Houdini, Magically Appearing Before Your Eyes!

Posted by Hollywood Slinkyon 24. 03. 2011in News Chat

Sony’s been trying to launch its Harry Houdini biopic for nearly 20 years, and finally, on his 137th birthday, the same day his last surviving stage assistant Dorothy Young passes away at 102, they are finally moving forward.

Variety announces:

Sony has long been passionate about bringing its own version of Houdini’s life to the bigscreen. In the late ’90s, the studio had attached Paul Verhoeven to helm a Houdini pic that was said to shed light on the magician’s mysterious life. Revamped project will take a new approach, sources said, though it will be a large-scale period production for Sony emphasizing Houdini’s renowned showmanship. Lawrence directed 2007′s “I Am Legend” for Warner Bros., and his most recent helming effort, “Water for Elephants,” is set to bow April 22 through Fox.

I think the romanticized tale of Houdini is a great story, and to see it in a lavish, large-scale production could be a lot of fun. I love the wonder of “The Prestige,” and that movie’s faults aside (insert Nolan worshippers’ admonishments of me for saying that here), the look and feel of it would really make for a fantastic telling of Houdini’s story. I also find it amazing that no one’s really done a Houdini biopic - It seems an obvious thing to make a go of, doesn’t it?

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Hollywood Slinky who has written 57 posts on The Movie Blog

The Hollywood Slinky has lived in Los Angeles, Chicago and Chattanooga. The Slinky attended film school at Columbia College in Chicago, is one of the creators and host of the film-centered podcast Lights Camera Cleveland and is currently a public relations specialist for a multi-million dollar corporation. Mostly, though, he just loves movies.

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5 Responses to “Houdini, Magically Appearing Before Your Eyes!”

MadMax_007 says:

March 24, 2011 at 5:26 pm

About dam time they do a big studio biopic of Houdini. And btw Slinky, I agree with you on The Prestige. That flick is the weak link in Nolan’s chain of great movies.

Reply
Art says:

March 24, 2011 at 7:28 pm

Just curious, Slinky, what you consider to be The Prestige’s flaws?

Reply
- Bigsampson says:
  
  March 25, 2011 at 12:42 am
  
  haha The Prestige was a great film man your crazy IMO
  
  Reply
  - Hollywood Slinky says:
    
    March 25, 2011 at 2:18 pm
    
    I’m not going to list the flaws I find in The Prestige, because that’s the very kind of intelligent discussion the Nolan worshipping film geeks won’t allow to happen. I’d rather not subject myself to the annoyance.
    
    To Bigsampson, I would tell you that I think it’s a very good film, but I don’t think it’s great. I would also encourage you to read the book it’s based on. You will probably find yourself surprised and possibly disappointed in what Nolan turned it into, but that’s not really a criticism of the film.
sidney says:

March 25, 2011 at 2:50 am

the prestige flaw? BORING!

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