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ERA
Did you know
73 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
MoodPlayr · trivia#01
Houdini
"His feats of magic were GREAT! The magic of their love was GREATER!"
1953 1h 46m EN
👍
6.6
SOLID
★6.6TMDB · 81
DramaRomanceHistory
Synopsis
Spoiler shield
By the early 1900s, the extraordinary Houdini earned an international reputation for his theatrical tricks and daring feats of extrication from shackles, ropes, handcuffs and... Scotland Yard's jails.
“His feats of magic were GREAT! The magic of their love was GREATER!”
Where to watch · US
Cast
Tony Curtis
Harry Houdini
Janet Leigh
Bess Houdini
Torin Thatcher
Otto
Angela Clarke
Harry's Mother
Stefan Schnabel
German Prosecuting Attorney
Ian Wolfe
Malue
Sig Ruman
Schultz
Michael Pate
Dooley
Credits
Behind the camera
- Director
- George Marshall
- Writers
- Philip Yordan
- Languages
- English
- Countries
- United States of America
Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.
Did you know?
Fun facts 🍿
2 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Directed by George Marshall, shot by Ernest Laszlo. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
MoodPlayr · trivia#02
3 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Original score by Roy Webb. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
MoodPlayr · trivia#03
4 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Editor George Tomasini shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
MoodPlayr · trivia#04
5 / 8
CAST
Did you know
Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh and Torin Thatcher carry the top of the cast.
MoodPlayr · trivia#05
6 / 8
FACT
Did you know
Marketing tagline: "His feats of magic were GREAT! The magic of their love was GREATER!".
MoodPlayr · trivia#06
7 / 8
WILD
Did you know
IMDB entry: tt0045886 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
MoodPlayr · trivia#07
8 / 8
WILD
Did you know
Only 81 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.
MoodPlayr · trivia#08
Cinephile deep dive
The take
George Marshall directs. Ernest Laszlo behind the camera. Roy Webb scores. George Tomasini cuts. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.
Trivia
Things worth knowing
- 173 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
- 2Directed by George Marshall, shot by Ernest Laszlo. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
- 3Original score by Roy Webb. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
- 4Editor George Tomasini shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
- 5Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh and Torin Thatcher carry the top of the cast.
- 6Marketing tagline: "His feats of magic were GREAT! The magic of their love was GREATER!".
- 7IMDB entry: tt0045886 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
- 8Only 81 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.
The technical file
- Cinematography
- Ernest Laszlo
- Original score
- Roy Webb
- Editing
- George Tomasini
- Costume design
- Edith Head
- Makeup / hair
- Wally Westmore
- Runtime
- 106 min · 1h 46m
- Status
- Released
- Original language
- EN
- Certification (US)
- NR
- IMDB
- Houdini (1953)
Also by
George Marshall
Trailers & featurettes
Watch the pieces
Production companies
Who made it
Paramount Pictures
US
Key crew
- NovelHarold Kellock
- Set DecorationSam Comer
- Associate ProducerFrank Freeman Jr.
- ProducerGeorge Pal
- Set DecorationRay Moyer
- EditorGeorge Tomasini
- Art DirectionAlbert Nozaki
- Costume DesignEdith Head
- Art DirectionHal Pereira
- Makeup DesignerWally Westmore
Themes & keywords
What it's about, really
- drowning
- escape
- magic
- magic show
- tricks
- biography
- houdini
Release history · US
When it landed
- Theatrical1953-07-02NR
