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Houdini (1953) [VHS]
 
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Houdini (1953) [VHS] (1953)

Starring: Tony Curtis, Janet Leigh Director: George Marshall Rating: NR (Not Rated) Format: VHS Tape
4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (27 customer reviews)


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DVD $14.95 $13.49 53 used & new from $5.24

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Product Details

  • Actors: Tony Curtis, Janet Leigh, Torin Thatcher, Angela Clarke, Stefan Schnabel
  • Directors: George Marshall
  • Writers: Harold Kellock, Philip Yordan
  • Producers: Frank Freeman Jr., George Pal
  • Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
  • Language: English
  • Rating: NR (Not Rated)
  • Number of tapes: 1
  • Studio: Paramount
  • VHS Release Date: April 8, 1991
  • Run Time: 106 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: 6301954807
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,875 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Tony Curtis will amaze and astound you with one of his best performances as Harry Houdini, "the man of 10,000 tricks." Houdini has nothing up its sleeve, but the charismatic Curtis and Janet Leigh ("Hollywood’s Most Exciting Young Lovers," proclaims the film’s original trailer, the sole bonus feature on this disc), as Houdini’s wife, Bess, levitate this conventional, albeit enormously entertaining 1953 biopic that follows the legendary magician and escape artist from his days as a sideshow attraction to international stardom. Houdini dedicates his life to giving audiences "bigger and bigger thrills," and the film’s best scenes recreate Houdini’s act and death-defying escapes, including a harrowing plunge into the frozen Detroit River while locked in a trunk. Houdini’s fate is well-known, and while the film plays loose with the facts, it does conjure up an eerie foreboding by the time he takes the stage for his final, ill-fated Halloween performance. After Houdini’s first strait-jacket escape, an elderly magician urges him, "It’s isn’t a trick. Drop it. It will make you famous, but it will kill you." At long last available on DVD, Houdini is old fashioned movie magic that’s no trick and all treat.--Donald Liebenson

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Customer Reviews

27 Reviews
5 star:
 (14)
4 star:
 (7)
3 star:
 (6)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.3 out of 5 stars (27 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars "Houdini" finally reappears, on DVD!, May 12, 2008
By Glenn M. Schoditsch (Richmond, Virginia USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   
This review is from: Houdini (DVD)
Finally this cinematic treasure comes to DVD. While sometimes not historically accurate, it does portray a young Ehrich Weiss and his passion for the art of escapism & illusion and his love for his wife Bess. Real life husband and wife couple, Tony Curtis & Janet Leigh are more than convincing as "The Great Houdini" and his stage assistant.

This delightful film will bring enjoyment to legions of fans of old like myself as well as a cursory enlightenment of Harry Houdini for newer generations.

Filmed in 1953, "Houdini" is presented in Technicolor with an Aspect Ratio of 1.37:1. A very family friendly movie, recommended without reservation.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A Long Time Coming, April 12, 2008
By Robert A. Glover (Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Houdini (DVD)
Remembering this movie as a child and finally it has made it to DVD. What took the studio so long? I am sure that I am not the only person asking that question? Although not true to the real life of Houdini the film is a fun and entertaining piece of work that at times will keep you fixed to the screen. Giving it a five star rating and suggesting that it be watched by all members of the family so that a new generation of people can enjoy its magic.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars George Pal's Magician Among the Spirits, July 16, 2004
By Michael Ziegler (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This romanticized look at the career of Harry Houdini played with charm by Tony Curtis is full of the mysterious "other worldly " effects that George Pal made his reputation on in productions to come. In several scenes, Curtis taps into the Spirit world to...escape from a straight jacket, find the hole to get out of the frozen Detroit river, and seek out an experienced peer to solve the "Man in a Bottle" trick. He also manages in the process to stigmatize Halloween forever as a "bad omen" and gives new meaning to a Mother complex greater than Richard Burton's in "Alexander the Great". Still, the movie is a marvelous dose of "entertainment" and the sets are superb, there is a great veteran supporting cast and the screenplay is well written. This was a VERY popular movie and Tony Curtis does a great job in the role, even though there is a lot of deviation from the real Harry. It needs a DVD polish and presentation of extras with trailers and perhaps some interviews. It would be interesting to hear from Tony Curtis about this film after all these years. Good family fun!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A classic from yesteryear
A clasic from yesteryear. This movie, although not entirely acurate, is great family entertainment. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Arnold Mccormick

5.0 out of 5 stars Houdini the Great
This is one of the 2 best movies about the world greatest escape artist.
Tony curtis does a wonderful job and you can't go wrong with Janet Leigh as his wife. Read more
Published 6 months ago by R. Vanpelt

3.0 out of 5 stars Houdini ala Hollywood
A flawed, but entertaining film that served as a vehicle for the young romantic couple of Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Robert Haro

5.0 out of 5 stars TONY'S BEST
FOR ME I THINK THIS IS TONY CURTIS BEST FILM.
THE GREAT HOUDINI IS BY FAR THE BEST TOLD STORY I'VE SEEN. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Thomas Acheronti

5.0 out of 5 stars Tony Curtis a perfect Houdini
This movie brought back so many memories from years ago when this was a new movie. I was raised in Appleton WISC. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Laurel Baer-perkins

3.0 out of 5 stars YabaDabaDVD
Okay, the reviews say this is not an accurate depiction of his life, I am not an expert on Houdini so I cannot agree or disagree to that point but I like this movie, it's... Read more
Published 10 months ago by William C. Ajello

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally, it came out on dvd!
I have absolutely loved this movie since I was a little girl. It is one of the most entertaining biographical movies ever. Read more
Published 10 months ago by M. McFarland

4.0 out of 5 stars great
This video has an intersting story about a magic man. Houndini isn't one of my favorite videos, but it would be up there with my favorites. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Ben

4.0 out of 5 stars Part of history

It's a shame that we will never truly know what happen to him on that day.
I have heard so many story. I want to get the new one maybe it will be more exact.
Published 12 months ago by Udeena Krage

3.0 out of 5 stars Reviewing Houdini
The quality of the DVD was excellent. The film was entertaining and watchable but not much else. Hollywood biographies are not the most accurate.
Published 12 months ago by Dr. Gaston K. Rivera

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