tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post2088362810745538132..comments2024-03-28T03:39:00.025-07:00Comments on WILD ABOUT HARRY: Houdini conquers Hollywood (at last) in The Grim GameJohn Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-23937245350901168432015-04-06T08:50:04.736-07:002015-04-06T08:50:04.736-07:00That's pretty awesome that you got to see what...That's pretty awesome that you got to see what else Larry had in his apt, Rick. I've always wondered what other film treasures he might have -- a more complete version of Terror Island or The Master Mystery perhaps? At least you got The Grim Game out. Thank goodness. <br /><br />Hopefully his estate will all get sorted and there will be an auction.John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-66789062630976394042015-04-06T06:33:52.535-07:002015-04-06T06:33:52.535-07:00In regard to Larry Week's being involved his s...In regard to Larry Week's being involved his story is in the opening<br />intro card before the film starts so all know about it from the start.Rick Schmidlinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-56405018554148574562015-04-06T05:31:39.745-07:002015-04-06T05:31:39.745-07:00Larry told me he got the negative from Bess 1943, ...Larry told me he got the negative from Bess 1943, then he later said maybe is was 1947. He also said he bought from Bess<br />ore film's and her doing laundry, said it did not look like her.<br />There were many other films in his collection stored away. He also had a scrapbook in bad shape that belonged to Houdini,a brass shaving mug and a bookshelf that also came he said from Bess. At the Rick Schmidlinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-19469248434666174102015-04-05T10:18:40.174-07:002015-04-05T10:18:40.174-07:00Good point about the broken wrist, Joe.Good point about the broken wrist, Joe.John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-84240144160558732272015-04-05T09:57:02.824-07:002015-04-05T09:57:02.824-07:00My thoughts are they were nixed because he had bro...My thoughts are they were nixed because he had broken his left wrist again during the making of this film. I know that the completion of the film was delayed because of his injury. Joe M. Notarohttp://harryhoudinicircumstantialevidence.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-17640979979180773622015-04-05T09:10:29.083-07:002015-04-05T09:10:29.083-07:00I feel like Larry's been getting credit. I don...I feel like Larry's been getting credit. I don't think there's been an article about the restoration that hasn't mentioned him. The NY Post piece, probably the most read and reproduced article, was all about Larry. And he was mentioned several times at the premiere. It's shame he didn't live to see this. He certainly would have been the guest of honor at the premiere.<br /John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-68327450996986039052015-04-05T08:26:43.691-07:002015-04-05T08:26:43.691-07:00Larry Weeks should have been given more credit. Af...Larry Weeks should have been given more credit. After all he's the one that obtained it and curated the film for over 60 years. Not much mentioned about Larry. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-46454963142021301942015-04-03T13:54:25.885-07:002015-04-03T13:54:25.885-07:00I was thinking last night that I really should hav...I was thinking last night that I really should have given more credit here to director, Irvin Willat. He could be the reason this movie, and Houdini, are so good. He seems to have an understanding of cinema that you don't see in the other films.John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-42205899795983816402015-04-03T12:53:12.268-07:002015-04-03T12:53:12.268-07:00I saw a good actor in Houdini in his other films. ...I saw a good actor in Houdini in his other films. I just attributed it to possably bad directors, so so scripts, etc. I always felt he could do better & obviously I was right. I hope they do put out a dvd. I would love to see this too! Bravo to Dorothy & Dick, TCM, & all the people responsible for saving this almost lost gem! Bill Smith.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-4879368543561193162015-04-01T23:14:35.776-07:002015-04-01T23:14:35.776-07:00Yeah, kissing the girl and covering it with the pa...Yeah, kissing the girl and covering it with the paper would have been a great way to end the film. Is it too late to reshoot?John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-14103178135806794852015-04-01T23:10:39.315-07:002015-04-01T23:10:39.315-07:00Seems so many puzzle pieces had to fall just right...Seems so many puzzle pieces had to fall just right to make this happen, and they all did. Thank YOU for being the puzzle master. :)John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-71511369836532044552015-04-01T23:08:54.205-07:002015-04-01T23:08:54.205-07:00I tried to make that point in my review, but I thi...I tried to make that point in my review, but I think Bullet did so much more eloquently. Your debate was actually on my mind while I was watching The Grim Game. I think Houdini was seen as both an ordinary man and superman during the course of his career (and today). I think kids would see a superman and adults an ordinary man, and other countries might have perceived him in some way that we don&John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-73995025406037021072015-04-01T21:08:35.838-07:002015-04-01T21:08:35.838-07:00Thank you Dick and Dorothy for contacting Larry so...Thank you Dick and Dorothy for contacting Larry so I could call.<br /><br />I am so glad you were there and the fans cheered just like Elvis fan's when I showed my film Elvis That's The Way It Is Special Edition.<br /><br />Thank you John because you site inspired me and I sent it to TCM when I made the pitch.Rick Schmidlinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-43654333981267538062015-04-01T20:47:35.624-07:002015-04-01T20:47:35.624-07:00Bullet Valmont brought this home for me: He noted ...Bullet Valmont brought this home for me: He noted Houdini as the ordinary guy--not super powered mind you, but an ordinary guy doing extraordinary things. I recall getting loudly rebuked here last week by an anonymous individual for expressing this thought.<br /><br />Thank you Mr. Valmont. I feel vindicated...<br /><br />Leo Hevianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-10348785266515854802015-04-01T20:21:23.337-07:002015-04-01T20:21:23.337-07:00Dorothy and Dick again..
