Tony curtis at the time, costars as houdinis wife bess, while angela clarke is seen as houdinis mother. Home about the movie posters photos movie stills and more other stuff. From his beginnings as a wild man carnival act to the internationally famous feat of escaping from a locked trunk in an icejammed river, houdini effectively captures the amazing life and courage of this fascinating man. June 3, 1925 september 29, 2010 was an american film actor whose career spanned six decades but who achieved the height of his popularity in the 1950s and early 1960s. Harry houdini 18741926 was a famous magician and escape artist. The films screenplay, based upon the life of magician and escape artist harry houdini, is by philip yordan, based on the book. The two quickly marry, and with her at his side, the magician begins his rise to fame as the worlds greatest escape artist and magician.
Unlike other stars, curtis did not gain stardom and success instantly. He has also acted in more serious and dramatic movies, like the defiant ones 1958, for which he received an academy. Detailed information about this film is available from the afi catalog. Houdini tony curtis gives a winning performance as the great houdini, the struggling circus performer who emerged as the world s most captivating magician and escape artist. The film follows houdini s progress from sideshow entertainer to highpriced prestidigitator, and also touches upon his fascination with the occultand his efforts to expose phony mediums. The two quickly marry, and with her at his side, the magician begins. He acted in more than 100 films in roles covering a wide range of genres, from light comedy to serious drama.
Houdini the fictitious screen biography starring tony curtis as master magician and escape artist harry houdini begins when he is 21 years old and trying to make ends meet by performing as a wild. Thanks to the support of an astute sound track, the acting genius of tony curtis, and the formidable actors torin thatcher as the devoted servant, and ian wolfe as the wise old entrepreneur, this film momentarily yet effectively captures the eerie spinetingling atmosphere of. So iconic was this ending that for many years lay people thought that was the way houdini actually died. The great magician, escapist and mysteriarch, harry houdini 18741926, lived such a storied life that it is impossible to capture any semblance of it in the fleeting medium of the feature film. The houdini movie with tony curtis shows a different end to houdinis life. Houdini is a 1953 american technicolor film biography from paramount pictures, produced by george pal and berman swarttz, directed by george marshall, that stars then husbandandwife tony curtis and janet leigh. Houdini the movie starring tony curtis and janet leigh from the collection of shep hyken.
The actor may be best known for his role in some like it hot, named by the american film institute as the funniest movie of the past 100 years. Sep 02, 2012 this is the trailer for the 1953 film houdini starring tony curtis and janet leigh. It may be a bit hollywoodified, but it still retains its charm. Tony curtis gives a winning performance as the great houdini, the struggling circus performer who emerged as the worlds most captivating magician and escape artist. Houdini 1953 classic films, the magicians, tony curtis. With tony curtis, janet leigh, torin thatcher, angela clarke. If you are a houdini fan or a tony curtis fan, do yourself a favor and watch this great movie. Tony curtis was born bernard schwartz on june 3, 1925, in the bronx, new york, to hungarian jewish immigrants helen and emanuel schwartz.
When tony curtis played harry houdini in the 1953 george pal movie, the fact that it wasnt historically accurate wasnt of serious concern, and the movie is entertaining for what it is. Houdini 1953 the spectacular but tragically short career of magician and illusionist harry houdini whose tricks defied explanation and safety. While houdini is almost entirely a work of fiction, it does capture the glamor, drama, and danger of harry houdini in a way that i think would have made the master mystifier proud. Houdini by george marshall george marshall, tony curtis. Nov 07, 20 the houdini movie with tony curtis shows a different end to houdini s life. The spectacular but tragically short career of magician and illusionist harry houdini whose tricks defied explanation and safety. The most famous houdini biopic is paramounts 1953 houdini starring tony curtis and janet leigh. With tony curtis, janet leigh, torin thatcher, angela clarke, sig ruman, connie gilchrist. Although houdini blends fiction with history, it remains the most accurate account of the magicians life.
Houdini 1953 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. From his beginnings as a wild man carnival act to the internationally famous feat of escaping from a locked trunk in an icejammed river, houdini effectively captures the. The great houdini film, a 1976 biographical telefilm about. Houdini, starring tony curtis and janet lee, one of my favorites houdini, starring tony curtis, and his wife, janet leigh, is one of my top ten favorite movies of all time. It was in 1953 that curtis first struck a hit with the film houdini. Houdini, starring tony curtis, and his wife, janet leigh, is one of my top ten favorite movies of all time.
