Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #99325 in DVD

Customer Reviews

Curtis looks terrific as Houdini, the showman and the self-promoter...
By the early 1900s, the extraordinary Houdini earned an international reputation for his theatrical tricks and daring feats of extrication from shackles, ropes, handcuffs, and Scotland Yard's jails...

The film depicts Houdini's memorable escape from any pair of handcuffs produced by the audience; the outdoor exhibition, when he allows himself to be hanged upside down from his ankles, suspended from the roof of a high building, in a strait jacket; and, the dramatic act, when he accepts to be shackled with irons and placed in a box that is locked, roped, and submerged in frozen waters...

The film also exposes Houdini's campaign against mind readers, fraudulent mediums and others who claim supernatural powers... Houdini shows a passionate talent for escapology and the film did much to create the 'Water Torture Cell' illusion...

With his pretty-boy looks, Tony Curtis handles the title role with passionate skill... His energetic performance, as the talented and motivated magician, is very good...

With good period atmosphere, but with more attention to romance than to interesting detail, the film is quite enjoyable and colorful...

Janet Leigh does a great job as Houdini's faithful wife...

I agree a new release is needed
"Houdini," has remained the quintessential movie on magic, despite the fact that it came out over 50 years ago. Often imitated, the film manages to recreate the life and times of the great magician in a powerful way. Although it is a fictionalized version of Harry Houdini's life, the charisma and chemistry of both Curtis and Leigh, as well as the beautiful cinematography and musical score, make the magic real. You feel like you know these people.

I would imagine that more magician's started their careers as a result of viewing of this film than for any other reason. It is long past time for a new release, with perhaps an extra commentary by Mr. Curtis -- who has remained a member of the society of magicians since filming.

New US release urgently needed
Presently this product is only available from Tiwanese imports. A new US release by the studio owing the rights in widescreen anamorphic is urgently overdue ! Perhaps even a delux edition.This movie is the grand daddy of of magician movies and can be considered to be the forerunner of The Prestige and The Illusionist . I hope more fans will log in to support me.