The Man with Two Brains (1983)

A brain surgeon marries a femme fatale, causing his life to turn upside down. Things go more awry when he falls in love with a talking brain.

Director:

Carl Reiner

Writers:

George Gipe, Steve Martin

Stars:

Steve Martin, Kathleen Turner, David Warner

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Steve Martin	...	Dr. Michael Hfuhruhurr
Kathleen Turner	...	Dolores Benedict
David Warner	...	Dr. Alfred Necessiter
Paul Benedict	...	Butler
Richard Brestoff	...	Dr. Pasteur
James Cromwell	...	Realtor
George Furth	...	Timon
Peter Hobbs	...	Dr. Brandon
Earl Boen	...	Dr. Felix Conrad
Bernie Hern	...	Gun Seller
Francis X. McCarthy	...	Olsen (as Frank McCarthy)
William Traylor	...	Inspector
Randi Brooks	...	Fran
Bernard Behrens	...	James Gladstone
Russell Orozco	...	Juan

Storyline

Recently widowed Doctor Michael Hfuhruhurr, the world's greatest neurosurgeon, injures Dolores Benedict in a car accident. He operates on her and saves her life using a technique of his own invention: cranial screw-top brain entry. As Benedict recovers, Hfuhruhurr falls in love with her and they are soon married. However, Benedict is only interested in Hfuhruhurr's money and Hfuhruhurr still yearns for his previous wife. They travel to Vienna to attend a medical conference where Hfuhruhurr finally divorces Dolores, meets a mysterious Doctor Alfred Necessiter and becomes entangled in a series of murders committed by The Elevator Killer.

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Plot Keywords:

brain | serial killer | female frontal nudity | breasts | prostitute | 

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Taglines:

Steve Martin Is A World Famous Surgeon. He Invented Screw Top, Zip Lock Brain Surgery. Trust Him.

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 June 1983 (USA)

Also Known As:

El doctor erótico

Filming Locations:

Castle Green Apartments - 99 S. Raymond, Pasadena, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,498,931, 5 June 1983

Gross USA:

$10,100,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Aspen Film Society, Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of the few Warner Bros. films to retain it's original era logo on it's Blu ray release. Most Warner Bros. releases plaster over the older logos with the 1998 WB shield, but this film has the 1972-1984 logo at the beginning and end of the feature.

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Goofs

When still "unconscious" Dolores grabs hold of Dr. Hfuhruhurr's belt [with her LEFT hand] and a nurse walks in on them, Dr. Hfuhruhurr covers by incorrectly stating that the grip strength in her RIGHT arm is much better (lifting her left arm), but the left is still useless (lifting her right arm).

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Quotes

[first lines]
Dr. Michael Hfuhruhurr: [in surgery] Check the art line. You're hyperventilating the patient.
Anaestheseologist: No doctor.
Dr. Michael Hfuhruhurr: Ready the bone wax. Metzenbaum scissors.
Surgery Nurse: Metzenbaum scissors.
Dr. Michael Hfuhruhurr: [meowing] Get that cat out of here.
Anaestheseologist: Yes sir.
Dr. Michael Hfuhruhurr: Ready to close. Remove the Wietlander Retractor.
Surgery Nurse: Pre-closure doctor.
Dr. Michael Hfuhruhurr: Remove the rating clip, for God's sake!

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Crazy Credits

At the end is shown: Merv Griffin did not turn himself in and is at large. If you have any information as to his whereabouts, call your local theatre manager

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Alternate Versions

The VHS version is missing the scene where the realtor is leading Michael around the cottage with Ann in the cat carrier, and he's repeating everything the realtor says so Ann will know what is being said.

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Connections

Referenced in Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession (2004)

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Soundtracks

Under the Bamboo Tree
(uncredited)
Music by James Weldon Johnson and Rosamond Johnson
Lyrics by Bob Cole
Performed by Steve Martin and Sissy Spacek

User Reviews

serious laughs

The Man With Two Brains is definitely one of Martin's best films to date. This film makes you laugh from the git-go, and does not let up until the credits are rolling. Ok...ok...the film is pretty stupid, but it was meant to be that way. Ok...ok...the film had a weak plot...who cares! Martin put on a great comedy act, his best since The Jerk. I've seen this film five times and still laugh every time.