The illusionist harry houdini and his wife and stage partner take the magic world by storm. Harry houdini was born in budapest, hungary on march 24, 1874 as erik weisz. By 2007, only the man from beyond had been commercially released on dvd with incomplete versions of the master mystery and terror island released by. This hungarianborn american escape artist knew how to draw attention, by claiming. There are many things one could say, magic, escapes, perseverance, hard work, determination, fame, etc. Houdini is a 1953 american technicolor film biography from paramount pictures, produced by george pal and berman swarttz, directed by george marshall, that stars then husbandandwife tony curtis and janet leigh. Im looking forward to the boston strangler which is due out soon. Its a twopart miniseries made for television, based upon the 1976 book houdini. But he ran away and joined the traveling show of dr.
Few performers have ever captured the public imagination like harry houdini. Harry houdini as harvey hanford thomas jefferson as dudley cameron ann forest as mary wentworth written by irvin willet story by arthur b. In 1876, mayer weisz immigrated to the united states with the dream of a better life. The great houdini is a 1976 american madefortelevision biographical film which is a fictionalized account of the life of the hungarianamerican escape artist and entertainer harry houdini. For over 30 years, harry houdini dazzled audiences with his bravura stunts and superhuman endurance. Houdini was a master magician as well as a superb escape artist. The films screenplay, based upon the life of magician and escape artist harry. The magical world of disney young harry houdini tv. Houdini, a 1993 sludge metal album by the melvins harry houdini song, a 1988 song by canadian band kon kan houdini song, a song by foster the people from the 2011 album torches houdini, a song by kate bush from the 1982 album the dreaming houdini, a 1962 song by walter brennan. Houdini turned out to be the first of five films they did together, six if you count the joint appearance they did in the all star pepe. While working as a coney island entertainer, harry houdini tony curtis meets and falls madly in love with bess janet leigh. Born a humble hungarian immigrant named erik weisz, houdini adrien brody is dazzled by a street magician and decides to take up the mysterious arts himself.
The great american escape artist and magician houdini immortalized by a memorable performance by tony curtis in. I thought tony caught the character of harry houdini just brilliantly and janet leigh caught the character of bess houdini just as brilliantly also. The show will feature commentary from magicians, engineers and illusionists, as well as a descendant of houdinis, in an attempt to uncover the science behind some of his most mindboggling stunts. The art direction was by albert nozaki and hal pereir. How did harry houdini escape from a locked russian prison carette. Tony curtis at the time, costars as houdinis wife bess, while angela clarke is seen as houdinis mother. This is at least the tenth biographical film in the past six decades featuring the master illusionist and escape artist harry houdini 18741926. The films music score was by roy webb and the cinematography by ernest laszlo. But to learn about magic takes much sacrifice and work. I have seen the tv film adrian brody and i thought it was brilliant but i love this tony curtis version of houdini as well. Harry 1 houdini was one of the most determined men in history. The life and times of escape artistmagician harry houdini.
Soon after, he leaves home and apprentices with a traveling magician, learning the tricks of the trade. Get an inside look at harry houdinis many attempts and successes at one of his signature acts, the water torture escape. Harry houdini, original name erik weisz, born march 24, 1874, budapest see researchers notedied october 31, 1926, detroit, michigan, u. His chemistry with his real wife janet leigh is palpable. Harry houdini, born as erik weisz, was the worlds most celebrated magician who enthralled audiences through his daring and unbelievable escape feats. In 1912 harry houdini was lowered into new yorks east river in a crate wrapped in chains. From his breakthrough in 1899 to his death in 1926, houdini was one of the worlds most popular entertainers, a true. Get an inside look at harry houdinis many attempts and successes at one of his signature acts, the straightjacket escape. Former deputy sheriff eddy craig right to travel traffic stop script washington state law duration. Harry houdini biography childhood, life achievements. Harry houdini 18741926 the great american escape artist and magician houdini immortalized by a memorable performance by tony curtis in the eponymous 1953 film was born erich weiss. From the opening credits, its obvious that this film is a mash. Harry houdini stars as quentin locke, a justice department agent who. The man from beyond silent 1922 harry houdini jane.
