Human nature is a strange concept – despite having been a subject of study since around the time we gained consciousness in the earliest days of the antiquity, no one has ever been able to offer a succinct and clear definition of what it means to be human, or why we are arguably the dominant species by virtue of our self-awareness. These questions often infiltrate the artistic world as much as it does the philosophical, which is shown in the myriad of works that focus on decoding the meaning of life. One of the more unheralded is The Mind of Mr. Soames, the fascinating science fiction novel by Charles Eric Maine, who tells the story of a man awakening from a coma that he had slipped into at birth over three decades earlier, and learning about the world by interacting with various characters. It was the subject of an equally captivating film adaptation, directed by Alan Cooke, who assembles an impressive cast and crew of collaborators to bring this story to the screen. Not a film that is often well-known amongst audiences, outside of a few who are either devotees of mid-century science fiction, or the rare proponent of Amicus Studios (which was continuously putting in the laborious effort to be a challenger to the more well-known Hammer Studios), The Mind of Mr. Soames is a hidden masterpiece, a truly riveting and compelling story of a man undergoing the most terrifying journey of them all: learning how to be a functional human being. This is one of the more well-crafted of the wave of alternative science fiction films produced in Britain around this time, and if there was ever one that needed a critical re-evaluation for both its narrative and its brilliant execution, you’d be amiss to find one more deserving.

Decoding the human condition has always been something that has preoccupied academics and artists alike – so whenever someone offers a new way of approaching arguably the most challenging subject imaginable (outside of perhaps proving the existence of some higher power), there is going to be some inherent interest, whether artistically or philosophically. The Mind of Mr. Soames offers both, functioning as a film that answers many questions surrounding human nature, weaving together discussions on language, culture, law and existence in general. Cooke, a relatively novice director who had worked mainly in short-format filmmaking and on television, was tasked with facilitating these discussions, aided by a well-written script by John Hale and Edward Simpson, all working in tandem to take a complex but fascinating novel and bring it to the visual form, not only in terms of the compelling story, but the underlying themes that Maine infused into every word. Perhaps not the definitive text on any of these issues, but rather one that garners merit through actively layering different themes together and allowing them to co-exist in a way that evokes much deeper conversations, The Mind of Mr. Soames is quite a thought-provoking project that took a number of risks, and ultimately saw them pay off in every conceivable way. The extent to which these discussions are indicative of accurate science is neither clear nor relevant – the film itself is a nuanced and interesting series of conversations that stir thought, which is essentially all that such a story aims to achieve.

The Mind of Mr. Soames was produced during an era where Terence Stamp was being positioned as one of the best young actors of his generation (make no mistake – he absolutely was, and remains one of the finest performers to ever work in the medium), with many of his roles combining his intense style of acting with a very delicate, earnest sense of self-awareness that made him such a captivating actor. The role of John Soames is a challenging one – it required the actor to play the character in a mostly childlike state, with the film following him as he gradually develops into a more adult attitude, and as a result, there is an inherent risk that the actor might go too far and border on parody. Stamp never has this problem – he approaches the character with a degree of tenderness, never going too far in his portrayal, and making sure to calibrate the performance to the tone of the film, which changes as the story progresses. This is neither an opportunity for him to play the childlike aspects of the character with broad humour, not a chance to tap into the malicious, sinister components. Soames is a complex individual, and Stamp helps develop him in a multitude of ways, avoiding stereotypes and heavy-handed choices in what is essentially a very meaningful, heartbreaking performance that draws the viewer into his world, allowing us to get a glimpse into his psychological state, seeing the world through his eyes – and the actor turns in some of his best work playing the role, so much that solid work by Robert Vaughn and Nigel Davenport, while excellent, barely register in comparison to Stamp’s absolutely mesmerizing performance that stands as one of the most striking of this era.

Despite being a work of speculative fiction, The Mind of Mr. Soames is a deeply authentic film, with a compassion that seems almost ill-placed in science fiction drama. Interestingly, this is not a film that proposes much in terms of progressive concepts, since it is set within a recognizable world, and is almost entirely plausible, to the point where some viewers may even question whether or not this is a true story, since it is executed with a very precise and honest simplicity, never aiming to be an excessive tale that builds on factors that are out of the realm of possibility. Much like Flowers for Algernon, a similarly themed story of another young man trying to find his way through the world after life-changing medical intervention, The Mind of Mr. Soames is a beautiful portrayal of humanity, as filtered through the eyes of the most innocent protagonist, a man trying to make sense of a world he has only recently started to understand. Cooke understood the simple charms of this story, and makes sure to apply a particular kind of candour to the point where we can’t resist investing in this character’s journey, and feeling absolutely shattered when it becomes clear that the future envisioned for him by his doctors is far from likely. It is a very subdued and honest depiction of these deep existential conversations, and in many ways the limited production helped convey this message, since it doesn’t allow for excess, instead restricting it to what matters the most, which is in this case the simple journey of a young man navigating an environment that we take for granted.

Oddly enough, The Mind of Mr. Soames is a very enchanting film, one that carries a very deep message, without ever needing to descend to the point of becoming overwrought. It is grounded by a truly magnificent performance from Stamp, who carries the film and single-handedly says more about the human condition through his very simple but effective performance than most artists do in their entire career. Undeniably, Cooke made a film that doesn’t lend itself to populist appeal – it is small, often quite bleak, and has a looming darkness that implies that this character is not going to get the happy ending that we’d hope, or expect from a much bigger production. However, absolutely everything in this film is essential – the tone is perfectly suited to the material (particularly in how it avoids overt sensationalism), and the filmmaking is striking enough to grab our attention, but not excessive to the point where it becomes implausible. This is a beautiful work of science fiction (particular emphasis on “science”), and a film that provokes some very deep questions – and while it may not always have the solutions, the experience of seeing such an engaging representation of deep philosophical issues is absolutely unforgettable, and ultimately leads to this film’s very earnest, heartful sense of genuine interest in the world around it. Beautifully made, well-acted and meaningful in the way that not many films tend to be, The Mind of Mr. Soames is a gem that warrants more attention, particularly when looking at how the most riveting, captivating stories can be made with the most paltry of resources.