The Thing with Two Heads

Rating:
Summary: "Do you have two of anything else?"
Review: Have you ever wondered how cool it would be to have a second head grafted on your body, right next to yours? I have, and so has Hollywood, the land of candy cane dreams and pennywhistle fantasies. Now I know some will say, 'Why do we need another two headed freak type movie? We've already got two entries in the `two-headed man' genre with The Manster (1962) and The Incredible 2-Headed Transplant (1971).' And I might agree, if not for the fact that neither of those two films really deals with the social ramifications that the AIP release of The Thing with Two Heads (1972) touches on, specifically what happens when you graft the head of a white bigot's head on a soul brother's body, the consequences being pure cinematic gold (well, okay, maybe not, but it's sure fun to watch).

The Thing with Two Heads was directed by Lee Frost, who also gave us such lurid exploitation pictures as The House on Bare Mountain (1962), The Defilers (1965), and Policewomen (1974) and stars Oscar winning actor Ray Milland (no, he didn't win the award for this film, but for the 1945 film The Lost Weekend) and former L.A. Rams football player Roosevelt `Rosey' Grier. With respect to Milland, it certainly is interesting, even a bit sad, to see a once great star wallow uncomfortably in number of trashy 70's B pics like this or Frogs (1972), just to name a few.

As the film starts, we are introduced to Dr. Maxwell Kirshner (Milland), a highly successful surgeon who runs a number of clinics specializing in human transplants. We also learn that Maxwell is terminally ill, and is conducting a secret experiment in his basement, one designed specifically in mind with the possibility of saving his life. If you guess it has something to do with transplanting his head onto another body, you'd be right. The experiment involves grafting a second head onto a gorilla (played by Oscar winning special effects makeup artist Rick Baker), and then removing the original head, seeing if the newly grafted head survives. The process takes about a month, allowing for the second head to grow strong enough assuming control of the host body. There's a pretty funny scene when the gorilla escapes, and terrorizes a convenience store before being recaptured.

Anyway, the gorilla experiment is a success, opening the door for a human head transplant, but Maxwell's condition is deteriorating rapidly, and he soon goes into a coma, but not before instructing his subordinates to follow through with his plans. Only problem is a compatible host/donor body is extremely difficult to come by...until inquires are made with the prison board, and a likely candidate is found in a supposedly wrongfully convicted black man on death row, Jack Moss (Grier), scheduled to be executed. Jack, seeing a chance to prolong his existence for another month, allowing for him to try and find the only man, who went missing at the time of his trial, and could clear him by supplying a credible alibi, accepts the deal. Thing is, Jack has no idea what's in store for him. So what happens when both men realize what has happened? And who gets to keep the body in the end?

The concept here is surely interesting, albeit deeply entrenched in the realm of fantasyland. I know not if this film was meant to be a serious science fiction picture or not, but given the smattering of comedy throughout, I am assuming the latter. Most of the truly funny scenes come from the situations arising after the surgical procedure, and Milland's character's expounding of bigoted statements. Racism in and of itself certainly isn't funny, but the level stupidity within Milland's character and his lack of control over the situation sure is...okay, the scenes where Grier is running around with a plastic head attached to his should did look fake, but I didn't focus on that too much. The scene that really sort of derailed the film from being better than it was, for me, was the extended chase scene on the motorbike. It was funny for like a few minutes, but then, probably due to the skimpiness of the plot, runs for much longer than it should have, lasted well over 15 minutes. My favorite scene was when Jack and Maxwell, on the lamb as Jack is still a convicted criminal, go to Jack's girlfriend's apartment (I love her absolute lack of shock at seeing this strange creature, and her utterance, `You get into more sh$t...'), and Jack tries to initiate intimacy with her, to which she expresses uneasiness with Maxwell's head right there. Jack then turns to Maxwell and states, `Now you know you got to go...'

The print used on this release looks really good, and is in wide screen format. The only special feature available is a theatrical trailer for the film, which is almost as funny as the film. Sure, this cheese may stink, but at least it goes easy, not taking itself too seriously. One thing I did learn from this film is that when one head of a two-headed man smokes a cigarette, the smoke will actually expel from the mouth of the head not smoking...seems logical to me...and pretty funny...

