History's 'Houdini': What the Critics Are Saying

The Hollywood Reporter ^ | September 1, 2014 | Ashley Lee

[EveningStar]

History Channel's magical miniseries Houdini begins tonight, starring Adrien Brody as the death-defying escape artist in a TV event that traces the arc of Houdini's life from desperate poverty to worldwide fame.

The Lionsgate/A&E Studios four-hour event also stars Kristen Connolly (House of Cards) as Bess, Harry Houdini's stage assistant and wife. Oscar nominee Uli Edel directed the project, adapted by Nicholas Meyer from the 1976 book Houdini: A Mind in Chains — A Psychoanalytic Portrait (written by his father, Bernard C. Meyer).

Read what top critics are saying about Houdini:

[EveningStar]

The two-part miniseries begins tonight on the History Channel at 9/8C and concludes tomorrow night.

Wikipedia article on Houdini

Wikipedia article on the miniseries

Official History Channel site (video contains spoiler)

[Perdogg]

ping

[EveningStar]

Hopefully, this will be more accurate than the 1953 Tony Curtis movie, which I did like.

[latina4dubya]

this is what i was telling your about...

[EveningStar]

Beat me to it. :)

[DeFault User]

The reviews seem somewhat mixed although the verdict is “watchable”.

[BillyBoy]

There was also a biopic about him done as a 1998 TV movie, starring Johnathon Schaech.

We don’t need yet another one, IMO.

[dainbramaged]

Hopefully, this will be more accurate than the 1953 Tony Curtis movie
After the Bonnie and Clyde debacle on History Channel, don't hold your breath. The previews show some pretty over the top kissing between Harry and his mother.

[Vendome]

Loved their wallpaper ad that popped up while I was reading....

“Crtl W”...buh bye...

[Jim from C-Town]

I can only wonder if it will be as God Awful as the ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ Biopic they did a while ago. I hope this is better.

Will wait for Netflix as I dumped cable several months ago.

[corlorde]

I can only wonder if it will be as God Awful as the ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ Biopic they did a while ago.

That was bad indeed.

[Pilated]

Just the few bits of the ads for it gives me the impression of a creepy interpretation of half truths from the History Channel’s box of information that is always short on the actual facts.

[max americana]

The Bill Bixby movie was good too.

[fhayek]

Spoiler? What spoiler? That Houdini died? Didn’t see that one coming.

[Beowulf9]

Houdini was kind of my champion in the way that he sought to expose the fake mediums and spiritualists of his day.

His dislike of these practices is the hallmark of a man who respects truth.

He was an interesting guy. He said he would try to ‘come back’ and left a message for his wife, Bess, to authenticate it if he did.

http://www.csicop.org/si/show/the_day_houdini_almost_came_back_from_the_dead

[EveningStar]

There was also a biopic about him done as a 1998 TV movie, starring Johnathon Schaech.

I didn't see that.

We don’t need yet another one, IMO.

Apparently History Channel thinks there's a market for it.

[lbryce]

Here's some fascinating trivia about Houdini, who's real name was Erich Weiss, hungarian Jew.

Interest in seances, contacting the deceased was a major past time in the late 1800's early 1900's which of course were all fraudulent. Houdini's interest in it was ore than just the opportunity for another trick but a genuine interest in the afterlife, fascination with it even existing.

He devised a plan with his wife as an experiment to determine whether or not contact with those who died was possible. The plan was that when he passes away, she would attempt to make contact with him, and having him conveying a secret message kept locked away in a bank vault.

Despite innumerable seances, attempts to have the spirit of Houdini convey the secret message, all attempts failed to contact Houdini after he died failed.

[EveningStar]

I didn’t see their Bonnie and Clyde treatment.

[EveningStar]

Spoiler? What spoiler? That Houdini died? Didn’t see that one coming.

LOL! I wasn't talking about that. :)

[lbryce]

Here's some fascinating trivia about Houdini, who's real name was Erich Weiss, hungarian Jew.

Interest in seances, contacting the deceased was a major past time in the late 1800's early 1900's which of course were all fraudulent. Houdini's interest in it was ore than just the opportunity for another trick but a genuine interest in the afterlife, fascination with it even existing.

He devised a plan with his wife as an experiment to determine whether or not contact with those who died was possible. The plan was that when he passes away, she would attempt to make contact with him, and having him conveying a secret message kept locked away in a bank vault.

Despite innumerable seances, attempts to have the spirit of Houdini convey the secret message, all attempts failed to contact Houdini after he died failed.