Monday, January 11, 2016

David Bowie's Houdini incident

No doubt you've heard that David Bowie, one of the great iconic rock stars of all time, died yesterday at the age of 69. Bowie had been battling cancer and is reported to have died peacefully at home. So is there a Houdini connection to the Starman? Why yes there is.


In 1991, Bowie starred opposite Rosanna Arquette in The Linguini Incident. In the movie, Arquette plays an aspiring magician and escape artist who collects Houdini artifacts and comes into possession of "Madame Houdini's" wedding ring. While waiting for her big break, she works as a waitress at a Manhattan restaurant where Bowie tries to get her to marry him so he can get his green card.

It's a decent film loaded with Houdini references and a nice water tank escape at the end. In some territories it was called Houdini & Company.

David Bowie also played Nikola Tesla in the 2006 film The Prestige, one the best magic films ever.

Below is the trailer for The Linguini Incident.



You can read David Bowie's obituary at The New York Times.
at

7 comments:

  1. Professor Slim KingJanuary 11, 2016 at 1:03 PM

    I found the movie here...
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QeNSYUXXtc

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. John CoxJanuary 11, 2016 at 1:13 PM

      Thanks Professor. The DVD is out of print and I only have it on Laser Disc, believe it or not. Haven't seen it in years, so maybe I'll watch on YouTube.

      Delete
  2. gingertimeladyJanuary 12, 2016 at 1:44 PM

    I've never heard of The Linguini Incident. Thanks for the introduction! And I agree, Bowie was great as Tesla in The Prestige.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. John CoxJanuary 12, 2016 at 7:07 PM

      My pleasure. Yeah, it's not a film that's generally known, even by Houdini buffs.

      Delete
    2. ChristineUJanuary 13, 2016 at 9:13 PM

      I don't understand why all these magicians like "The Prestige," since as I remember it, [possible spoiler] the ending pretty much proved that both the protagonists were terrible magicians.

      Delete
  3. Leo HeviaJanuary 12, 2016 at 7:32 PM

    R.I.P. Starman

    Ashes to ashes, funk to funky
    We know Major Tom's a junkie
    Strung out in heaven's high
    Hitting an all-time low

    ReplyDelete
  4. CheChiMarch 5, 2018 at 8:35 PM

    This is one of my favorite films. Sadly, I only have it on vhs. I wishe they’d release it on an instant download version.

    ReplyDelete