Houdini (1953)
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- Approved
- 1h 46min
- Biography, Drama
- 02 Jul 1953 (USA)
- Movie
From his beginnings as a "wildman" carnival act to the internationally famous feat of escaping from a locked trunk in an ice-jammed river, the great Harry Houdini emerged as the world's most captivating magician and escape artist.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Tony Curtis | ... |
Harry Houdini
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| Janet Leigh | ... |
Bess Houdini
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| Torin Thatcher | ... |
Otto
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| Angela Clarke | ... |
Harry's Mother
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| Stefan Schnabel | ... |
German Prosecuting Attorney
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| Ian Wolfe | ... |
Malue
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| Sig Ruman | ... |
Schultz
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| Michael Pate | ... |
Dooley
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| Connie Gilchrist | ... |
Mrs. Shultz
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Malcolm Lee Beggs | ... |
British Jail Warden
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| Frank Orth | ... |
Mr. Hunter
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Barry Bernard | ... |
Insp. Marlick
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| Douglas Spencer | ... |
Simms - Reporter
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| John Alban | ... |
Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
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John Albright | ... |
Audience Member (uncredited)
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| Eric Alden | ... |
Sailor (uncredited)
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| Fred Aldrich | ... |
Bouncer (uncredited)
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Elsie Ames | ... |
Entertainer (uncredited)
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Jan Arden | ... |
Shimmy Dancer (uncredited)
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Nick Arno | ... |
Entertainer (uncredited)
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Walter Bacon | ... |
Audience Member (uncredited)
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| Peter Baldwin | ... |
Fred - Bess' Escort (uncredited)
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| Bobby Barber | ... |
Comic Piano Player (uncredited)
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John Barton | ... |
Observer at Ice Show (uncredited)
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Mary Bayless | ... |
Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
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| Oliver Blake | ... |
Coney Island Barker (uncredited)
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| Billy Bletcher | ... |
Italian Basso (uncredited)
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| Paul Bradley | ... |
Audience Member (uncredited)
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John Breen | ... |
Audience Member (uncredited)
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Loren Brown | ... |
Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
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| Morgan Brown | ... |
German Magistrate (uncredited)
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Boyd Cabeen | ... |
Audience Member (uncredited)
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| Steve Carruthers | ... |
Audience Member (uncredited)
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Donald Chaffin | ... |
Workman (uncredited)
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Dick Cherney | ... |
Workman (uncredited)
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Cliff Clark | ... |
Barker (uncredited)
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| Edward Clark | ... |
Doorman (uncredited)
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Bud Cokes | ... |
Workman (uncredited)
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Paul Cristo | ... |
Audience Member (uncredited)
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Roy Damron | ... |
Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
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Jim Davies | ... |
Heckler (uncredited)
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Louise De Carlo | ... |
Dance Girl (uncredited)
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Daniel De Jonghe | ... |
Desk Clerk (uncredited)
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Marion Dempsey | ... |
Sword Swallower (uncredited)
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| Helen Dickson | ... |
Audience Member (uncredited)
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Don Dunning | ... |
Heckler (uncredited)
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Norma Jean Eckart | ... |
Girl in Astor Guillotine Act (uncredited)
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| Billy Engle | ... |
Audience Member (uncredited)
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| Fred Essler | ... |
Officious Man (uncredited)
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| Franklyn Farnum | ... |
Guest at Halloween Magician's Ball (uncredited)
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| Bess Flowers | ... |
Guest at Halloween Magician's Ball (uncredited)
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Charles Fogel | ... |
Official (uncredited)
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Curt Furberg | ... |
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
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Esther Garber | ... |
Esther's Girlfriend (uncredited)
