Houdini's own Reckoning

For those seeing Mission: Impossible The Final Reckoning this weekend, you might notice something familiar. The movie features an exciting biplane action sequence with the hero clinging to wings, much like Houdini's The Grim Game (1919).

There are severals similarities here. The biplane action is the climax of both movies. Both feature the hero chasing the villain in a second plane. There is a daring mid-air transfer. Both were filmed with real planes and stunts. Both are featured heavily in advertising, with the star promoted as having done the stunts himself. And both movies are released by Paramount.

In interviews, star Tom Cruise said he was inspired by watching "black and white footage of the very early days of wing-walking." We know Cruise almost played Houdini at one point, so maybe that footage included The Grim Game? It's still a great idea over 100 years later!

But the real question -- who did it better?

Related:

• 100 years ago over Santa Monica
• Tom Cruise was set to play Houdini in 2004
• Did Houdini do at least part of The Grim Game airplane stunt?