Continuing my scene-by-scene dissection of the 1953 biopic HOUDINI starring Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh. Last time, Houdini returned to America only to find himself ignored by the press. That's about to change.
Chapter 17: America's Sensation
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It was more common back then, in NYC (and other cities) to have police officers on horseback directing traffic, maintaining crowd control, and other duties, when not walking their beat.
ReplyDeleteSo it probably wasn't to get the audience wondering if they were going to stop the stunt. (they could do that by just going to the rooftop/pulley.) but perhaps showing the interest HH was creating by gathering a crowd so large they needed officers on horseback to control the crowds.
Makes sense. Thanks.
DeleteNo one ever talks about his film career. *sobs*
ReplyDeleteI loved the way Tony Curtis pass the hoop on the levitation. When I did a Super X suspension at Magic Mountain, I did it the same way.
ReplyDeleteI think Harry did his suspended straitjacket escapes dangling in front of newspaper buildings and theaters. I don't believe he did them in front of residential buildings.
ReplyDeleteYeah! He would tell the people working in the press what headline he wanted and such.
DeleteI’m sure Harry wouldn’t want to do it in front of Residental buildings for obvious reasons. Disturbing the people who live in there.
Back then when newspapers were the dominant media, doing his escape from a newspaper's building, (especially when cities had several newspapers furiously competing against each other), it would guarantee front page (above the fold) coverage, because it was that newspaper's story, which included exclusive pre/post coverage/interviews.
DeleteAll true. But it also meant rival papers would ignore it, which is something I've encountered several times. Sometimes his SSJs are hard to find for this reason.
DeleteThat is true, but also was a reason for the newspaper helping with the stunt, would really hype THEIR story, with exclusive coverage. It was often the goal for one paper to carry a story before the others when it would later just be "yesterday's news."
DeleteMentalists would arrange a prediction stunt with a particular paper or do blindfold drive/walk that would start and end at the paper's building....one promoting the other. Those adept at these tie-ins would book a theater on the promise their appearance would get front page coverage.
Diego Domingo
Actor Douglas Spencer also plays a reporter in 1951's "The Thing From Another World". Another actor says the line: "Houdini would find it tough getting in!". (1:14:42)
ReplyDeleteYou can get out, but you can never get in!
Delete*badumtss*
Oh, cool, I didn't know that! Thanks Fox.
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