Death Defying Acts Trailer Starring Guy Pearce as Harry Houdini
Well after The Prestige and The Illusionist made old time magicians cool in Hollywood again, it appears we have another magical movie on the way that stars Guy Pearce as the legendary escape artist Harry Houdini. Death Defying Acts takes place in the 1920’s with Harry Houdini publicly offering a $10,000 reward for the help of a psychic who can help him contact his dead mother, a plea which catches the attention of Scottish con artist Mary McGarvie (Catherine Zeta-Jones). The two eventually fall in love, much to the dismay of Houdini’s manager Sugarman (Timothy Spall), who simply doesn’t trust her.
Although the movie is loosely based on actual events (it supposedly portrays Houdini’s death as it is believed to have happened), it seems unlikely that he would have attempted to contact his mother through a seance since he was known for debunking such things throughout this time period. Either way, I am somewhat interested in the film, at the very least because of Guy Pearce’s involvement. The movie is directed by Gillian Armstrong (Little Women) and written by Tony Grisoni (Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Tideland) and Brian Ward (The Interpreter). It premiered at the Toronto Film Festival last year, and is expected to be released sometime in 2008. Peep the trailer below and let us know what you think.
Comments (6)
Houdini did attempt to contact his mother using seances. These failures prompted him to devote more time to debuking spiritualism.
Posted by Steven on March 24th, 2008Hmmm, interesting. So I wonder if this Mary McGarvie character is based on a real person? I googled her name but didn’t find anything other than references to the movie.
Posted by Sean on March 24th, 2008I caught this at TIFF 07 was a solid film. The screening had quite a responsive crowd but there were 1 or 2 die hard Houdini fans that were nit picking about some of the film.
But, during the Q&A the director indicated that it’s not a biography. He (Houdini) was fascinated by psychics. The idea of the film was more along the lines of: What if? What if he put up a bounty? What if a low class psychic was involved?
Posted by Shannon the Movie Moxie on March 24th, 2008Harry Houdini and Walt Disney are the two entertainers of the past that I obsess about. Mary McGarvie is not a real person but from what I’m reading she is largley based on Mina Crandon, a.k.a “Margery”, who was a medium Houdini had a major feud with. Houdni never fell in love with any of these medium but he did have a similar affair with Charmian London, writer Jack London’s wife. I am very excited about this movie and i can’t wait for it’s release.
Posted by Drew on March 24th, 2008You know how there are some actors/actresses that you dislike for absolutely no reason? Well one of them for me is Catherine Zeta-Jones. I’ve got no real interest in this movie. Maybe I’ll just re-watch The Prestige and/or The Illusionist.
Posted by Rian on March 28th, 2008I found it funny how on they were about Houdini, all the way down to him being able to regurgitate things like small keys and so on. I really didnt think Guy Pearce could pull off the role!!! I had so many doubts it was crazy . but shockingly he was really amazing and portrayed him to be hauntingly beautiful mysterious and secretive as he really was. Guy brought the human side of the great Houdini that people didnt always get to see to the silver screen
I really loved it. even though the romance wasnt real there were many facts in the movie that a lot dont know about. so if your a die hard Houdini fan like me you will still love it 
and If u want more fact since the movie is only a small part of his life the watch the movie Houdini with Tony Curtis as Harry. Both will give u a broader idea of the great man, the ending is not how he died but the words spoke are real, and he did Die on Halloween, has many fact. Plus watching Bios help a whole lot too 
If I could travel back in time , that is one man I would give me right arm to meet . RIP Erik Weisz A.K.A. Harry Houdini :*
Posted by Teetle1986 on December 23rd, 2011Leave a Reply