tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post4077691932057497662..comments2024-03-29T07:21:28.014-07:00Comments on WILD ABOUT HARRY: Teller on Houdini and The Grim GameJohn Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-28006176494193833522015-11-29T19:51:19.773-08:002015-11-29T19:51:19.773-08:00That's interesting. I've never considered ...That's interesting. I've never considered that connection, but you might be right. There's a whole underwater escape device thingy in it, I recall.John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-68118596486979585242015-11-29T19:21:42.930-08:002015-11-29T19:21:42.930-08:00Update: I believe the Williamson’s film prospecti...Update: I believe the Williamson’s film prospectively titled “Houdini and the Miracle” and “The Marvelous Adventures of Houdini, the Justly Celebrated Elusive American” are one in the same.Joe M. Notarohttp://harryhoudinicircumstantialevidence.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-54013032011725958512015-11-29T12:33:28.000-08:002015-11-29T12:33:28.000-08:00True, but Adventures of Houdini in Paris (1909) wa...True, but Adventures of Houdini in Paris (1909) wasn’t botched. There was his movie venture, The Marvelous Adventures of Houdini, the Justly Celebrated Elusive American but like the Williamson’s movie venture, it was never completed in 1917.Joe M. Notarohttp://harryhoudinicircumstantialevidence.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-30015069766655066332015-11-29T11:55:59.208-08:002015-11-29T11:55:59.208-08:00I like the part where Teller mentions that despite...I like the part where Teller mentions that despite the fact that HH's midsection was getting thicker by 1919, he still moved like a panther. Absolutely, HH moved with agility and speed in the GG.<br /><br />Many years ago I had a Tae Kwon Do instructor who was a middle-aged and paunchy Korean. In spite of that, he moved with a lightning speed that left me dumbfounded.Leo Heviahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12990057178465581105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-63059043331227012322015-11-29T11:49:14.579-08:002015-11-29T11:49:14.579-08:00Hard to know for sure. But if we count Houdini'...Hard to know for sure. But if we count Houdini's (narrative) movies, then GG is indeed #3, so...John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-29889808515287518712015-11-29T11:43:18.451-08:002015-11-29T11:43:18.451-08:00He also refers to TGG as his “third major movie ve...He also refers to TGG as his “third major movie venture”. My guess is he is referring to the never completed Williamson brothers 1917 film prospectively titled “Houdini and the Miracle”, since it fits the category of a major motion picture; HH was to receive the largest sum of money ever paid to any one performer for this single motion picture.Joe M. Notarohttp://harryhoudinicircumstantialevidence.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-86484632643333273802015-11-29T10:41:42.077-08:002015-11-29T10:41:42.077-08:00Oh, sorry, you're right. And you're right ...Oh, sorry, you're right. And you're right that he must then be referring to Merveilleux Exploits or maybe the aborted Williamson bros project. But like you, I wouldn't classify Merveilleux Exploits as botched.<br /><br />BTW, I've long heard Bill McIlhany has the first part of Merveilleux Exploits. Ken Silverman describes it in detail, so he saw it. I've asked Bill about it, John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-48192775817814908552015-11-29T10:22:52.978-08:002015-11-29T10:22:52.978-08:00No, he wasn't. because he mentions that the Ma...No, he wasn't. because he mentions that the Master Mystery was after the botched 1st attempt. If you could see the Master Mystery as I was able to see it -- complete -- you would understand why it was a world-wide hit and that Houdini was impressive enough onscreen that Paramount signed him to a two picture deal.patrick cullitonhttp://www.houdinisghost.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-52307595720350517812015-11-29T10:00:35.855-08:002015-11-29T10:00:35.855-08:00My sense is that Teller was talking about The Mast...My sense is that Teller was talking about The Master Mystery. But even there I'd say that wasn't botched. It proved popular and I think nicely launched HH as a cinema star. But maybe the thinking is a serial was sort of an old fashioned form and the plot was heavily melodramatic, etc. Certainly it was not as sophisticated as The Grim Game.<br /><br />You're correct that Merveilleux John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-86626117262248068622015-11-29T09:52:01.133-08:002015-11-29T09:52:01.133-08:00"He'd botched his first attempt" (at..."He'd botched his first attempt" (at acting in the movies).<br />What is Teller talking about? The deal that fell through with the Williamson brothers? Or was it "Merveilleux Exploits du Célébre Houdini?"<br />The one reel film released by Pathe in 1909 shows Houdini at his very best. And the cinema was still in it's infancy. Never mind Houdini's acting. In 1909, patrick cullitonhttp://www.houdinisghost.comnoreply@blogger.com