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Jon Gardner | ... |
Boy (uncredited)
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| Maxine Gates | ... |
Heavy Blonde Woman (uncredited)
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Slim Gaut | ... |
Audience Member (uncredited)
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Bill Gentry | ... |
Fred's Friend (uncredited)
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| Joanne Gilbert | ... |
Girl (uncredited)
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| Jody Gilbert | ... |
Fat Girl (uncredited)
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Joe Gilbert | ... |
Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
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Arthur Gould-Porter | ... |
Alhambra Manager (uncredited)
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| Kit Guard | ... |
'Spirit' at Seance (uncredited)
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Henry Guttman | ... |
Master of Ceremonies, Berlin Nightclub (uncredited)
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Robert Haines | ... |
Magician's Assistant (uncredited)
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Alec Harford | ... |
Assistant (uncredited)
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| Sam Harris | ... |
Guest at Halloween Magician's Ball (uncredited)
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| Grace Hayle | ... |
Woman Who Screams (uncredited)
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Len Hendry | ... |
Stagehand (uncredited)
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Lars Hensen | ... |
Audience Member (uncredited)
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Harry Hines | ... |
Barker (uncredited)
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Tex Holden | ... |
Workman (uncredited)
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| George Huggins | ... |
Audience Member (uncredited)
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Jerry James | ... |
Reporter (uncredited)
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| Frank Jaquet | ... |
Mr. Brown - Foreman (uncredited)
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| Tor Johnson | ... |
Strongman (uncredited)
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Frank Kreig | ... |
Stagehand (uncredited)
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| Ethan Laidlaw | ... |
Workman (uncredited)
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| Mike Lally | ... |
Audience Member (uncredited)
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William W. Larsen | ... |
Guillotine Act (uncredited)
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| Lyle Latell | ... |
Calcott (uncredited)
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Mike Mahoney | ... |
Bell Captain (uncredited)
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| Lewis Martin | ... |
Editor (uncredited)
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Thomas Martin | ... |
Sideshow Spectator / Man in Audience (uncredited)
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Billy McCoy | ... |
Carriage Driver (uncredited)
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Clyde McLeod | ... |
Waiter (uncredited)
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William Meader | ... |
Reporter (uncredited)
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Russell Meeker | ... |
Audience Member (uncredited)
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| Torben Meyer | ... |
Headwaiter (uncredited)
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| Mary Murphy | ... |
Girl (uncredited)
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Hal Neiman | ... |
Barker (uncredited)
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Anton Northpole | ... |
Audience Member (uncredited)
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| Monty O'Grady | ... |
Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
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| Tudor Owen | ... |
Blacksmith (uncredited)
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| Mabel Paige | ... |
Medium (uncredited)
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John Pedrini | ... |
Audience Member (uncredited)
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| Ralph Peters | ... |
Prisoner (uncredited)
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| Joe Ploski | ... |
Man in Audience Throwing Tomato (uncredited)
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Luce Potter | ... |
Little Woman (uncredited)
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| Gilman Rankin | ... |
Fire Chief (uncredited)
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Les Raymaster | ... |
Observer at Ice Show (uncredited)
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| Bob Reeves | ... |
Audience Member (uncredited)
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Waclaw Rekwart | ... |
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
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A.J. Buster Resmondo | ... |
Little Man (uncredited)
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John Rice | ... |
Audience Member (uncredited)
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| John Roy | ... |
Audience Member (uncredited)
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Lawrence Ryle | ... |
German Judge (uncredited)
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Danny Sands | ... |
Audience Member (uncredited)
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| Scott Seaton | ... |
Observer at Ice Show (uncredited)
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| Richard Shannon | ... |
Miner (uncredited)
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Leslie Sketchley | ... |
Audience Member (uncredited)