As to the movie, "T...Dorothy and Dick again..<br /><br />As to the movie, "The Grim Game" a few quick comments. John and others have got it right in their reviews so no need to repeat it all. Houdini rules again and it is his best movie. No more ever "Houdini was a bad actor". Houdini in his later movies seems at times a bit stilted as compared to "The Grim Game". But remember in GrimDorothy Dietrich and Dick Brookzhttp://houdini.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-81915066969027938942015-04-01T14:31:01.205-07:002015-04-01T14:31:01.205-07:00Beautifully said, Dave. Glad to hear the plot wasn...Beautifully said, Dave. Glad to hear the plot wasn't confusing for you. Maybe it isn't. Maybe I was just worried for the audience. And, yes, that fourth wall moment is wonderful. The filmmaking is so much stronger in this than any other Houdini movie. It plays with expectations and Houdini iconography with both the story and camera. The sophistication of that was really unexpected, and itJohn Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-75454902739661580132015-04-01T14:00:03.390-07:002015-04-01T14:00:03.390-07:00A very nice summation of the evening, and you caug...A very nice summation of the evening, and you caught most of the things I would have mentioned. Like Lisa, I had no prior knowledge of the plot, but had no trouble following. And, in fact, on the way back to the closing night party after the screening, a friend - who knew nothing about Houdini - remarked how much he enjoyed the plot and how suitable it would be for a remake. I don't know Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14383234713692495686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-56414085094666208742015-04-01T13:28:12.485-07:002015-04-01T13:28:12.485-07:00I also loved how Sunday night just felt like cosmi...I also loved how Sunday night just felt like cosmic reset on Hollywood. How long has Hollywood turned its nose up at Houdini's movies and movies about him. But on Sunday, there's a mob on Hollywood Blvd., killing themselves to get into a 96-year-old silent movie because it starred the real Houdini, while Hollywood's best Technicolor effort, the Tony Curtis movie, is playing down the John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-5876934052959341382015-04-01T13:01:38.820-07:002015-04-01T13:01:38.820-07:00It's in the world now! By this time next year,...It's in the world now! By this time next year, it will be the most seen Houdini movie of them all, as it should be. :)John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-84813198458109324442015-04-01T13:00:40.552-07:002015-04-01T13:00:40.552-07:00Also check out the comments by Bullet and Lisa her...Also check out the comments by Bullet and Lisa here. They really captured some aspects of the movie that I didn't in my review.John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-51954410125459876162015-04-01T12:57:53.812-07:002015-04-01T12:57:53.812-07:00Wow..wow..wow. Great review John. The atmosphere i...Wow..wow..wow. Great review John. The atmosphere in the theatre must have been electric. Glad everyone got in. Cannot wait for release on TCM/DVD. Most importantly, the film has been restored and is safe. Thanks to all involved. Now to re read the review. Cheers. :-)Narindernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-65045669343369379632015-04-01T12:56:30.196-07:002015-04-01T12:56:30.196-07:00Now its been seen by people ,not put in a draw an ...Now its been seen by people ,not put in a draw an forgoten about,thanks to all that help put this together.John Hinson great nehew of Bess and Harry Houdininoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-6582539969209257352015-04-01T12:50:24.852-07:002015-04-01T12:50:24.852-07:00Love it. :)Love it. :)John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-54415845336232645572015-04-01T12:48:43.215-07:002015-04-01T12:48:43.215-07:00It should be noted that The Grim Game did not have...It should be noted that The Grim Game did not have a premiere in 1919 because the film premiere had not been invented yet! The first one took place on October 18, 1922 for Douglas Fairbanks's Robin Hood, and it occurred at (where else?!) the Egyptian on the theater's opening night. I attended a 90th anniversary screening of Robin Hood at the Egyptian in honor of this event a couple of Lisa Cousinsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-54605324736856624412015-04-01T12:12:06.820-07:002015-04-01T12:12:06.820-07:00Thanks David. Wish you would have been here. Maybe...Thanks David. Wish you would have been here. Maybe you can make it if they ever restore and premeire Terror Island. :)John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.com