Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Help me uncover The Great Houdini(s)

Hey, gang. I'm looking for behind-the-scenes material related to the 1976 ABC TV movie The Great Houdinis starring Paul Michael Glaser and Sally Struthers. I'm especially keen to find behind-the-scenes photographs to illustrate an article I'm preparing about the making of the movie.

Anyone out there have any material that could help me uncover Harry? If so, please contact me.

4 comments:

  1. Looking forward to reading this one.

    I love this still. It is never quite clear why he is doing an escape in the middle of the family reunion for the Queen of Budapest.

    ReplyDelete
  2. This one is coming along slowly, but I have some good info to share. I've found one behind the scenes pic so far.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I imagine it's going to be a doozy. Looking forward to it.

    The other thing I just thought about last night: the film started off as "The Great Houdinis" but became "The Great Houdini" even though it really was much less about him than her; how she had to share his affections with Mama (and others).

    It was telling I think how in the novelisation, the Houdini character was not as tender as Glaser portrayed him. I wonder at what point that shifted. And what prompted them to drop the plural? I don't suppose it really matters but it seems odd to me now in hindsight.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I now think it became The Great Houdinis (plural) after the movie was finished. The script and shooting schedule calls it The Great Houdini (singular), and that is the title on the actual film. But all the advertising for the '76 airing calls it The Great Houdinis, as does the novelization. But then it's back to being called The Great Houdini come the '77 repeat. I've seen VHS releases under both titles.

    ReplyDelete