For Immediate Release
KINO INTERNATIONAL RELEASES THE THREE DVD BOX SET HOUDINI: THE MOVIE STAR
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Kino International is proud to release a three DVD box set, HOUDINI: THE MOVIE STAR, collecting a 238-minute multi-part serial and three feature films starring the master of magic and escape Harry Houdini. Culled from film archives and private collections, this Kino DVD set includes all of Houdini’s surviving films as an actor, plus rare footage of actual handcuff and straitjacket escapes, and a wealth of historical information.
The four completed feature films in this box set are: THE MASTER MYSTERY (1919, 238 Min.), Houdini’s first true acting role, TERROR ISLAND (1920, 55 Min.), considered to be his most ambitious film production, THE MAN FROM BEYOND (1922, 68 Min.), featuring a breathtaking rescue above Niagara Falls and HALDANE OF THE SECRET SERVICE (1923, 84 Min.), a rare feature film finally mastered from a pristine 35mm print with the original color tints.
Also included in this set is the only surviving footage of Houdini’s THE GRIM GAME (1919, 5 Min.), in which the cameras captured two planes accidentally colliding in mid-air. This chilling footage forced director Irving Willat to re-write the film in order to incorporate the accident into the story.
In addition to filmed records of Houdini’s escapes, Kino has also gathered audio recordings of Houdini, excerpts from the NY Censor Board files, the illusion “Metamorphosis” performed by Houdini’s brother Hardeen, multiple image galleries and other rare features. HOUDINI: THE MOVIE STAR box set has a prebook date of March 11, 2008, and will be available with a SRP of $39.95. The street date is set for April 8.
By the year 1919, Harry Houdini was known throughout the world as a master magician and escape artist. Having conquered the stage, he set out to rule the screen, appearing in a series of thrillers built upon his almost supernatural powers.
Born in Budapest, Hungary, Harry Houdini immigrated with his family to the United States on July 3, 1878, at the age of four. Most historical biographies and documents about Houdini claim that his official name was Ehrich Weiss, although there are conflicting accounts of the its correct spelling. Still, it is certain to say that "Ehrie," as his friends used to call him, eventually turned into his first name "Harry."
As a child, Ehrich took several jobs, and eventually made his artistic début at the age of 10 years old – as a trapeze artist. Eventually, Weiss moved onto the realm of professional magic and began calling himself "Harry Houdini" – in an homage to the 19th century French magician Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin.
Initially, Houdini performed in Dime Museums, sideshows, and circuses. But when he began experimenting with escape acts, performing with his brother “Dash” as The Brothers Houdini, he finally achieved the professional recognition he always desired.
Harry Houdini's "big break" came in 1899 when he met manager Martin Beck. Impressed by Houdini's handcuffs act, Beck advised him to concentrate on escape acts, getting him to perform at the famed Orpheum vaudeville circuit. Within months, Houdini was performing at the top vaudeville houses in the United State and Europe.
 MASTER MYSTERY
In this action-packed serial, government agent Quentin Locke (Houdini) infiltrates a corrupt patents company, only to run into the gleaming terror of its robot protector, the Automaton. In order to save the beautiful Eva Brent (Marguerite Marsh) and find a cure for the dreaded Madagascar Madness, Locke suffers an inhuman array of tortures and physical restraints.
He is chained, tied with barbed wire, padlocked in a crate and thrown in the water, tied beneath a descending elevator, strapped to an electric chair, and bound in an elaborate Oriental torture chamber.
Written by Arthur B. Reeve (the creator of The Exploits of Elaine), THE MASTER MYSTERY was a sensational hit throughout the U.S. and Europe and allowed the legendary escape artist to perform his miraculous feats before the eyes of millions.
Portions of THE MASTER MYSTERY no longer survive today. This Kino edition runs almost four hours, and bridges the missing passages with explanatory text.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
• An examination of scenes deleted by the New York Censor Board
• Image gallery
• New film notes
THE MASTER MYSTERY
U.S. 1919 Color Tinted 238 Min.
