A romantic film in colour-popping technicolour about the magic of storytelling and illusionism. Tony Curtis as Houdini... wasn't sure at first but it works with Janet Leigh as his wife - so for star power alone it sells its message.
I chose this film on Netflix having heard of Houdini through a Kate Bush song of the same name. Because I know the song quite well, I was kind of comparing the narrative of this film to the narrative of the song as I was watching, and I felt that the two do compliment each other well. So I would definitely recommend listening to Kate's less glossy spin on it after watching this (any excuse, though I'm pretty sure she was watching this when she chose to write the song from the perspective of Houdini's wife, Bess).
The real star, in my opinion, was the set design. It does well to keep us under spell of theatricality, and while it's never going to be Moulin Rouge it does hold up well in this department. Janet Leigh wears some wonderful period/showgirl costumes, and Tony Curtis gets ample an oppurtunity show off the fact that he's been working out, so there is eye candy galore.
Plot-wise, it's consistent - each scene has a narrative purpose and the screenwriter balances the plight of a showman versus the relationship with his wife well. Some excellent examples of coded suggestivity throughout the first half. The stage tricks are authentic and build suspense well.
Overall, a great pick for a Sunday afternoon classic. While this film won't change your life (like Moulin Rouge did for me), it's well made, well produced, interesting enough and you might learn something about the craft of stage-magic.
I chose this film on Netflix having heard of Houdini through a Kate Bush song of the same name. Because I know the song quite well, I was kind of comparing the narrative of this film to the narrative of the song as I was watching, and I felt that the two do compliment each other well. So I would definitely recommend listening to Kate's less glossy spin on it after watching this (any excuse, though I'm pretty sure she was watching this when she chose to write the song from the perspective of Houdini's wife, Bess).
The real star, in my opinion, was the set design. It does well to keep us under spell of theatricality, and while it's never going to be Moulin Rouge it does hold up well in this department. Janet Leigh wears some wonderful period/showgirl costumes, and Tony Curtis gets ample an oppurtunity show off the fact that he's been working out, so there is eye candy galore.
Plot-wise, it's consistent - each scene has a narrative purpose and the screenwriter balances the plight of a showman versus the relationship with his wife well. Some excellent examples of coded suggestivity throughout the first half. The stage tricks are authentic and build suspense well.
Overall, a great pick for a Sunday afternoon classic. While this film won't change your life (like Moulin Rouge did for me), it's well made, well produced, interesting enough and you might learn something about the craft of stage-magic.