The Man with Two Heads

Disgraced from medical school, Dr. Jekyll, along with a handful of students, attempts to visualize the evil areas in the human brain. When he succeeds, he and his assistant Jack Smithers develop a tincture that neutralizes these evil areas. This success was confirmed in animal experiments and Jekyll now wants to prove it on humans. At the engagement party with the pretty Mary Ann Marsden, he learns from her father that the medical association will under no circumstances allow Jekyll to experiment on humans, as they consider his theories too far-fetched. Completely upset, Jekyll dares to experiment on himself, unaware that Jack has altered the formula in a laboratory accident. Jekyll transforms into the sadist Danny Blood, who finds pleasure in abusing and killing women. After the effects of the drug wear off, Jekyll still seems possessed by Blood....

Andy Milligan creates his own version of the story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde from the motifs of Robert Louis Stevenson's novel The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The latter transforms into a cold-blooded sadist who takes particular pleasure in mistreating the bar singer April Connors. As usual from Milligan, the film was shot on a small budget with all the known flaws of his films. Be it the poor camerawork where sometimes the relevant people are not in the picture or shots that suddenly become blurry or the unconvincing sets and costumes. The gore effects are crude and were probably realized mainly through butchery waste. At least Denis DeMarne is surprisingly good as Dr. Jekyll. The inappropriate film title comes about because producer William Mishkin wanted to swim in the wake of the success of The Incredible 2-Headed Transplant and The Thing With Two Heads.

Director's Cut released on Blu-ray by Severin

The film was first released by Code Red on Blu-ray on 29 November 2014. On 29 September 2021, Severin released The Dungeon Of Andy Milligan Collection, a box set containing 13 of his films. Severin had access to the 16mm negatives and so the set includes never-before-released extended versions of some of the films. The Director's Cut of The Man with Two Heads runs a scant eight minutes longer than the Theatrical Version, however, the Theatrical Version contains some gory scenes that are missing from the Director's Cut. The Director's Cut contains two longer plot scenes in which Jekyll argues with Mary Ann's father and a subsequent reunion with Mary Ann in which she assures him that she stands by him. The scenes underline the motivation of Jekyll to dare the self-experiment a bit more, but are not absolutely necessary. Here and there, the violent scenes were expanded a bit in the Director's Cut. The Theatrical Version in turn contains other extensions of violent scenes that are missing in the Director's Cut. This is curious, because in other titles from the box like Torture Dungeon (see comparison) or Bloodthirsty Butchers (see comparison), the Director's Cut had no missing parts.

Anyone interested in Andy Milligan's films should definitely get the box by Severin. The box is very lovingly designed and many of the films are available in extended versions for the first time. The picture quality is excellent and the included book by Stephen Thrower rounds out the release nicely. The +/- $150 price tag on this is more than justified considering where the price range was for previous releases.

Picture Comparison:

Code Red Blu-ray:

Severin Blu-ray:

Runtimes:

Code Red Blu-ray: 80:44 min.
Severin Blu-ray: 88:38 min.

Comparison between the Theatrical Version (US Blu-ray by Code Red) and the Director's Cut (US Blu-ray by Severin).

[00:00:06][00:00:06]

Alternate title insert. The Theatrical Version on the right and the Director's Cut on the left.

No time difference


[00:02:30][00:02:31]

In the Director's Cut, missing is how the doctor stabs the prostitute several times and holds her intestines in his hand.

Theatrical Version: 5 sec.


[00:02:47][00:02:44]

At the end of the scene in which the prostitute is murdered, the Director's Cut shows another shot in which the doctor runs off with her severed head.

DC: 2 sec.


[00:14:24][00:14:22]

The demonstration in front of the students continues earlier in the Director's Cut. The saw can still be seen in the dead man's head before it is pulled out.

DC: 3 sec.


[00:18:09][00:18:09]

The head cut off by Jack can be seen earlier.

DC: 1 sec.


[00:18:12][00:18:13]

The Theatrical Version shows at the end of the autopsy how the students cut off the hand and cut open the abdomen to remove the intestines.

Theatrical Version: 9 sec.


[00:26:37][00:26:30]

The dinner conversation continues in the Director's Cut. Jekyll asks Mr. Marsden what was up with Dr. Hanely's theory that suggested sterilization at birth to reduce infant mortality. One of the main reasons for baby deaths, according to his research, was unwashed midwives. Two weeks later, Mr. Marsden's friend Chumley had exactly the same theory. Mr. Marsden says that this is coincidence. Jekyll considers this to be nonsense, but apologizes for being so quick-tempered. Mary Ann says that she has tickets to the opera, but Mr. Marsden and Oliver already have other plans. Jekyll says that he can't either, as he is attending a lecture with his students. Mrs. Marsden says to Mary Ann that she will now have to return the tickets since they have no male company. Mary Ann jokes that she could have guessed this. Mrs. Marsden makes a toast about the engagement of Jekyll and Mary Ann. Mr. Marsden asks what he is going to do. Jekyll says that he will continue his experiments after the wedding. Oliver explains that Jekyll is working to remove evil from man. Mr. Marsden asks if he has any proof of his theory. Jekyll says that he has only done animal experiments so far, but has already made an inquiry to a prison. Mr. Marsden explains that he has already spoken to the medical board and they will not allow human experiments based on the crude theories. Jekyll jumps to his feet, realizing now that Mr. Marsden is obstructing him. He wants to do the experiments on his own and doesn't care about the medical board. He then leaves the room. Mary Ann says to her father that she stands by Jekyll and he had no right to do such a thing.

Jekyll goes home and knocks on his door. His servant is surprised that he comes home so early. Jekyll explains that he had an argument with Mr. Marsden. In the future, he intends to decline any invitation to Mr. Marsden's house. Jekyll goes to the library, and Mary Ann knocks on the door. The servant lets her in. Mary Ann tells him that she will go to Jekyll without notice. She goes to his armchair where he is sitting. Jekyll says to Mary Ann that their wedding will not work. Mary Ann says that he should not care about her father and he will not get out of the marriage. Jekyll says that it is also about him, since he is not well respected. Mary Ann then says that she comes from a family of doctors and knows what that means. The two fall into each other's arms and kiss. Mary Ann assures him that she will stand by him. Again, the two kiss.

DC: 8:04 min.


[00:47:25][00:55:21]

Jekyll goes on to tell his students that Wolfe informed him that the killer had decorated the victim's body with his intestines after the murder.

A jumpcut is caused by the cut in the Theatrical Version.

DC: 9 sec.


[01:00:26][01:08:30]

After Jack is murdered by Jekyll, the fire is seen longer in the Theatrical Version. Jekyll pulls up the intestines of Jack.

Theatrical Version: 7 sec.


[01:02:43][01:10:41]

The DC continues to show Jekyll hitting April with the belt.

A jumpcut is caused by the cut in the Theatrical Version.

DC: 4 sec.


[01:04:19][01:12:20]

In the Director's Cut, the naked man chained to the wall is seen longer. He receives a blow to the butt with the belt.

DC: 4 sec.


[01:04:28][01:12:33]

In the same sequence, the Theatrical Version shows scenes in which various men are abused. For example, one is whipped and another has his eyes gouged out.

Theatrical Version: 19 sec.


[01:04:52][01:12:38]

The Director's Cut shows longer as the naked woman approaches Jekyll.

DC: 6 sec.


[01.16:49][01:24:40]

Jekyll takes April's severed head up in the Director's Cut. He puts out the lamp before running away.

DC: 5 sec.