By the year 1919, Harry Houdini was known throughout the world as a master magician and escape artist. Having conquered the stage, he set out to rule the screen, appearing in a series of thrillers built upon his almost supernatural powers. Culled from film archives and private collections, this Kino DVD set includes all of Houdini's surviving films as an actor, rare footage of actual handcuff and straitjacket escapes, and a wealth of historical information.
THE MASTER MYSTERY (1919, 238 Min., Color Tinted) TERROR ISLAND (1920, 55 Min., B&W) THE MAN FROM BEYOND (1922, 68 Min., Color Tinted) HALDANE OF THE SECRET SERVICE (1923, 84 Min., Color Tinted) THE GRIM GAME (Fragment, 1919, 5 Min., Color Tinted)
DVD 1:
THE MASTER MYSTERY U.S. 1919 Color Tinted 238 Min. Directed by Burton L. King Produced by B.A. Rolfe Screenplay by Arthur B. Reeve and Charles Logue Featuring Harry Houdini Marguerite Marsh, Jack Burns, Ruth Stonehouse, Charles Graham Music by Stuart Oderman Produced for video by Bret Wood Licensed by Douris UK Ltd. THE MASTER MYSTERY is continued on DVD 2 of this collection.
SPECIAL FEATURES
An examination of scenes deleted by the New York Censor Board
Image gallery
Detailed film notes
DVD 2:
TERROR ISLAND U.S. 1920 B&W 55 Min. A Paramount-Artcraft Release Directed by James Cruze Written by Arthur B. Reeve & John Grey Photographed by William Marshall Featuring Harry Houdini, Lila Lee Jack Brammall, Eugene Pallette Music composed and performed by Clark Wilson Preserved by the Library of Congress
THE MAN FROM BEYOND U.S. 1922 Color Tinted 68 Min. Houdini Picture Corporation Directed by Burton L. King Written & Produced by Harry Houdini Featuring Harry Houdini Nita Naldi, Jane Connelly Music composed and performed by Jon C. Mirsalis Preserved by the Library of Congress
This DVD contains the conclusion of THE MASTER MYSTERY Episodes 14 - 15, continued from DVD 1
SPECIAL FEATURES
Correspondence with the NY Censor Board
Image gallery
Detailed film notes
HARRY HOUDINI ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE from the Collection of George Eastman House Motion Picture Department. Additional footage courtesy of the Larson-Casselton Collection
SPECIAL FEATURES
Filmed records of Houdini escapes (1907-ca. 1923)
The illusion "Metamorphosis," performed by Houdini's brother Hardeen
1914 Audio recording of Houdini introducing his "Water Torture Cell"
"Slippery Jim," 1910 comedy short inspired by Houdini
Image gallery
Detailed film notes
Date added to our online catalogue : Friday, June 18, 2010
