Here's a bright, colourful, entertaining if not always factually accurate biopic of the great escapologist Harry Houdini. Tony Curtis plays the part with great brio as you'd expect and is well supported by his fretful but usually supportive wife played coincidentally by his real life wife of the time Janet Leigh.Of course being a Hollywood screen biography, it plays pretty loosely with the facts, most obviously with his apparent death scene in the last reel just after he's broken out of his not-quite death- defying water torture escape. Maybe the director thought that the reputed story of a young student punching him in the stomach unawares was a bit tawdry but this substitute conclusion seemed over-melodramatic in the extreme.Otherwise, while I'm no expert on Houdini's career I did recognise other familiar incidents in the entertainer's life, including breaking out of a London prison, the straitjacket escape suspended outside a New York skyscraper and the plunge under the ice sealed in a safe although you have to wonder how he could possibly miss the big hole cut in the ice right above him through which the safe was dropped. The movie also takes in his interest in spiritualism as he attempts to connect with his mother in the afterlife after her death.These quibbles apart, the movie was energetic and highly watchable as befits its subject. Curtis and Leigh make a handsome couple and the sets variously including recreations of a carnival show- ground, jail and vaudeville theatres are also easy on the eye.In short, this film was fine escapist entertainment - sorry!

This colorful biography of the famed magician focuses on his later life and career. It is less than factual but that's not a bad thing, as the primary purpose here is to entertain, not necessarily to inform. And it is quite entertaining for the most part, although it tends to become silly as it touches on premonitions and the supernatural. Houdini was best known for his escape routines and many of them are on display here. Curtis performs well in one of his best early roles, bringing a lot of energy and nicely conveying Houdini's passion for his craft. Leigh, who was married to Curtis at the time, is lovely as his devoted wife in their first screen pairing.

Too often, films take a fast and loose approach to biopics. So, it didn't surprise me that much of "Houdini" was pure crap. Sadly, however, the discerning viewer is left wondering what is crap and what was really true about Houdini. I investigated a bit and found SOME of the movie was true--such as Houdini playing a wild man at a carnival early in his career. Unfortunately, Houdini's early death had nothing to do with how he died in the film. There is a line by an old magician (Ian Wolfe) who says "It will make you famous BUT it will kill you"--and the rest of the film went about proving that this man was prophetic. However, he was wrong--none of Houdini's tricks killed him! In another example, it made it seem as if the man believed that he would somehow return after death at the end of the picture--while he actually fought throughout his life to expose such things and felt it was all nonsense. So, you really cannot take this film as Gospel....it is a very, very broad view of Houdini's life and many, many liberties were taken with the truth.Obviously, the film loses a few points for these untruths. However, apart from this, is it entertaining and worth seeing? Maybe. It is nice that Curtis was cast, as although he looked very little like Houdini, his ability to do magic and make the tricks looked good sure helped. It's just too bad you never learn much about him as a person in this portrayal. Not bad---just far from what it should have been, as Houdini's life was amazing (such as his career in films which was never mentioned) and it all is so sensationalized you never really get to know him. A flawed time-passer and that's about all.

Tony Curtis was the proper person to play Harry Houdini when this movie was made. He had the right attitude. Janet Leigh, his wife in real life then, was outstanding as Bess Houdini and the sparks between them show on this film. To me the problem is the script.The real Houdini's life was much more interesting than the points of his life presented here. The story covers some highlights of Harry's life, and a little of the special relationship with his mom. It totally leaves out Harry's brother, the great Hardine. It doesn't get into the barn storming career or the great tricks Houdini did enough.The film also fails script wise to show how well Erich Weiss promoted himself enough. I think the script was designed for Curtis & Leigh and misses the best parts of Harry's life. From what I have seen and read about Houdini, a much more interesting story is there to be told. This story does not tell it entirely.I am glad they tried to do what they did here. For Curtis & Leigh fans this is a great showcase. If it were to be remade, there are more highlights of Houdini's amazing life that could be written to make a better film. I'd challenge Hollywood to tackle that. For now, this is the best we've got, but I have to wonder what could have been with a better script.