Saturday, January 8, 2011

Terror Island Weekend: "An attempt to murder Harper"

Harry Houdini aka Harry Harper is in trouble in this second ultra-rare original Terror Island lobby card, courtesy of our friend MSW. The scene depicted here is on one of the two missing reels, so I don't really know what's happening. It could be that poker finds its mark and it's after this that Houdini...I mean, Harper...is chained to a chair in a burning barn (another lost scene). Look out behind you, Harry!

From the collection of MSW

Travel Facts: While filming on Catalina Island, Houdini attempted to play the role of real-life action hero when he set out to rescue a production boat that had stalled in the surf and was headed into the rocks. Houdini attempted to swim out to the boat with a rescue line, but he became trapped in the rough tide and had to be rescued himself. The entire incident was reportedly photographed by Terror Island cameraman, William Marshall.

Come back tomorrow for the exciting conclusion of Terror Island Weekend!

Take me to Day 3

4 comments:

  1. Another cool picture. The sweater kills me, he looks like Bigfoot with a tie!

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  2. I'm wondering if there was an idea of making Harry Harper a franchise character. If you watch the early scenes, he's very Sherlock Holmes like, he even has a Watson. They build in domestic eccentrics, like a cat that eats at the table with them. And like Holmes, one comes and consults with Harper when you have a problem. The fur coat (we also talked about this in yesterday's comments) and cloth cap is just a part of this character look. A stand out costume, again, like Holmes.

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  3. BTW, be relieved that tomorrow's card is coat free. :p

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  4. I don't feel so bad about laughing at the coat yesterday then. I see it is still jumping out at people.

    Pity they didn't write the real life rescue scene into the film and then splice it in. Houdini saves the day (if not himself).

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