Notable primarily for Christopher Walken's first starring film role, The Mind Snatchers (also known as The Happiness Cage, the name of the play upon which it is based) is a strange little film that, if ultimately unsuccessful, has some worthy pieces. The premise, though not original, is an intriguing one -- generally the debate over whether anyone has the right to "alter" another person's mind and specifically the suspicion that military forces engage in experiments in this area -- and that premise alone will be enough for many viewers. Others, however, are likely to be turned off by the very "stagey" feeling of the piece, the artificiality of much of the dialogue, the manipulative extremism of much of its arguments and a lack of reality where the character of the main scientist is concerned. Bernard Girard's direction is also problematic; it's fine, but the film cries out for a more creative approach. Fortunately, the very young Walken is on hand, carrying the film with an assurance that belies his limited cinematic experience. The actor has all the raw strength, nerve and defiance, as well as most crucially the huge reservoir of volcanic anger that the role calls for. Ronny Cox also does quite well as the "other" patient, and Bette Henritze impresses in a relatively minor role.