On Monday I will reveal what I believe is the earliest attempt by a major studio to make a movie based on Houdini's life. As far as I know, this information has lay undiscovered for over 70 years.
Houdini and Hollywood history might be made right here at our humble little blog...
Eric, are you by any chance talking about that clip of what appears to be silent Houdini biopic in the documentary, Houdini: The Life of the World's Great Escapologist? That clip has always baffled me. I'm not sure it's an actual film. It might have been created just for that doc.
What I have isn't a movie that was ever made. It's an "attempt" at a biopic, but with some very interesting elements.
Hey Bill. Is that the Dore Schary Paramount film? I'd never heard of a star attached to that one. Fred Keating, eh? Interesting. But, no, this one is a bit earlier than that.
The clip of the father's deathbed scene does look like a modern reimagining of a silent film, but the credits for "Houdini The Life of the World's Greatest Escapologist" mention a 1928 bio-pic "The Great Houdini" by Ealing Film Studios. The credits also give a copyright date of 1993 for that reference, so I don't know what to think.
Yeah, I remember being perplexed by that credit as well. Haven't thought about that in a long time... I actually have a friend who lives in Ealing right near the studio. Wonder if they have an archive? Maybe next time I'm in England, I'll try and arrange a visit -- get the bottom that.
Formatting done! Scheduled to automatically post at 7AM PST (so even if someone makes me vanish at the Castle tonight, it will still go up. :p).
ReplyDeleteNow I need to work on Part II.
I can't wait John! Very exciting stuff!
ReplyDeleteIs this a silent movie from England?
ReplyDeleteEric, are you by any chance talking about that clip of what appears to be silent Houdini biopic in the documentary, Houdini: The Life of the World's Great Escapologist? That clip has always baffled me. I'm not sure it's an actual film. It might have been created just for that doc.
ReplyDeleteWhat I have isn't a movie that was ever made. It's an "attempt" at a biopic, but with some very interesting elements.
Yes, that's what I was wondering about.
ReplyDeleteAre you referring to the 1934 biopic that would have starred Fred Keating?
ReplyDeleteHey Bill. Is that the Dore Schary Paramount film? I'd never heard of a star attached to that one. Fred Keating, eh? Interesting. But, no, this one is a bit earlier than that.
ReplyDeleteThe clip of the father's deathbed scene does look like a modern reimagining of a silent film, but the credits for "Houdini The Life of the World's Greatest Escapologist" mention a 1928 bio-pic "The Great Houdini" by Ealing Film Studios. The credits also give a copyright date of 1993 for that reference, so I don't know what to think.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I remember being perplexed by that credit as well. Haven't thought about that in a long time... I actually have a friend who lives in Ealing right near the studio. Wonder if they have an archive? Maybe next time I'm in England, I'll try and arrange a visit -- get the bottom that.
ReplyDelete