Cookieman108

Rating:
Summary: "Do you have two of anything else?"
Review: Have you ever wondered how cool it would be to have a second head grafted on your body, right next to yours? I have, and so has Hollywood, the land of candy cane dreams and pennywhistle fantasies. Now I know some will say, 'Why do we need another two headed freak type movie? We've already got two entries in the 'two-headed man' genre with The Manster (1962) and The Incredible 2-Headed Transplant (1971).' And I might agree, if not for the fact that neither of those two films really deals with the social ramifications that the AIP release of The Thing with Two Heads (1972) touches on, specifically what happens when you graft the head of a white bigot's head on a soul brother's body, the consequences being pure cinematic gold (well, okay, maybe not, but it's sure fun to watch).

The Thing with Two Heads was directed by Lee Frost, who also gave us such lurid exploitation pictures as The House on Bare Mountain (1962), The Defilers (1965), and Policewomen (1974) and stars Oscar winning actor Ray Milland (no, he didn't win the award for this film, but for the 1945 film The Lost Weekend) and former L.A. Rams football player Roosevelt 'Rosey' Grier. With respect to Milland, it certainly is interesting, even a bit sad, to see a once great star wallow uncomfortably in number of trashy 70's B pics like this or Frogs (1972), just to name a few.

As the film starts, we are introduced to Dr. Maxwell Kirshner (Milland), a highly successful surgeon who runs a number of clinics specializing in human transplants. We also learn that Maxwell is terminally ill, and is conducting a secret experiment in his basement, one designed specifically in mind with the possibility of saving his life. If you guess it has something to do with transplanting his head onto another body, you'd be right. The experiment involves grafting a second head onto a gorilla (played by Oscar winning special effects makeup artist Rick Baker), and then removing the original head, seeing if the newly grafted head survives. The process takes about a month, allowing for the second head to grow strong enough assuming control of the host body. There's a pretty funny scene when the gorilla escapes, and terrorizes a convenience store before being recaptured.

Anyway, the gorilla experiment is a success, opening the door for a human head transplant, but Maxwell's condition is deteriorating rapidly, and he soon goes into a coma, but not before instructing his subordinates to follow through with his plans. Only problem is a compatible host/donor body is extremely difficult to come by...until inquires are made with the prison board, and a likely candidate is found in a supposedly wrongfully convicted black man on death row, Jack Moss (Grier), scheduled to be executed. Jack, seeing a chance to prolong his existence for another month, allowing for him to try and find the only man, who went missing at the time of his trial, and could clear him by supplying a credible alibi, accepts the deal. Thing is, Jack has no idea what's in store for him. So what happens when both men realize what has happened? And who gets to keep the body in the end?

The concept here is surely interesting, albeit deeply entrenched in the realm of fantasyland. I know not if this film was meant to be a serious science fiction picture or not, but given the smattering of comedy throughout, I am assuming the latter. Most of the truly funny scenes come from the situations arising after the surgical procedure, and Milland's character's expounding of bigoted statements. Racism in and of itself certainly isn't funny, but the level stupidity within Milland's character and his lack of control over the situation sure is...okay, the scenes where Grier is running around with a plastic head attached to his should did look fake, but I didn't focus on that too much. The scene that really sort of derailed the film from being better than it was, for me, was the extended chase scene on the motorbike. It was funny for like a few minutes, but then, probably due to the skimpiness of the plot, runs for much longer than it should have, lasted well over 15 minutes. My favorite scene was when Jack and Maxwell, on the lamb as Jack is still a convicted criminal, go to Jack's girlfriend's apartment (I love her absolute lack of shock at seeing this strange creature, and her utterance, 'You get into more sh$t...'), and Jack tries to initiate intimacy with her, to which she expresses uneasiness with Maxwell's head right there. Jack then turns to Maxwell and states, 'Now you know you got to go...'

The print used on this release looks really good, and is in wide screen format. The only special feature available is a theatrical trailer for the film, which is almost as funny as the film. Sure, this cheese may stink, but at least it goes easy, not taking itself too seriously. One thing I did learn from this film is that when one head of a two-headed man smokes a cigarette, the smoke will actually expel from the mouth of the head not smoking...seems logical to me...and pretty funny...