Tony curtiss spectacular body of screen work consists of more than 140 films with starring roles in classics like spartacus, houdini, operation petticoat and sweet smell of sucess. The story of master magician harry houdini 1874 1926 becomes a glossy starvehicle for tony curtis in the leadand though the facts of houdini s life are lumped right together with the hollywood dross as if this movie magazinestyled spread were one big truelife story, one is drawn in by curtis apparent commitment to the role. Rent houdini 1953 starring tony curtis and janet leigh on dvd and bluray. Bess houdini 18761943, harry houdinis stage assistant and wife. Houdini houdini 1953 the allamerican nick bonelli 1953 forbidden eddie 1953 meet danny wilson man. This enjoyable, highspirited movie is a vintage curtis leigh love story.
Tony curtis full list of movies and tv shows in theaters, in production and upcoming films. This is the trailer for the 1953 film houdini starring tony curtis and janet leigh. Rodney dangerfield at his best on the tonight show starring johnny carson 1983 duration. Released 1953, houdini stars tony curtis, janet leigh, torin thatcher, ian wolfe the movie has a runtime of about 1 hr 46 min, and received a score of out of 100 on metacritic, which put. The movie established his position in the industry and gained him a reputation of a classic actor. I love this movie and probably have watched it 15 times in my life, and i never get tired of watching it. The fictitious screen biography starring tony curtis as master magician and escape artist harry houdini begins when he is 21 years old and trying to make ends meet by performing as a wild man in.
The best we can hope for is tony curtis flashing a winning smile or for johnny depp to flash a winning bangle, and to then get the hell outa there. Tony curtis at the time, costars as houdini s wife bess, while angela clarke is seen as houdini s mother. Sep 29, 2010 tony curtis full list of movies and tv shows in theaters, in production and upcoming films. If we are referring to the first preliminary green screenplay 42352 for the movie houdini starring tony curtis, then the answer is, yes.
Opening and the first meeting of the title character character tony curtis and the leading lady janet leigh, curtis wife, from the george palproduced biopic, houdini, 1953. The tv movie the great houdinis was a hasty little film of no particular interest. Tony curtis simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Houdini, starring tony curtis as the eternally famous escape artist, still remains the best of all the films about this american magician icon. The actor may be best known for his role in some like it hot, named by the american. Opening and the first meeting of the title character character tony curtis and the leading lady janet leigh, curtis wife, from the george palproduced biopic. The story of master magician harry houdini 1874 1926 becomes a glossy starvehicle for tony curtis in the leadand though the facts of houdinis life are lumped right together with the hollywood dross as if this movie magazinestyled spread were one big truelife story, one is drawn in by curtis apparent commitment to the role. But by the time 1998 rolled around, the opportunity. Below is an original 1953 press photo i recently acquired of a magician performing a straitjacket escape to promote the release of the tony curtis houdini movie in front of the paramount theater click on the link below to find out who the magician is and to read the published text that went with the press photo. The film follows houdinis progress from sideshow entertainer to highpriced prestidigitator, and also touches upon his fascination with the occult. Yes, the same parents to jamie lee curtis, who would later make a name for herself with her debut at the age of 19, in the movie halloween. Tony curtis s spectacular body of screen work consists of more than 140 films with starring roles in classics like spartacus, houdini, operation petticoat and sweet smell of sucess.
Houdini 1953 allmovie movies and films database movie. He is famous for his light comic roles, especially his musician escaping from gangsters in some like it hot 1959. Tony curtis at the time, costars as houdini s wife. This is the movie that to me shows tony curtis at his best.
The films screenplay, based upon the life of magician and escape artist harry houdini, is by philip yordan, based on the book houdini by harold kellock. June 3, 1925 september 29, 2010 was an american movie actor. While working as a coney island entertainer, harry houdini tony curtis meets and falls madly in love with bess janet leigh. Houdini 1953 film, a 1953 biographical film about harry houdini. In his later years, curtis made numerous television appearances. To get publicity, houdini played by tony curtis dangled from a flagpole upside down while escaping from a straight jacket. But as the escapes get more and more dangerous, bess worries that harry may be taking his act too far. Tony curtis was born bernard schwartz, the eldest of three children of helen klein and emanuel schwartz, jewish immigrants from hungary. He was most popular during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Curtis himself admits that while he had almost no formal education, he was a student of the school of hard knocks and learned from a young age that the only person who ever had his back was himself, so he. This highly fanciful but immensely entertaining biopic stars tony curtis as legendary magicianescapeartist harry houdini. He has also acted in more serious and dramatic movies, like the. In the 1965 movie the great race, the publicity seeking the great leslie, also played by tony curtis, dangles upside down from a balloon while escaping from a straight jacket. Curtis looks like and is built like houdini which adds to the enjoyability of the picture.
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