Death Defying Acts (2007)

On a tour of Britain in 1926, Harry Houdini enters into a passionate affair with a psychic out to con the famous magician.

Director:

Gillian Armstrong

Writers:

Tony Grisoni, Brian Ward

Stars:

Guy Pearce, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Timothy Spall

3 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Guy Pearce	...	Harry Houdini
Catherine Zeta-Jones	...	Mary McGarvie
Timothy Spall	...	Sugarman
Saoirse Ronan	...	Benji McGarvie
Malcolm Shields	...	Leith Romeo
Leni Harper	...	Leith Romeo's wife
Ralph Riach	...	Mr. Robertson
Olivia Darnley	...	Flower Stall Seller
Anthony O'Donnell	...	Oily Librarian
Billy McColl	...	McTavish
James Holmes	...	Ugly Mug
Melanie Harris	...	Rose (as Frankey Martyn)
Aileen O'Gorman	...	Effie - Elderly Seamstress
Raymond Griffiths	...	Music Hall Dwarf
Shaun Mason	...	Heckler

Storyline

During Harry Houdini's tour of Britain in 1926, the master escapologist enters into a passionate affair with a Scottish psychic. The psychic and her daughter attempt to con Houdini during a highly publicized séance to contact his mother whose death has haunted him for many years. However all does not go to plan...

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Plot Keywords:

psychic | death | scottish | new york times the newspaper | 1920s | 

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Taglines:

There is no escape.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for some sensuality, thematic material, language, violent content and smoking

Details

Country:

UK Australia

Language:

English Hungarian

Release Date:

13 March 2008 (Australia)

Also Known As:

Death Defying Acts: Houdini's Secret

Filming Locations:

Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$3,561 (USA) (11 July 2008)

Gross:

$3,561 (USA) (11 July 2008)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Australian Film Finance Corporation (AFFC), Myriad Pictures, BBC Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

In the scene when Harry is dressing (shortly after his arrival in his Edinburgh hotel room) he starts to put on his braces (suspenders). In one shot they are partially unfastened but in the next shot (a close-up) they are securely fastened.

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Connections

Referenced in Lockout (2012)

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Soundtracks

"The Flowers of Edinburgh"
(uncredited)
Traditional
[Played by fiddler in the pub]

User Reviews

Could have been better

Another magician movie? But The Illusionist and The Prestige were great movies, so why not? Catherine Zeta Jones plays a foxy, yet poor, mother, scamming away through life pretending to be a psychic. When Guy Pearce's Houdini comes into town to prove or disprove the existence of the paranormal, they come into contact.

It is both a sad and a hopeful movie. A little too "psychic" for me and too little about the true nature of Harry Houdini except his fascination for his dead mother. The script itself does not lend itself to praise, but the atmosphere and realisation are top notch.

Bottom line: watch it when you are in a mood for a rom-drama, but you don't care much about the subject.