Two Heads on a Pillow is a chaotic courtroom romp

Is it worth your time?

Honestly, if you like old black-and-white comedies where everyone talks way faster than human beings actually do, you'll have a good time. If you want something grounded or modern, stay away. It’s light, it’s fluff, and it feels like it was made on a Tuesday afternoon just to fill a screen.

The whole thing hangs on the fact that our leads are divorced and currently fighting in court. It’s the kind of premise that feels like it’s been done a million times, sort of like the vibe in A Lady to Love but with more legal pads and shouting. Sometimes the bickering is fun. Sometimes it’s just noisy.

The courtroom drama is... well, it’s a choice

Watching these two lawyers argue is less about actual law and more about who can get the last word in. There’s a specific scene where the judge looks like he’s about to fall asleep, and honestly? I felt that in my soul. It reminded me a bit of the tension in The Two Edged Sword, though way less serious and way more annoying.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Two Heads on a Pillow (1934) through its definitive frames.

The supporting cast kind of just floats around in the background. Most of them have that look of, "Am I supposed to be doing something here?" It gives the whole movie this strangely hollow, stagey feel. It doesn't quite have the weight of The Avalanche, but it isn't trying to, either. It’s just trying to be breezy.

• The lead actress has this one expression when she’s annoyed that she uses for, like, half the movie.
• The lighting is surprisingly flat in the office scenes, but it picks up when they finally get out of the courtroom.
• I swear there’s a moment where a boom mic must have been visible, or maybe it was just a shadow playing tricks.

Some random thoughts

The pacing is all over the place. One minute they’re screaming at each other, the next they’re having a quiet moment that feels way too long. It’s like the editor just let the film run until the reel ended. It’s not quite as messy as The False Alarm, but it definitely needed a tighter cut.

There is a weird bit of dialogue near the middle that makes absolutely no sense, but everyone just keeps talking as if it’s profound. I chuckled. It’s the kind of goofy charm that keeps you watching even when you know you should probably go do the dishes instead.

It’s not a masterpiece. It’s not even trying to be one. It’s just a couple of people in nice suits fighting about their past while the audience gets to watch from the sidelines. 🍿