On a tour of Britain in 1926, Harry Houdini (Guy Pearce) enters into a passionate affair with a psychic out to con him.
Director:
Gillian Armstrong
From metacritic.com
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Title: Death Defying Acts (2007)
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5 wins & 7 nominations.
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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 | |
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Leni Harper | ... | Leith Romeo's wife |
| Ralph Riach | ... | Mr. Robertson | |
| Olivia Darnley | ... | Flower Stall Seller | |
| Anthony O'Donnell | ... | Oily Librarian | |
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Billy McColl | ... | McTavish |
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James Holmes | ... | Ugly Mug |
| Melanie Harris | ... | Rose (as Frankey Martyn) | |
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Aileen O'Gorman | ... | Effie - Elderly Seamstress |
| Raymond Griffiths | ... | Music Hall Dwarf | |
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Shaun Mason | ... | Heckler |
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Plot Summary
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Plot Synopsis
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Storyline
During Harry Houdini's (Guy Pearce'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.
Plot Keywords:
psychotronic film | death in title | muscular physique | man in a straight jacket | alternate history |Taglines:
Magic Is Inescapable See more »Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
Rated PG for some sensuality, thematic material, language, violent content and smoking | See all certifications »Parents Guide:
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Benji McGarvie: [with Scottish accent] When I was very small, I had a gift. I saw things other folk did nae see. It was like looking into deep water and seein' things on the other side. As I grew up, the gift vanished, just like my mam said it would. And I saw the world as it really was - with all its sweet lies and trickery. The great Houdini came into our lives, and changed everything forever.
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(uncredited)
Traditional
[Played by fiddler in the pub]
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Did You Know?
Trivia
Guy Pearce and Saoirse Ronan appeared in Mary Queen of Scots (2018). See more »Goofs
In the scene before Houdini try to communicate with his passed mother via Mary McGarvie, it can be clearly seen there is a vacuum tube that happened to be a 6C33C Russian vacuum tube, which does not exist until the 60s, and further more, that vacuum tube couldn't work anymore, since it was leaked (it has a white layer of powder inside the tube that shows there is air inside). See more »Quotes
[first lines]Benji McGarvie: [with Scottish accent] When I was very small, I had a gift. I saw things other folk did nae see. It was like looking into deep water and seein' things on the other side. As I grew up, the gift vanished, just like my mam said it would. And I saw the world as it really was - with all its sweet lies and trickery. The great Houdini came into our lives, and changed everything forever.
See more »
Soundtracks
The Flowers of Edinburgh(uncredited)
Traditional
[Played by fiddler in the pub]
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Details
Release Date:
13 March 2008 (Australia) See more »Also Known As:
Death Defying Acts: Houdini's Secret See more »Edit
Box Office
Budget:
$20,000,000 (estimated)Opening Weekend USA:
$3,561, 13 July 2008Gross USA:
$5,665Cumulative Worldwide Gross:
$8,396,245Company Credits
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IMDbPro »
i do not know why this film is flushed with negative reviews. First of all this is not a film about Houdini, there is no reason why this film should dramatically display the amazing acts and potentials of the artist himself; Secondly, i do not see why 'there is no reason for the creation of this movie' is justifiable, this film is just a testimony on how characters carry on with their lives and that itself is enough to make a film meaningful...in fact films like 'Atonement' (where the girl is also in) deserves this statement better where everything is just so FAKE. Third, i haven't watch the illusionist but i have to say this is richer in detail, and thus better than the Prestige--a film which displays too much magic 'action' but no depth to the characters or the plot at all, like an eggshell without the yoke inside...Lastly, this is a decent film where everything is well-made, well presented, well acting performances (exception of Catherine's dramatically 'fake' acting at times), and a good score