Today I continue my scene by scene dissection of Paramount's 1953 biopic Houdini, in which I'll attempt to make the case that it's much more historically accurate than it is given credit. And anything else that comes to mind. Last time we met Harry and Bess at a New York Dime Museum. We now DISSOLVE TO...
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Chapter 3: Coney Island
I think you could easily do a Rifftrax/MST audio commentary that viewers could sync up with a home video version.
ReplyDeleteYes, a commentary added to a special edition of this movie, (especially like yourself who has the knowledge about HH and film history) would be great. Thank you for noting the charector actors in this film. As discussed elsewhere, what makes the 1953 biopic, is it was made in what was left of the old studio system, by a major studio with 2 very talented and popular stars of the time and the great charector and background actors, the studios had back then, that added so much to it.
ReplyDeleteAnother great analysis -- thanks for sharing, John. These are so much fun to read. That buzz saw sequence really is ingenious - so well written, staged and shot, and no matter how many times I watch the movie, I cringe as the blade gets closer and closer. The scene so artfully combines humor, romance, suspense and fear simultaneously. Glad you also mentioned the supporting players, including Peter Baldwin as Bess's cranky suitor; I clicked on the link you provided and was amazed by his credits on imdb - not just as an actor but as an Emmy-winning and multiple Emmy-nominated director (of comedies, no less!)
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