Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysLGBTQ+ Pride MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

The Great Houdini

  • TV Movie
  • 19761976
  • 2h
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
407
YOUR RATING
Paul Michael Glaser in The Great Houdini (1976)
  • Biography
  • Drama
A biography of the renowned escape artist Harry Houdini, examining his fascination with the occult and his promise to his wife on her deathbed that he would speak from the beyond.A biography of the renowned escape artist Harry Houdini, examining his fascination with the occult and his promise to his wife on her deathbed that he would speak from the beyond.A biography of the renowned escape artist Harry Houdini, examining his fascination with the occult and his promise to his wife on her deathbed that he would speak from the beyond.
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
407
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Melville Shavelson
  • Writers
    • Melville Shavelson
    • Peter Benchley(uncredited)
  • Stars
    • Paul Michael Glaser
    • Sally Struthers
    • Ruth Gordon
Top credits
  • Director
    • Melville Shavelson
  • Writers
    • Melville Shavelson
    • Peter Benchley(uncredited)
  • Stars
    • Paul Michael Glaser
    • Sally Struthers
    • Ruth Gordon
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 12User reviews
    • 6Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys
      • 2 nominations total

    Photos17

    Adrienne Barbeau in The Great Houdini (1976)
    Paul Michael Glaser and Sally Struthers in The Great Houdini (1976)
    Paul Michael Glaser in The Great Houdini (1976)
    Paul Michael Glaser and Geoffrey Lewis in The Great Houdini (1976)
    Adrienne Barbeau and Paul Michael Glaser in The Great Houdini (1976)
    Paul Michael Glaser in The Great Houdini (1976)
    Paul Michael Glaser and Sally Struthers in The Great Houdini (1976)
    Peter Cushing in The Great Houdini (1976)
    Paul Michael Glaser in The Great Houdini (1976)
    Paul Michael Glaser and Sally Struthers in The Great Houdini (1976)
    Paul Michael Glaser in The Great Houdini (1976)
    Paul Michael Glaser in The Great Houdini (1976)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Paul Michael Glaser
    Paul Michael Glaser
    • Harry Houdini (Erich Weiss)as Harry Houdini (Erich Weiss)
    Sally Struthers
    Sally Struthers
    • Bess Houdinias Bess Houdini
    Ruth Gordon
    Ruth Gordon
    • Cecilia Weissas Cecilia Weiss
    Vivian Vance
    Vivian Vance
    • Minnie (Nurse)as Minnie (Nurse)
    Adrienne Barbeau
    Adrienne Barbeau
    • Daisy Whiteas Daisy White
    Bill Bixby
    Bill Bixby
    • Reverend Fordas Reverend Ford
    Jack Carter
    Jack Carter
    • Theo Weissas Theo Weiss
    Peter Cushing
    Peter Cushing
    • Conan Doyleas Conan Doyle
    Nina Foch
    Nina Foch
    • Reverend Le Veyneas Reverend Le Veyne
    Wilfrid Hyde-White
    Wilfrid Hyde-White
    • Superintendent Melvilleas Superintendent Melville
    Geoffrey Lewis
    Geoffrey Lewis
    • Dr. Crandonas Dr. Crandon
    Maureen O'Sullivan
    Maureen O'Sullivan
    • Lady Conan Doyleas Lady Conan Doyle
    Clive Revill
    Clive Revill
    • Dundas Slateras Dundas Slater
    Barbara Rhoades
    Barbara Rhoades
    • Margery Crandonas Margery Crandon
    Marilyn Brodnick
    • Dorothy Weissas Dorothy Weiss
    Patrick Culliton
    Patrick Culliton
    • Franz Kuklaas Franz Kukla
    Richard Kennedy
    Richard Kennedy
    • Pub Policemanas Pub Policeman
    Karin Collison
    Karin Collison
    • Barmaidas Barmaid
    • (as Elizabeth E.Moor)
    • Director
      • Melville Shavelson
    • Writers
      • Melville Shavelson
      • Peter Benchley(uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    More like this

    Salem's Lot
    6.7
    Salem's Lot
    Having Babies
    5.8
    Having Babies
    Red Alert
    6.8
    Red Alert
    Death on the Nile
    7.2
    Death on the Nile
    Houdini
    5.6
    Houdini
    Houdini
    6.8
    Houdini
    Kingpin
    6.9
    Kingpin
    Seduced
    5.4
    Seduced
    The Darker Side of Terror
    5.0
    The Darker Side of Terror
    The Next One
    4.7
    The Next One
    Crash
    5.6
    Crash
    Body Heat
    7.4
    Body Heat

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Adrienne Barbeau's first TV movie.
    • Crazy credits
      Opening credits prologue: The following program is a biographical dramatization created from fact and fiction.
    • Connections
      Featured in The 29th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1977)

    User reviews12

    Review
    Top review
    THE GREAT HOUDINI...NOT JUST GREAT...EXCELLENT!!!!!!
    I'm lucky enough to say that I own a copy of this movie, taped very late one night a long time ago. Upon repeated viewings, the movie still stands the test of time! Paul Michael Glazer is excellent as Harry Houdini, but that's only the tip of the iceberg with this wonderful cast...Sally Struthers plays the role of Harry's wife (both young & old) very convincingly, Vivian Vance is perfect as the nurse (bringing quite a bit of humor to the role), Adrienne Barbeau is as sultry as ever but brings a lot of heart to her role, Bill Bixby - although in the movie only briefly - is very believable as the Medium trying to contact Houdini's ghost, hell - even Peter Cushing gets in on the action! The best role by far was played by the late Ruth Gordon, who should have gotten much more notoriety for her role as Houdini's mother...WHAT A CAST! Aside from all of that is a very interesting (and at times VERY scary) story not to mention a wonderful love story! Why isn't this movie out on DVD?!? If at all possible, do yourself a favor and watch this one if fortunate enough to get a chance! EXCELLENT IN EVERY WAY!
    helpful•14
    3
    • evildead1978
    • Oct 7, 2004

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 8, 1976 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • El Gran Houdini
    • Filming locations
      • 20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • ABC Circle Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Paul Michael Glaser in The Great Houdini (1976)
    Top Gap
    By what name was The Great Houdini (1976) officially released in Canada in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    2022 TV Guide: The Best Shows Coming This Year
    See the full list
    Image caption not available
    2:02
    LGBTQIA+ Movies and Shows to Watch This Summer
    Watch the video

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.