The Great Houdini

I guess this version of the great Houdini's life is closer to the reality than the George Marchall's film, starring Tony Curtis, in the fifties, more Hollywood oriented feature, as you can guess. This is truly a TV material, faithful to the authentic facts. It is very pleasant to watch, especially Paul - Starsky - Michael Glaser, who is convincing at the most as the famous magician. Yes this film for TV industry is quite different from the Hollywood made movie; if you are interested by Harry Houdini, you need to watch both features. This one, though, is deeper, more emotional.

I'm lucky enough to say that I own a copy of this movie, taped very late one night a long time ago. Upon repeated viewings, the movie still stands the test of time! Paul Michael Glazer is excellent as Harry Houdini, but that's only the tip of the iceberg with this wonderful cast...Sally Struthers plays the role of Harry's wife (both young & old) very convincingly, Vivian Vance is perfect as the nurse (bringing quite a bit of humor to the role), Adrienne Barbeau is as sultry as ever but brings a lot of heart to her role, Bill Bixby - although in the movie only briefly - is very believable as the Medium trying to contact Houdini's ghost, hell - even Peter Cushing gets in on the action! The best role by far was played by the late Ruth Gordon, who should have gotten much more notoriety for her role as Houdini's mother...WHAT A CAST! Aside from all of that is a very interesting (and at times VERY scary) story not to mention a wonderful love story! Why isn't this movie out on DVD?!? If at all possible, do yourself a favor and watch this one if fortunate enough to get a chance! EXCELLENT IN EVERY WAY!

The film is more about seances, mediums, and communicating with the dead, than it is about great escapes. Under the influence of his overbearing Mother, Ruth Gordon, "The GreatHoudini", Paul Michael Glaser, has her shadow over him in both life and death. Once she passes on, Houdini is obsessed with trying to communicate with his Mother through seances and mediums. It is only after he is convinced that all efforts to speak with the dead are either through unhinged charlatans or out and out frauds, that he becomes a non believer, and sinks into the deepest of depressions. His long suffering wife, Sally Struthers, stands by him even as the religious right relentlessly attacks Houdini as a sort of anti-Christ. - MERK

Yes Because it heavily dwelt upon Houdini's failures as even my Mom told me about this as well as the way little kids felt about this.Also being so as the basic premise of the Movie. But It still has a great all star cast including Paul Michael Glaser of Starsky and Hutch;Sally Struthers of All in the family;and Vivian Vance of I Love Lucy ;The Lucy Show and that 1977 Special of The President of The USA.Bill Bixby of My Favorite Martian and The Incredible Hulk fame,Also Jack Carter. Truly, Stephen "Steve" G. Baer of Framingham,MA P.S. Like Magic my personal Family name of Ste was come up with by the gift of gab and when my older Brother J.Kevin couldn't say Stephen.Also of which is a result of why i couldn't be brought up to prefer Stephen.Yes this is also the way allot of people get there nicknames.Like my Late Great Grandmother Alice Bouchet when my father Jack couldn't Say Grammy and when he said Bambi it thusly stuck. When I told this guy Stephen "Steve" Nutile of how I got to be Ste he then told that he knew of some other that that happened to and that when one of these boys couldn't say Brothers they Became the Bubs.Yes these memories more than have just brought happy tears to my eyes.

This is one of those made for TV movies which sadly few people now will probably ever see, and that is quite a shame. No if it was released in theaters, it likely wouldn't have won any Oscars. But it was a very good movie with fine performances by Glaser, Struthers, et al and a well done telling of the Houdini story. God knows it's infinitely better than many, many movies I have seen in theaters (and that won Oscars). If you can somehow find or rent or get a copy of this, do it. If you like Houdini, you won't be disappointed.