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Bert Spencer | ... |
Audience Member (uncredited)
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| Ray Spiker | ... |
Stagehand (uncredited)
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| Norman Stevans | ... |
Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
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| Bert Stevens | ... |
Maitre d' - Hotel Astor (uncredited)
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| Charles Sullivan | ... |
Audience Spectator (uncredited)
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Arthur Tovey | ... |
Audience Spectator (uncredited)
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Blaine Turner | ... |
Audience Member (uncredited)
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| Ernö Verebes | ... |
Prof. Allegari (uncredited)
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| Anthony Warde | ... |
Master of Ceremonies (uncredited)
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Audrey Washburn | ... |
Contortionist (uncredited)
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Betty Yeaton | ... |
Contortionist (uncredited)
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Directed by
| George Marshall | ||
Written by
| Philip Yordan | ... | (screenplay) |
| Harold Kellock | ... | (book) |
Produced by
| Frank Freeman Jr. | ... | associate producer |
| George Pal | ... | producer |
Music by
| Roy Webb | ||
Cinematography by
| Ernest Laszlo | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| George Tomasini | ||
Editorial Department
| Richard Mueller | ... | color consultant: Technicolor |
Art Direction by
| Albert Nozaki | ... | (as Al Nozaki) |
| Hal Pereira | ||
Set Decoration by
| Sam Comer | ||
| Ray Moyer | ||
Costume Design by
| Edith Head | ||
Makeup Department
| Wally Westmore | ... | makeup supervisor |
Production Management
| C. Kenneth Deland | ... | production manager (uncredited) |
| Andrew J. Durkus | ... | production manager (uncredited) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Michael D. Moore | ... | assistant director |
Art Department
| Robert Goodstein | ... | props (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Gene Garvin | ... | sound recordist |
| Harry D. Mills | ... | sound recordist (as Harry Mills) |
Visual Effects by
| Gordon Jennings | ... | special photographic effects |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Guy Bennett | ... | second camera operator (uncredited) |
| Loomis Dean | ... | still photographer (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Joan Joseff | ... | costume jeweller (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Sidney Cutner | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
| Gil Grau | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
| George Parrish | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
| Ethmer Roten | ... | musician: flute (uncredited) |
| Leo Shuken | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
| Van Cleave | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Joseph Dunninger | ... | technical advisor (as Dunninger) |
| George L. Boston | ... | technical advisor (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Paramount Pictures (1953) (United States) (theatrical)
- Paramount British Pictures (1953) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- AFEX (1954) (Austria) (theatrical)
- Paramount Pictures (1954) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- Paramount (1954) (France) (theatrical)
- Film AB Paramount (1954) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Paramount Pictures (1954) (Norway) (theatrical)
- National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1965) (United States) (tv)
- Paramount Home Entertainment (1991) (United States) (VHS)
- Legend Films (2008) (Canada) (DVD)
- Legend Films (2008) (United States) (DVD)
- Legend Films (2011) (Canada) (DVD)
- Paramount Channel (2020) (France) (tv)
- Explosive-Media (2021) (Germany) (Blu-ray)
- Explosive-Media (2021) (Germany) (DVD)
Special Effects
Other Companies
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
The amazing career of master magician Harry Houdini is presented from his beginnings with a carnival "wild man" act to his emergence as an internationally-acclaimed illusionist, From his dramatic escape from a locked safe under the frozen Detroit River to an even more improbable one from a locked cell in Scotland Yard, he never failed to please and astound his audiences. Although Houdini's tricks are achieved through his marvelous physical dexterity and innate sleight-of-hand, he courted death with the hazardous illusions he performed and his compulsive quest to make contact with the spirit world. Written by duke1029@aol.com |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | His feats of magic were GREAT! The magic of their love was GREATER! See more » |
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| Parents Guide | Add content advisory for parents » |
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Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | A talented amateur magician, Tony Curtis performed most of his own tricks in this film. See more » |
| Goofs | When the Houdinis and the reporter are being driven to the séance, the same rear projection loop is continually run in the car's back window, repeatedly showing the same background traffic, with the splice where the loop begins plainly visible each time. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Edited into Magic with the Stars (1982). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Perpetuum Mobile, Op. 257 (Perpetual Motion) See more » |
| Quotes |
Harry Houdini:
I hadn't prepared anything for tonight, but perhaps I have something that will amuse you. So if you'll get a couple of broomsticks, I'll get my wife - and we'll see what we can do. See more » |