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:

DANGER: HEALTH WARNING: Watching This Movie May Cause Severe Brain Damage

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Kathleen Turner's character, Dolores Benedict, had the same last name as actor Paul Benedict, who played Dr. Necessiter's butler.

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Goofs

In the credits, Stepfanie Kramer's first name is misspelled "Stephanie".

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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

Spoofs Body Heat (1981)

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

One of the most underrated comedies of all time

An extremely funny movie, it deserves to be up there with Airplane! and The Naked Gun in the best 'stupid-funny' films of all time.

Steve Martin excels as the surgeon who falls in love with a dis-membered brain, and Kathleen Turner is perfect for the heartless gold-digger wife role she is given.

I am amazed at how many people have never heard of this film, let alone seen it. Go watch it now - I guarantee you'll be quoting it for months.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 June 1983 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Man with Two Brains

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,498,931, 5 June 1983

Gross USA:

$10,353,438

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$10,353,438

Company Credits

Production Co:

Aspen Film Society, Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1