Houdini

Though not the best Houdini movie, it's superior to Death Defying Acts and the History Channel Houdini Miniseries. This shows a head strong determined Houdini, ready to take on the world, much like the real man. The last part of the movie is a bit more fictional, but overall it's a great job. Read more

If you enjoyed "Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines" then I'm sure you'll enjoy this film too. Similar basic plot, replace aeroplanes with cars and the race destination from Paris to Monte Carlo. Then add many of the best comedy actors of the time and a fun script and the result is a film that you can enjoy over and over again. Also included is a film on the life of Houdini. Not one I have seen before and probably not one I'll watch again. It is an almost superficial account of Houdini's life. OK to watch once or for anyone who has no idea who Houdini was (is that possible?) but that's about all that can be said in it's favour. None the less "Those Daring Young Men in their Jaunty Jelopies" (Known as "Monte Carlo or Bust" in the UK), more than justifies the price. For those purchasing from the UK both Discs play OK on my UK Blu-ray player. Read more

This double feature contains one classic comedy, and someone's idea of the life of magician Harry Houdini. The classic comedy is "Those Daring Young Men and their Jaunty Jalopies," which is kind of a sequel to "Those Magnificent Young Men in their Flying Machines" and a brother to "The Great Race." I love "Jalopies" but "Houdini" not so much, though it is a pleasant enough film. It would be nice to know why "Jalopies" and "Race" have so many parallels, but that's probably lost in the mists of studio executives' minds. Still, this is a bargain on Blu-Ray, at least for those of us who fondly remember these films. Read more

Houdini is one of those films they RARELY show on TV - I saw it as a child and was mesmerised. The Jaunty Jalopies is simply fun. Read more

HOUDINI first aired as a "TNT Original Movie" on December 6, 1998. While not the best of the Houdini biopics (I still have a soft spot for the 1953 Houdini ), it still has much to recommend it. Notably, production design and the musical score is magnificent. HOUDINI is also the first Houdini biopic to dramatize Houdini's egotism...maybe too much so. Johnathon Schaech's over-the-top, manic Houdini is far different from Tony Curtis or Paul Michael Glaser. This makes him less likable. But as his wife Bess (Stacy Edwards) says in the film, "I fell in love with Ehrich Weiss. I put up with Houdini." While HOUDINI takes plenty of dramatic license (Houdini's mother never kissed or held him???), it still does a good job of weaving in real Houdini history. It is the first Houdini film to give an accurate account of how he and Bess met. We also get to see the death bed promise young Ehrich made to his father. Houdini's brother Theo (aka Hardeen) is part of the story. His assistant Jim Collins and manager Martin Beck are shown playing their critical rolls in Houdini's life and career. Even Houdini's authorship of The Unmasking of Robert-Houdin is given a mention. The film starts to get wobbly in both history and drama in the final third, with Houdini suddenly ensconced in a bizarre throne-like office space and failing to escape from the Water Torture Cell after being punched in the stomach. The great Hollywood myth of Houdini dying in a trick continues here. Unbelievable. But the film keeps the pedal to the metal in its depiction of Houdini's stunts, eager to show Houdini as the original king of "extreme" (is that still a thing?). Standouts are the suspended straightjacket escape and a rather flamboyant depiction of the Milk Can. All in all, HOUDINI is a worthy biopic of the world's greatest magician and daredevil. I'm very happy to see it released on DVD. Read more

I've always liked Tony Curtis and many of his movies. Sadly these types of movies aren't made anymore. Read more

Tony Curtis in his first major roll ....playing non other then Houdini the magician and the escape artist it starts out how in his early life on through to being famous this is a got to watch film of houdini.s life and times also starring in the film was the beautiful Janet Leigh as Houdini.s love interest color is super and Ithe sound great great transf to bluray no two daring young men in their jaunty jalopies all star cast filmed in monti Carlo its funny lots of action watch it see who wins the race great double feature at a great price from amazon Read more

I bought this blu-ray for "Houdini" and "Daring Young Men" was in the package. I haven't viewed it, but "Houdini" is a wonderful movie. I wish that it was a little more accurate in representing the life of this great American escape artist and magician, but it had all the high production values of a George Pal movie. Read more