The Man with Two Lives
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Phil Rosen
Edward Norris
Marlo Dwyer
Eleanor Lawson
Frederick Burton
Addison Richards
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
At a party to announce the engagement of Philip Bennett to Louise Hammond, Dr. Clark discusses with psychology professor Toller his efforts to revive the dead. Toller insists that more than physical being is involved in life and that the real task of a doctor is to ease the pain of the living. Later, Clark mentions the coming execution of Al Panino, and they debate whether a revived man would necessarily return to his old way of life. When Phil is later killed in a car crash while driving home, his father Hobart begs Clark to revive his son. Despite the arguments raised by Toller, Clark agrees to try. Just at midnight, as Panino is being executed in prison, Phil is revived, but remembers nothing. After Clark suggests that Toller try to help Phil recall the past, Phil angrily orders Toller out of his room. During the coming days, everyone is shocked by the change in Phil's personality. One day, Phil leaves the house alone and takes a taxi to the poor side of town. He spots a woman in a bar and sits with her. She is Panino's former fiancée, Helen Lengel, and she admits that although she does not know Phil, she is strangely drawn to him. Later, Phil goes upstairs to the room where the Panino gang is meeting. After correctly giving the signal to enter, he announces his intent to take over the gang and kills the interim leader, Mitch Larsen. Little by little, Phil steps into Panino's shoes. Meanwhile, Phil's family is mystified by his behavior. After Hobart and Clark follow Phil to the bar, one of the gang learns Phil's identity. Then, when Helen reveals that she knows who he is, Phil strangles her. Toller tells the Bennetts that he believes Phil has Panino's soul. One of the gang then gives Phil's name to the police and discloses that the gang is planning a warehouse robbery that night and the police will be able to catch Phil red-handed. That night, however, Phil escapes during a shootout at the warehouse. Shortly after he returns home, the police arrive and Phil coolly announces that he has been there all night. Realizing that the policeman still suspects him, Phil shoots, but Clark grabs the policeman's gun and shoots Phil. Phil then wakes up, and the entire episode is revealed to have been a dream he had while in a coma after the car accident.
Director
Phil Rosen
Cast
Edward Norris
Marlo Dwyer
Eleanor Lawson
Frederick Burton
Addison Richards
Edward Keane
Hugh Sothern
Tom Seidel
Elliott Sullivan
Anthony Warde
Ernie Adams
Kenneth Duncan
George Dobbs
Lois Landon
Frances Richards
Jack Buckley
Jack Ingraham
George Kirby
Crew
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The working titles of this film were Shed No Tears and The Man With Too Many Faces. Actress Marlo Dwyer formerly acted under the name Wilma Francis; some contemporary sources list her under the earlier name.
