Last month marked a different kind of anniversary. It was 50 years ago that Melville Shavelson and his crew filmed The Great Houdinis on location around Los Angeles and at the 20th Century Fox studio in Century City. Filming commenced at the Wilshire Ebell Theater on April 28 and wrapped at the Malibu Pier on May 24, 1976. I learned about the movie in the July 1976 issue of The Magic Magazine. Still have the clipping in my old scrapbook.
The Great Houdinis starred Paul Michael Glaser as Houdini and Sally Struthers as Bess. The amazing supporting cast included: Ruth Gordon (Cecelia Weiss), Peter Cushing (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle), Bill Bixby (Rev. Arthur Ford), Adrienne Barbeau (Daisy White), Vivian Vance (Minnie Chester), Jack Carter (Hardeen) Barbara Rhoades (Margery), and if you look closely, you'll see Patrick Culliton as Franz Kukol. It aired on ABC on October 7, 1976.
This marked the first Houdini biopic since 1953's Houdini with Tony Curtis, and despite it being heavily fictionalized, I've always had a special fondness for it. It's my second-favorite Houdini biopic and a great example of 1970s television.
In the early days of this blog, I did a day-by-day breakdown of the production. If you're interested, give that review by clicking the link below:
Jack Carter was a great Hardeen!
ReplyDeleteMel gathered a star-studded cast. Even Geoffrey Lewis as Dr. Crandon.
ReplyDeleteIn one of the oddest things to happen, on Sunday as I was getting into my car to go with Patrick to the Magic Castle, a man, whom I have never seen before in my 40 years living in my neighborhood was walking by. He saw me in formal attire and bowed and paid me a compliment. When I said I was going to the Magic Castle he replied, "Well I'm a Magician!" and proceeded to perform a magic trick right then and there. As we talked, he told me he is the cop on the pier when Houdini jumps in this movie. Now don't tell me Harry was not having fun with me.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, that is an amazing story.
DeleteI have had a few other very strange things like that. Definitely gives one vibes that Harry is around.
DeleteI love a line from this film; "being a magician is the next best thing to being God" so much! I've used it several times and it's too bad that Harry never actually said it, except here. -Steve Bingen
ReplyDeleteGreat line. And I like Bess's follow-up: "Oh, Harry, you know you'll never settle for second best."
DeleteIt's a beautifully written script.