The Grim Game (1919)

Jailed unjustly for a murder he did not commit, a young man uses his amazing powers of escape to free himself and pursue the actual killers, who hold his fiancée captive.

Director:

Irvin Willat

Writers:

Arthur B. Reeve (story), John Grey,

Stars:

Harry Houdini, Thomas Jefferson, Ann Forrest

Cast

Cast overview:
Harry Houdini	...	Harvey Hanford
Thomas Jefferson	...	Dudley Cameron
Ann Forrest	...	Mary Cameron
Augustus Phillips	...	Clifton Allison
Tully Marshall	...	Richard Raver
Arthur Hoyt	...	Dr. Harvey Tyson
Mae Busch	...	Ethel Delmead
Edward Martin	...	Police Reporter
Jane Wolfe	...	Hannah (as Jane Wolf)

Storyline

Jailed unjustly for a murder he did not commit, a young man uses his amazing powers of escape to free himself and pursue the actual killers, who hold his fiancée captive.

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 October 1919 (USA)

Box Office

Budget:

$200,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

50 min

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The person jumping from one plane to the other is not Harry Houdini, it was a stuntman named Robert Kennedy (other sources say it was actor/stuntman Monte Blue). When news of the mid-air collision of the planes made headlines, Houdini cheerfully offered a reward to anyone who could prove that it was not him doing the stunts. Of course, he failed to mention that it really wasn't him performing the feat.

User Reviews

CryFi is right--this is just a film fragment.

I recently saw this as a DVD extra included with the film HALDANE OF THE SECRET SERVICE. Both films star Harry Houdini but THE GRIM GAME is only a film fragment today--the rest of it no longer exists. While I have enjoyed the reviews of both reviewers who have already reviewed this film, I really must agree with CryFi's review--and it reflects that most of the original film is gone AND gives nice information about the film.

As for me, I can't see giving the fragment anything more than a 3. Although the clip is pretty good, there really isn't a coherent story and it is really just an excuse by Houdini and the film makers to use some accidental footage involving an air tragedy. It is funny to realize that Houdini took credit for the mid-air stunts he didn't even perform.

This film is essentially a curio for history teachers, magic lovers and film historians. It is NOT a film that is coherent or worth seeking out because it only is a piece of a longer film.