Cookieman108

Rating:
Summary: Histerical Turkey
Review: How Ray Milland ever got involved in a turkey such as this is anyone's guess...

This is one of those films that should be shown with the silhouetted figures of Mystery Science 3000; instead, it is presumably so bad that more cash could be made by showing the stupid thing as-is.

What's worse is that (bad-acting aside), everyone is so serious in this film. And the plot is ridiculous. If you fancy a giggle or concrete-proof how a film should NOT be made, get this bargain for your collection.

Rating:
Summary: Best movie ever
Review: I just saw this movie on late night cable and I must say it's the best movie I've ever seen. Watch closely during the car chase and you will see they used the same crash scene for half of the accidents. They must have had no more than 4 cars during that scene, but they made it look like 20... And the movie ruled, can't wait for the DVD! And you can't beat the price

Rating:
Summary: The best bad movie of all time?
Review: I've seen lots of old B movies,for unitended comedy this movie is the king.You really get the feeling That Max (Ray Milland) genuinely hates Jack (Rosey Grier)Ray Milland plays a bigoted transplant surgeon who could give Archie Bunker a run for his money.Max Kirshner learns he's dying and figures he'll just attach his brilliant head to another mans body,unfortunately,his only suitable donor is a black convict,needless to say they're less then thrilled with this situation, look for the long-haired stuntman during the classic motorcycle chase scene,who looks nothing like Milland or Grier.Great movie not as bad as you might think.

Rating:
Summary: It's cheddar time!
Review: In the mood for something cheesy, I hit the local video rental place in search of an entertainingly-bad cult b-flick. 'The Thing With Two Heads' DVD had just recently hit the shelves, so I decided to take a gamble on it. I'd never seen it before, and until now it was almost impossible to find on video. Fortunately, I was in for a treat- it is indeed as silly and corny as I'd hoped it'd be!

A weird mix of horror, medical drama, blaxploitation, sci-fi, and chase/suspense, 'The Thing...' can't quite figure out exactly what it wants to be. Never the less, this little confusion is what adds to the movie's cheesy charm. Then of course there's the not-so-special effects: check out the scenes with the two-headed gorilla and our double-noggined marquee man as he (they?) outrun the cops on a dirt bike!

Grier & Ray Milland's on-screen chemistry worked about as well as oil & water, which would be an absolute disaster were this a good flick. But here, it's practically a necessity! Also, if you wanna experience the most incompetent police force since the Keystone Kops & the trashing of more fuzz cars than you'd see in an entire season of 'The Dukes of Hazzard', then the climactic chase scene through a grassy Southern California valley will surely make your day!

'Late

Rating:
Summary: Not a bad movie not a great one either
Review: Kind of a cool movie I thought most of it was funny total camp movie from the 70's not what I remembered but a good overall movie. Sound and video transfer was done good.

Rating:
Summary: Not a bad movie not a great one either
Review: Kind of a cool movie I thought most of it was funny total camp movie from the 70's not what I remembered but a good overall movie. Sound and video transfer was done good.

Rating:
Summary: Best movie ever
Review: Long unavailable except on late night TV and now on DVD, Ray Milland and Roosevelt Grier put their heads together to come up this politically correct movie before the term "politically correct".

It looks like director Lee Frost is challenging Rodger Corman for best director of a cultural movie. He may have a ways to go.

Roosevelt Grier wakes up face to face with Ray Milland who had his head grafted on to Rosey's body. Naturally one is a bigot and the other is a criminal. This looks so real that you would think not that Ray has a plastic head. They must explain this to friends and there is the obligatory chase scene. This is a must for motorcycle enthusiasts.

Lila (Chelsea Brown) wants to know if he has two of anything else.


Rating:
Summary: Pull your self together
Review: Long unavailable except on late night TV and now on DVD, Ray Milland and Roosevelt Grier put their heads together to come up this politically correct movie before the term "politically correct".

Looks like director Lee Frost is challenging Rodger Corman for best director of a cultural movie. He may have a ways to go.

Roosevelt Grier wakes up face to face with Ray Milland who had his head grafted on to Rosey's body. Naturally one is a bigot and the other is a criminal. This looks so real that you would thing that Ray has a plastic head. They must explain this to friends and there is the obligatory chase scene. A must for motorcycle enthusiasts.