Directed by Burton L. King
Produced by B.A. Rolfe
Screenplay by Arthur B. Reeve and Charles Logue
Featuring Harry Houdini, Marguerite Marsh, Jack Burns, Ruth Stonehouse, Charles Graham
Original Music by Stuart Oderman
Produced for Video by Bret Wood
Licensed by Douris UK Ltd. THE MASTER MYSTERY is continued
on DVD 2 of this collection.
 TERROR ISLAND AND THE MAN FROM BEYOND
Directed by James Cruze (The Covered Wagon) and produced at Paramount (Famous Players-Lasky), TERROR ISLAND was by far Houdini’s most lavish production. In it, he stars as a swashbuckling inventor who steers his high-tech submarine to a forbidden tropical isle to rescue the father of the woman he loves.
Only five of seven reels of TERROR ISLAND survive today. This Kino edition presents all the existing footage and bridges the gaps with explanatory text.
The flagship effort of Houdini’s independent production company, THE MAN FROM BEYOND reflects his growing fascination with life after death. Houdini stars as Howard Hillary, a man frozen in the Arctic, who returns to civilization 100 years later to reclaim the love of his life, reincarnated in the body of a young woman. The film boasts a series of thrilling escapes and feats of physical agility, climaxing with an elaborate scene above Niagara Falls.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
• Correspondence with the NY Censor Board
• Image gallery
• New film notes
TERROR ISLAND
U.S. 1920 B&W 55 Min.
A Paramount-Artcraft Release
Directed by James Cruze – Written by Arthur B. Reeve & John Grey
Photographed by William Marshall
Featuring Harry Houdini, Lila Lee, Jack Brammall, Eugene Pallette
Original Music Composed and Performed by Clark Wilson
Preserved by the Library of Congress
THE MAN FROM BEYOND
U.S. 1922 Color Tinted 68 Min.
Houdini Picture Corporation
Directed by Burton L. King – Written & Produced by Harry Houdini
Featuring Harry Houdini, Nita Naldi, Jane Connelly
Original Music Composed and Performed by Jon C. Mirsalis
Preserved by the Library of Congress / Produced for Video by Bret Wood
This DVD contains the conclusion of THE MASTER MYSTERY – Episodes 13 - 15, continued from DVD 1
 HALDANE OF THE SECRET SERVICE
In his final film as an actor, Houdini stars as Heath Haldane, an undercover operative assigned to infiltrate a band of counterfeiters within the dark alleys of New York’s Chinatown. Virtually unseen since its 1923 release, HALDANE OF THE SECRET SERVICE has been mastered from a 35mm print with the original color tints.
In the only surviving footage of Houdini’s THE GRIM GAME (1919), the cameras captured an unplanned incident: two planes colliding in mid-air. The footage was so spectacular that the script was revised to integrate it into the plot.
Also featured is footage of numerous Houdini escapes, including a bridge jump in handcuffs, an escape on the streets of Paris, and several straitjacket escapes. These newsreel-style shorts were commissioned by Houdini and have been digitally mastered from pristine 35mm prints.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
• Filmed records of Houdini escapes (1907-ca. 1923)
• The illusion “Metamorphosis,” performed by Houdini’s brother Hardeen
1914 Audio recording of Houdini introducing his “Water Torture Cell”
• “Slippery Jim,” 1910 comedy short inspired by Houdini
• Image gallery
• New film notes
THE GRIM GAME (fragment)
U.S. 1919 Color Tinted 5 Min.
Directed by Irving Willat
Written by Arthur B. Reeve and John Grey
Featuring Harry Houdini, Ann Forrest
Original Music Composed and Performed by Ben Model
Licensed by the George Eastman
House Motion Picture Department
HALDANE OF THE SECRET SERVICE
U.S. 1923 Color Tinted 84 Min.
Houdini Picture Corporation
Written & Directed by Harry Houdini
Featuring Harry Houdini,
Gladys Leslie, William Humphrey
Original Music Composed and
Performed by Ben Model
Licensed by Cinema Arts
Produced for Video by Bret Wood
HARRY HOUDINI ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE
from the Collection of George Eastman House Motion Picture Department. Additional footage courtesy of
the Larson-Casselton Collection |
