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Houdini (1953)

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Top Critics

Average Rating: 6.1/10
Reviews Counted: 12
Fresh: 10 | Rotten: 2

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Release Date: Jul 2, 1953 Limited

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Average Rating: 3.5/5
User Ratings: 535

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Movie Info

This highly fanciful but immensely entertaining biopic stars Tony Curtis as legendary magician/escape-artist Harry Houdini. Janet Leigh, Mrs. Tony Curtis at the time, co-stars as Houdini's wife Bess, while Angela Clarke is seen as Houdini's mother. The film follows Houdini's progress from sideshow entertainer to high-priced prestidigitator, and also touches upon his fascination with the occult--and his efforts to expose phony mediums. Philip Yordan's script (based on a book by Harold Kellock)

Unrated, 1 hr. 47 min.

Drama, Classics

Directed By: George Marshall

Written By: Philip Yordan, Harold Kellock

In Theaters: Jul 2, 1953 Limited

On DVD: Jun 3, 2008

Paramount Home Video

Houdini Trailer & Photos

Cast

Tony Curtis
Harry Houdini
Janet Leigh
Bess Houdini
Torin Thatcher
Otto
Angela Clarke
Mrs. Weiss
Douglas Spencer
Simms
Stefan Schnabel
Prosecuting Attorney
Sig Rumann
Schultz
Ian Wolfe
Malue
Michael Pate
Dooley
Connie Gilchrist
Mrs. Schultz
Malcolm Lee Beggs
Warden
Frank Orth
White-haired Man
Barry Bernard
Inspector
Oliver Blake
Billy Bletcher
Italian Basso
Cliff Clark
Edward Clark
Doorman
Fred Essler
Official-Looking Man
Arthur E. Gould-Porter
Alhambra Manager
Alec Harford
Assistant
Grace Hayle
Woman Who Screams
Harry Hines
Frank Jaquet
Foreman
Tor Johnson
Strong Man
Lyle Latell
Calcott
Lewis Martin
Editor
Torben Meyer
Headwaiter
Mary Murphy
Tudor Owen
Blacksmith
Mabel Paige
Medium
Richard Shannon
Miner
Ern� Verebes
Prof. Allegari
Anthony Warde
MC
Peter Baldwin
Fred
Elsie Ames
Joanne Gilbert
Girl
Lawrence Ryle
German Judge
Sig Ruman

Critic Reviews for Houdini

All Critics (15) | Top Critics (2) | Fresh (10) | Rotten (2) | DVD (2)

There's enough whimsy on display to make the film a pleasant charmer.

July 11, 2008 Full Review Source: DVDTalk.com

| Comment

David Cornelius

DVDTalk.com

Colorful, but full of falsehoods, story of Houdini. Curtis is pretty good.

March 23, 2008 Comment

Steve Crum

Video-Reviewmaster.com

Accuracy, be darned; this is pure entertainment bio-pic with Tony Curtis at the height of his charismatic matinee idol period; plus working with wife Janet Leigh isn't bad either.

February 25, 2004 Comment

Bob Bloom

Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)

Standard issue star vehicle biopic.

February 12, 2004 Comment

Ken Hanke

Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

O filme se preocupa mais em mostrar o relacionamento de Houdini com a esposa do que sua obsess�o por escapadas. De todo modo, Curtis est� muito bem e convence como m�gico.

July 25, 2003 Comment

Pablo Villaca

Cinema em Cena

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Audience Reviews for Houdini

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An interesting movie about the great magician Houdini, but it could have been better, maybe more biographical?

September 5, 2010

AJ Verser

Super Reviewer

Highly fictionalized but very entertaining story of the great magician. Curits acquits himself well in the lead and Janet is lovely.

July 16, 2009

jay nixon

Super Reviewer

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