Houdini (1998 film)

Last updated
Houdini
Houdini DVD Cover.png
DVD cover
Genre Biographical drama
Written by Pen Densham
Directed byPen Densham
Starring
Music by Don L. Harper
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producers
ProducerLeanna Moore
CinematographyGordon Lonsdale
Editor William Hoy
Running time99 minutes
Production companyTrilogy Entertainment Group
Original release
Network TNT
ReleaseDecember 6, 1998 (1998-12-06)

Houdini is a 1998 American biographical drama television film about the life of the magician Harry Houdini, written and directed by Pen Densham. It stars Johnathon Schaech, Stacy Edwards, Paul Sorvino and David Warner. It debuted on TNT on December 6, 1998. [1] [2]

Contents

Plot

The film details the life, relationships and exploits of the famous magician.

Cast

Home release

The DVD is available as part of the burn-on-demand Warner Archive service. [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harry Houdini</span> Hungarian-American escapologist and stuntperson

Erik Weisz, known as Harry Houdini, was a Hungarian-American escape artist, illusionist, and stunt performer, noted for his escape acts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Escapology</span> Practice of escaping from restraints

Escapology is the practice of escaping from restraints or other traps. Escapologists escape from handcuffs, straitjackets, cages, coffins, steel boxes, barrels, bags, burning buildings, fish-tanks, and other perils, often in combination.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">P. T. Selbit</span> English magician, inventor and writer (1881–1938)

P. T. Selbit (1881–1938) was an English magician, inventor and writer who is credited with being the first person to perform the illusion of sawing a woman in half. Among magicians he was known for his inventiveness and entrepreneurial instinct and he is credited with creating a long list of successful stage illusions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnathon Schaech</span> American actor (born 1969)

Johnathon Schaech is an American actor and screenwriter. He has been working as an actor since the early 1990s.

<i>FairyTale: A True Story</i> 1997 American film

FairyTale: A True Story is a 1997 fantasy drama film directed by Charles Sturridge and produced by Bruce Davey and Wendy Finerman. It is loosely based on the story of the Cottingley Fairies, and follows two children in 1917 England who take a photograph soon believed to be the first scientific evidence of the existence of fairies. The film was produced by Icon Productions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard Chizmar</span> American screenwriter (born 1965)

Richard Thomas Chizmar is an American writer, the publisher and editor of Cemetery Dance magazine, and the owner of Cemetery Dance Publications. He also edits anthologies, produces films, writes screenplays, and teaches writing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Society of American Magicians</span> Fraternal magicians organization

The Society of American Magicians (S.A.M.) is the oldest fraternal magic organization in the world. Its purpose is "to advance, elevate, and preserve magic as a performing art, to promote harmonious fellowship throughout the world of magic, and to maintain and improve ethical standards in the field of magic." To promote these endeavors the S.A.M. presents awards and fellowships in recognition of outstanding achievement in the Art of Magic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Theodore Hardeen</span> Hungarian-American entertainer (1876–1945)

Ferenc Dezső Weisz, known as Theodore "Dash" Hardeen, was a Hungarian-American magician and escape artist who was the younger brother of Harry Houdini. Hardeen, who usually billed himself as the "brother of Houdini", was the founder of the Magician's Guild. Hardeen was the first magician to conceive escaping from a straitjacket in full view of the audience, rather than behind a curtain.

Stacy Edwards is an American actress. She appeared in a number of B movies before her breakthrough role in the 1997 black comedy film In the Company of Men, for which she received Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead nomination. Edwards later had roles in films such as Primary Colors (1998), Black and White (1999) and Driven (2001), and was a regular cast member in the drama series Chicago Hope (1997–1999).

<i>The Great Houdini</i> (film) 1976 American TV series or program

The Great Houdinisa.k.a.The Great Houdini is a 1976 American made-for-television biographical film which is a fictionalized account of the life of the Hungarian-American escape artist and entertainer Harry Houdini. The film was written and directed by Melville Shavelson and features Paul Michael Glaser and Sally Struthers and originally aired on ABC on October 8, 1976.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dorothy Dietrich</span> American stage magician and escapologist (born 1969)

Dorothy Dietrich is an American stage magician and escapologist, best known for performing the bullet catch in her mouth and the first woman to perform a straitjacket escape while suspended hundreds of feet in the air from a burning rope. She was the first woman to gain prominence as an escape artist since the days of Houdini, breaking the glass ceiling for women in the field of escapes and magic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chinese Water Torture Cell</span> Predicament escape

The Chinese Water Torture Cell is a predicament escape made famous by Hungarian-American magician Harry Houdini. The illusion consists of three parts: first, the magician's feet are locked in stocks; next, he is suspended in mid-air from his ankles with a restraint brace; finally, he is lowered into a glass tank overflowing with water and the restraint is locked to the top of the cell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bess Houdini</span> Stage assistant and wife of Harry Houdini (1876–1943)

Wilhelmina Beatrice "Bess" Houdini was an American stage assistant and wife of Harry Houdini.

<i>Sex and Lies in Sin City</i> 2008 American television film

Sex and Lies in Sin City: The Ted Binion Scandal is a 2008 Lifetime Television film starring Johnathon Schaech, Marcia Gay Harden, Matthew Modine, and Mena Suvari.

Invasion of Privacy is a 1996 American thriller film directed by Anthony Hickox and starring Johnathon Schaech, Mili Avital and Naomi Campbell.

<i>Houdini</i> (miniseries) 2014 television bio-drama miniseries

Houdini is a two-part, four-hour History Channel miniseries written by Nicholas Meyer and directed by Uli Edel. It premiered on September 1, 2014. The series stars Adrien Brody as Harry Houdini and features the life of the legendary illusionist and escape artist from poverty to worldwide fame.

Houdini & Doyle is a British television drama series loosely based on the real-world friendship of Harry Houdini and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. A 10-episode first season was ordered by Fox in the United States, ITV in the United Kingdom, and Global in Canada. The pilot episode was written by co-creators David Hoselton and David Titcher. The first episode was broadcast simultaneously on ITV and ITV Encore on Sunday 13 March 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Merlini</span>

David Merlini is a Hungarian-Italian escape artist, and World Record holder, described by Expo 2015 as the world's most famous escapologist, currently serving as Director of The House of Houdini, the only Houdini museum in Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The House of Houdini</span> Historic site in Dísz Square, Budapest

The House of Houdini is a private exhibit and performance venue located at 11, Dísz Square, within the walls of the Buda Castle in Budapest, Hungary. The building houses the only collection of original Houdini artifacts in Europe.

References

  1. "Houdini (1998) - Overview". TCM.com. 2009-12-02. Retrieved 2013-12-01.
  2. "Houdini (1998)". Movieweb.com. Archived from the original on 2013-12-08. Retrieved 2013-12-01.
  3. "Houdini". Shop.warnerarchive.com. 2013-10-16. Retrieved 2013-12-01.