film contains some brilliant performances, according to the review in The New York Times.

Dr. Frederick (Joss Ackland) is trying to find a way to ease the aggressive nature of soldiers by developing a microchip to access the pleasure centers of their brains.

Cast
Christopher Walken as Pvt. James H. Reese
Joss Ackland as Dr. Frederick
Ralph Meeker as The Major
Ronny Cox as Sgt. Boford Miles
Marco St. John as Lawrence Shannon
Bette Henritze as Anna Kraus
Susan Travers as Nurse Schroeder
Birthe Neumann as Lisa
Claus Nissen as Army Psychiatrist

References

External links

Category:1972 films
Category:1970s science fiction drama films
Category:Films directed by Bernard Girard
Category:English-language films
Category:American science fiction drama films
Category:Films set in Frankfurt