Chase_Witherspoon Engaging tale of transmigration of the soul, which apparently afflicts a young man after he's revived from death following a fatal automobile accident. Just so happens he's been resurrected the same night as a notorious and unscrupulous killer is executed - his subsequent criminal behaviour concerning to not only his family, oblivious to his double life, but also his new gang, who live in fear of his ruthless streak.Norris is pretty chilling at times as the cold-blooded killer, who nonchalantly offs just about anyone who presents a risk to his authority. Keane, Burton and Sothern play the trio of elders who presided over his ill-fated re-animation, now desperately trying to understand the reasoning for his out-of-character behaviour, and mysterious disappearances. Addison Richards has a neat little side dish of a role playing a savvy detective with whom Norris shares a scene in which the two trade feigned small talk, in a game of brinkmanship till just one is left standing.It's a surprisingly taut, violent and compelling picture the only real issue I took was with the dual ending, the almost post-script conclusion of which, in my opinion, was unnecessary and retrograde. Listen out for some memorable dialogue too like "he lets his rod off at every opportunity and doesn't care in which direction it's pointed". We're talking about a revolver obviously, but it still cracks me up.

kidboots "Black Friday" did this plot so much better, which is why it is remembered and "The Man With Two Lives" is just a forgotten potboiler. "Shed No Tears" was it's working title and it would have been a better one as he was a thoroughly evil character for most of the film.Philip Bennett is newly engaged when he is involved in a traffic accident. Dr. Clark (Edward Keene) has been involved in some experimental operations on animals - bringing them back from the dead. His colleagues urge him to try his operation on Phillip, who has died. As he is operating , a dangerous criminal, Wolf Panino, is going to the electric chair and trans migration of the soul occurs. When Phillip awakes from the operation, he has the soul of Panino. He is a changed person, he is rude to his family and starts to hang around Panino's old haunts. He takes over Wolf's old gang - going by the name of Philip Bennett, he also romance's Wolf's former girlfriend - who smells a rat. Bennett, as Wolf, is determined to even up scores and starts to eliminate his enemies.Bodies pile up, including the girlfriend and a policeman, then his own family begins to fall victim.But - I HATE those "bad dream" movies - you always feel let down. This film would have been better if he had stayed in character as Panino and had a final shoot out. Eleanor, his fiancée, would have ended up sadder but wiser with his brother. Edward Norris, the star, had a big career mostly in B movies.Not really recommended.

classicsoncall With the opening scene, you had to believe this was going to me a moody and atmospheric sci-fi/horror thriller. I was really impressed with all the lab equipment and scientific looking gizmos, probably the best I've seen besides the original "Frankenstein" movie. Dr. Richard Clark (Edward Keane) has been experimenting in the revival of life after death, and it really looked like it was going to be his story. Instead, we have a quick introduction into the theory of the 'transmigration of the soul', and the picture takes a sharp one hundred eighty degree turn and winds up being a gangster flick. Not all that bad mind you, but you have to get beyond a lot of the credibility defying gaps that keep the picture moving forward. Like the way Philip Bennett (Edward Norris) moves in on the Panino gang, shoots Mitch Larsen (Jack Buckley), and just takes over without any of the other gang members batting an eye. Or when mobster Eric (Elliot Sullivan) seeks out Chief of Detectives George Bradley (Addison Richards) to rat out Bennett. It's made all the more plausible by the way the whole thing ends, which I must admit I usually find to be very frustrating. But this time I was willing to cut it some slack because that's the only way the story wound up making any sense to me. Catch this one as an entry in the twenty movie/five DVD package from Mill Creek Entertainment as part of their 'Beyond The Grave' collection. It's an entertaining story that keeps you interested in what will happen next, even when you figure out it can't be happening.

sol1218 **SPOILERS** Predictable movie, up until the final few minutes, about a major change of life, or soul, of a decent person about to be married to his childhood sweetheart. Who turns into a cold blooded serial murder due to a sudden switch in personalities. Having studied and put into practice his theories of life after death in the laboratory, with dogs and cats, Dr. Dick Clark,Edward Keane, thinks that he can do the same thing with human beings. Fascinated with convicted serial murderer Wolf Panino who's due to be executed by the state Dr. Clark asks him if he can donate his body to him or science after he's put away for good by a 2,000 volt jolt of electricity. But the unfeeling for the future of humanity and arrogant Panino told the good doctor to take a hike and get lost.Attending a party at the home of his good fiend Hobart Bennett, Fredrick Burton, who's son Philip, Edward Norris, is soon to marry young and pretty Louise Hammond played by a very young looking but, 67 years old if you believe she was born in 1875, grandmotherly Eleanor Lawson. Taking a ride home in his car it seems like Philip has been driving for some time as he swerves to avoid a truck and crashes right in front of his father's house with his head smashing against the car's dashboard. Not bothering to get Philip to the hospital Mr. Bennett together with Dr. Clark and Prof.Toller, Hugh Sothern, take him into the house only to find out that he died of shock. Hobart pleading that Dr. Clark save his son's life through the use of Soul Transmigration, that he perfected in his laboratory, has the doctor do just that! But what nobody knew at the time was that the convicted killer Wolf Panino was being executed at that very moment and his soul was "transmigrated" into Philips body! This resulting in the resurrection of the dead murderer. You can easily imagine the rest of the movie with Philip, now controlled by the dead murderer Panino personality or soul, going back to his old hunting grounds in the city slums and taking control of his old gang. After offing it's new leader Mitch Larson, Jack Buckley. Back home Philip's family and fiancée are shocked by the sudden change of his personality. It's isn't until his father and Prof. Toller follow him to his gang headquarters at the Sporadys Bar and Grill that they finally realize just who Philip really is. Philip goes back to the old ways of Wolf Panino murdering anyone who gets in, or tries to get out of, his way including his old girlfriend Helen, Marlow Dwyer. Helen finds out that the new gang leader is from the richer part of town and that his father,Mr. Hobart Bennett, is a major banker in NYC. Continuing on his crime spree Philip is cornered in his father place, who was throwing a big birthday party for him, and is forced to reveal his "secret identity" after blasting away a cop Det. Bradley, Addison Richards, who invited himself to the party; as he was out looking for Philip after him and his gang committed a warehouse robbery in the neighborhood. The surprise ending made the movie worth while since it help explain all the ridicules incidents that happened in it as just being a figment of one's imagination after he hit his head a bit too hard.