Houdini: The Movie Star

The master magician and escape artist Harry Houdini made his name liberating himself from straitjackets, handcuffs and locked safes, and as Kino’s fascinating new three-disc collection illustrates, he didn’t just work his wonders for live audiences. Houdini: The Movie Star compiles Houdini’s seldom-seen silent film work, which include mysteries Terror Island (1920) and The Man From Beyond (1922) and the conspiracy-themed adventure serial The Master Mystery (1919), which features a murderous humanoid robot (or 'Automaton,’ as it’s referred to in the film). The features are plotted around Houdini’s escape abilities, of course, and aren’t all that good by silent standards, but they remain interesting, star-vehicle curios. Not surprisingly, the most entertaining material can by found in a supplemental section that offers filmed records of Houdini’s famous escapes, which he performed from 1907 to 1923, including one clip that’s billed as Houdini’s “first appearance in motion pictures.”

Shelf Talk: The target market for this collection are silent film fans, of course, as well as schools, libraries and museums. And as there aren’t many Houdini titles currently available in the marketplace (the 1953 Tony Curtis-starring biopic isn’t even in release), Kino’s package will fill a sizable void for those interested in the legendary magician. The cover art featuring a period painted portrait of Houdini set against a blood-red background also is sure to capture wandering eyes.