Houdini was probably the most famous escape artist in the world. See more ideas about the magicians, magic illusions and illusions. I wonder if this is the film he and janet lee meet and married. Harry houdini march 24, 1874 october 31, 1926 was a hungarian born american magician and escapologist. Home trending history get youtube premium get youtube tv best of youtube music sports gaming. The great american escape artist and magician houdini immortalized by a memorable performance by tony curtis in the eponymous 1953 film was born erich weiss on march 24, 1874 in budapest, hungary, though he often gave his. Will he be up to becoming the greatest magicien of all times. He found work as a rabbi and changed his last name to weiss. Harry houdini 18741926 american experience official. He was one of six children and the son of rabbi mayer weisz and his second wife, cecilia steiner.
Houdini then springs fully formed as the most famous man in america. Harry houdini as quentin locke marguerite marsh as eva brent intolerance floyd buckley as q the automaton written by arthur b. Harry houdini was born on march 24, 1874 in budpest, hungary, with the name of ehrich weisz. I read an interesting incident from his life this week. Im sure youve all heard of the great illusionist of yesteryear harry houdini. Harry houdini this is at least the tenth biographical film in the past six decades featuring the master illusionist and escape artist harry houdini 18741926. Harry a young boy of ten, dreams of becomming a magicien ever since he was very young. We found it tipped into a book in his vast collection at the library of congress now closed because a few anarchist congressmen cant handle the fact that they lost fair and square via the democratic process, but dont get us started. Films of harry houdini the master mystery 1919 cast. Houdini was a master magician as well as a fabulous locksmith. Houdini doubles as an engaging biopic as a cute romance of this devoted couple. Les derniers secrets dhoudini discovery science france. The set includes four of the five silent films houdini made between 1918 and 1923, and fragment from the still lost the grim game featuring that films most amazing moment, a. This amazing collection is a dream come true for the houdini buff.
Harry houdini quiz to dazzle audiences is the passion of many different performers. With wil wheaton, jeffrey demunn, kerri green, barry corbin. He was born in budapest to jewish parents and was named erik weisz, but changed his name to harry houdini when he became a. This highly fanciful but immensely entertaining biopic stars tony curtis as legendary magicianescapeartist harry houdini.
Harry houdini was the master of publicity, and these rare newsreel films show. Film of houdinis brother hardeen and audio track of a 1939 radio interview. The hungarianborn escape artist jumped off bridges while handcuffed and wearing leg irons, slithered out of sealed milk cans filled. He is charming and charismatic while delivering sweet dialogue and fun tricks alike. Harry houdini stars as harvey hanford, a reporter who is framed for. This passion has caused many of these individuals to come up with wild and innovative ideas for entertainment in order in rake in crowds and stand out amongst the sea of their fellows. The mystery of harry houdinis lost film new york post. The great houdini is a 1976 american madefor television biographical film which is a fictionalized account of the life of the hungarianamerican escape artist and entertainer harry houdini.
I hope they make another houdini film with tom hardy as the lead. Houdini traces the rise and fall of americas most famous magician of all time. It stars johnathon schaech, stacy edwards, paul sorvino and david warner. With johnathon schaech, stacy edwards, paul sorvino, rhea perlman. Tony curtis gives the performance of his career as harry houdini. He also investigated fake spiritualists and was a skeptic. The film follows houdinis progress from sideshow entertainer to highpriced. Back then, young and in love, tony and janet function beautifully as a team as harry houdini and his beloved wife bess. Watch houdini american experience official site pbs. Apr 7, 2020 the legendary magician and escape artist. Harry houdini what comes to mind when one thinks of harry houdini.
Grimaldi, where he learned the tricks of a magician and a. Houdinis last secrets, a docuseries about famed magician harry houdinis methods, is coming to science channel. The real story of how houdini found success a key component in the life story of any entertainer is completely thrown out in favor of a single johnson county jail break in 1896. The film was written and directed by melville shavelson and features paul michael glaser starsky and hutch and sally struthers all in the family and originally. The films screenplay, based upon the life of magician and escape artist harry houdini, is by philip yordan, based on the book houdini by harold kellock. Wikimedia commons has media related to harry houdini. See more ideas about the magicians, old photos and vintage photos. This biographical movie depicts the youth of the magician harry houdini 1874 1926. As a boy his name was eric weiss and his father wanted him to become a locksmith.
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