Many reviews that I've read point out that this was by far Houdini's best movie. Now, tonight, everyone who has access to TCM has the opportunity to see Houdini at his best.
The colors and imagery were captivating and still are.
#WATCH FREE TONY CURTIS HOUDINI FREE FULL#
Years ago there was a book called The World's Greatest Magicians by Hyla Clark, and within the chapter on Houdini, was this incredible full color poster of Houdini in a straitjacket, hanging upside down from a building. So, for me, the Magic Detective, I'll be seeing The Grim Game for the first time ever! It's pretty wild too considering one of my all time favorite Houdini posters, was actually a poster for this movie. I came really close a few months ago when Dick Brooks and Dorothy Dietrich had a showing in Pennsylvania, but even that I was unable to swing. Actually, I haven't seen it mainly because my performing schedule this year has not allowed me the free time to venture out and see it. I however, being the recluse that I am, have not seen it. Also, was glad to Dick Brookz and Dorothy Dietrich were mentioned during both showings on TCM and they also make it into the Special Thanks credits as The Houdini Museum!Ĭonvention. The music fit the action much better whereas in the other score the soundtrack became repetitive and at some points worked against the movie.īy the way, it was very cool seeing John Cox-Wild About Houdini mentioned in the Special Thanks column.
#WATCH FREE TONY CURTIS HOUDINI FREE MOVIE#
I enjoyed the second showing of the movie with the alternative soundtrack. If you've not seen The Grim Game, you should watch for a reply by TCM. Houdini came across quite natural and believable. I frankly thought Houdini was a fine actor, in fact, better than the other males in the film who were prone to a lot of over-acting. I also enjoyed the playful quality Houdini shows on film which is quite different from the often super serious images of him in photographs. Seeing Houdini though do his escapes is the best part of the film, and these include: handcuffs, jails, straitjackets and ropes. Pretty cool bit of sleight of gun there.Īnother scene that I got a kick out of is later in the film where Houdini takes a sword away from a fellow while they're fighting and Houdini throws the sword across the room which impales itself into a wall, right next to the face of a woman. Then Houdini with his hands up, has a pistol pop out of his sleeve and he overtakes the guard.
There is a scene where the security guard for the Cameron Estate shows up with a shotgun and corner's Houdini. There were a few moments in the movie I especially liked. The mid-air collision of the two planes was an accident that was captured on film and later incorporated into the story. But having watched the scene and realizing that these are propeller driven planes, whoever that stuntman was, sure was brave (or crazy). The one stunt he does not do is the mid-air exchange between the two airplanes. No safety line for ole Houdini, he's doing all his own stunts and they're quite amazing. Later in the movie he does another multi-handcuff escape and in addition frees himself from a jail cell by scaling down the wall. He wakes suddenly to find himself confined, but he frees himself to their astonishment.
Early in the film, some of his fellow reporters handcuff him while he is napping in the newsroom. Houdini does a lot of escapes in the movie too. But his three accomplices realize it's a great opportunity for each of them to take advantage of the situation and pin the blame on Hanford. Part of Hanford's plan was to end up in jail and later be exhonerated. But along the way, his plot goes horribly wrong and the three fellows who are in co-hoots with him, basically double cross him. The newspaper is struggling financially, and Hanford concocts a fake story idea to drum up some interest in the paper. Houdini plays a character called Harvey Hanford who is the star reporter for The Daily Call Newspaper.
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