This came out in 1971,so a lot of the editing will remind you of old newscasts. However, this is still a fascinating look at one of the most amazing entertainers of his or any age. All of the basics are covered, from Houdini's career in vaudeville, to his mastery of escapeology, his marriage, his debunking of spiritualism, his penchant for self promotion, and even his careers in both aviation and silent movies.
Particularly impressive is The Amazing Randi, who still has dark hair here (!) and talks at length about Houdini's showmanship, professionalism, and compassion. Also, this includes footage from some of Houdini's silent films, which I'd never seen before. Fascinating!
One last thing: this is currently streaming on Amazon Prime under the title The Magic of Houdini, which is also the name of another documentary about Houdini that debuted in 1998.
Particularly impressive is The Amazing Randi, who still has dark hair here (!) and talks at length about Houdini's showmanship, professionalism, and compassion. Also, this includes footage from some of Houdini's silent films, which I'd never seen before. Fascinating!
One last thing: this is currently streaming on Amazon Prime under the title The Magic of Houdini, which is also the name of another documentary about Houdini that debuted in 1998.