Two on a Guillotine Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		0.5
Overall		3.0

Two on a Guillotine Blu-ray Movie Review

Seven Nights at Freddy's.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III February 5, 2020

William Conrad's Two on a Guillotine is an efficient little production that comes off a bit softer than its name implies. Our story follows the foxy but fickle Cassie Duquesne (Connie Stevens), whose father "Duke" (Cesar Romero) passes away years after the disappearance of mom Melinda (also Stevens). As the double-casting implies, Cassie's the spitting image of her mother but couldn't be more different than dearly departed dad, an eccentric stage magician who chooses a glass-topped casket for his own funeral. The shenanigans don't stop there: to inherit his fortune, Cassie must spend seven nights in his spooky old mansion. It's exactly the kind of trick he'd pull from beyond the grave...except Cassie, along with her smitten new friend Val Henderson (Dean Jones), aren't fully convinced he's still six feet under.

First things first: it's important to note that Two on a Guillotine isn't a fright fest filled with blood and unpleasantness. While it still serves up a few scares along the way, it's more tame than terrifying which allows smoother entry into the family drama that unfolds along the way. (Drama that even includes former manager Buzz Sheridan and housekeeper Dolly Bast, who are left entirely out of the will but show up during her week-long stay.) Meanwhile, Melinda's presence hangs over the mansion as much as her husband; though Cassie never knew either parent well due to being raised by an aunt in Wisconsin, she's still spooked by the occasional paintings, props, and practical jokes sprinkled throughout the creaky old house. Naturally, bold Val brushes off the scares as simple parlor tricks -- and while a more cynical person might view his cozy-up behavior as an easy payday, the affection for Cassie seems genuine enough. But he's hiding his own secret: she has no idea that Val's a local reporter who just showed up to get a good story.

Although a few sharper jolts may have gone a long way, Two on a Guillotine serves up a good atmosphere and several great performances that hide its meager resources. I'll also admit that the payoff isn't quite as strong as it could've been: even if you don't predict the outcome well in advance, the final twist doesn't quite have the necessary power to justify all the simmering suspense that surrounds what comes before. It's still good for a weekend watch (matinee or twilight), and I'd venture that anyone who saw Two on a Guillotine in their younger years will be eager to revisit a show that probably carries its fair share of nostalgia. Warner Archive Collection makes the decision easy for die-hard fans with this new Blu-ray, which offers a rock-solid A/V presentation that supports the film's atmosphere nicely.

A word about spoilers, without actually containing any: Those entirely new to Two on a Guillotine should avoid reading the back cover synopsis on Warner Archive's Blu-ray (or even the film's Wikipedia entry), which clumsily gives away a major plot point that isn't fully resolved until the film's closing moments. Our synopsis in the "Overview" tab, which originally mirrored that back cover text, has been changed to prevent any more potential spoiling.

Two on a Guillotine Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Two on a Guillotine makes great use of its interior sets, creating an effective mood that's aided by strong shadows and interesting textures. Both hold up exceptionally well on Warner Archive's reliably good 1080p transfer, which presents the film in its original 2.39:1 aspect ratio...even if its subject matter, shooting locations, and framed compositions don't always feel like the perfect fit. Close-ups reveal a fittingly tight image that's very stable and film-like, while the regular appearance of light to medium grain ensures that it hasn't been marred by excessive noise reduction. Dirt and debris are basically absent, as are common compression-related issues like banding or unsightly artifacts. Overall, it's just another crisp and pleasing transfer from one of the most dependable home video studios in the business.

Two on a Guillotine Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

This surprisingly full and robust DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track features excellent fidelity and a consistently strong presence overall. Dialogue is cleanly recorded and very easy to follow, with Max Steiner's score and the background effects blending just about perfectly. One short scene at a raucous music club (during Cassie and Val's "day out" is mixed especially well, capturing the lively performance and careful balance of dialogue that, while drowned out, is still very much intelligible. No obvious defects (aside from one issue, described below) were detected along the way, rounding out what is very much an enjoyable and well-done audio presentation. Optional English (SDH) subtitles are included during the film, which are formatted perfectly and fit well within the film's 2.35:1 aspect ratio.

NOTE: Two short scenes contain an anomaly where a few lines of dialogue sound slightly clipped, almost as if the ADR or on-set recordings play at a slightly faster speed. The lines in question occur right after the 78-minute mark and are spoken by Duquesne's manager Buzz Sheridan (Parley Baer) and reporter Joe Russell (Del Moore, uncredited). This issue was also present on WAC's 2010 DVD, so I will assume it is a part of the original source material.

Two on a Guillotine Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Two on a Guillotine arrives in a standard keepcase with poster-themed cover artwork and no inserts. As expected, on-disc extras are minimal -- WAC's 2010 "remastered" DVD didn't even include a trailer. Speaking of which...

• Theatrical Trailer (2:28) - This vintage piece really plays up the film's scares -- it's kind of deceptive, but still a fun little piece of marketing. Also available on YouTube if you haven't seen it.

Two on a Guillotine Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

William Conrad's Two on a Guillotine is a low-budget but efficient horror-drama that definitely favors the latter, serving up a few decent chills without going completely dark. It's one case where the creative team's limited resources actually worked to their advantage, as the "haunted" mansion -- where at least two-thirds of the film takes place, if not more -- is shot in a way that feels simultaneously cavernous and claustrophobic. As long as you don't go in expecting an full-on scare fest, you'll likely enjoy yourself. Warner Archive's solid Blu-ray serves up a terrific A/V presentation that supports its atmosphere well, although the extras leave something to be desired. Those with fond (or frightening) memories of Two on a Guillotine should consider this recommended, while newcomers may want to try before they buy.