Post by Shonokin on Apr 4, 2008 13:53:14 GMT -8
I noticed at the Movie Serial board that zorrothefox posted a review of the new box set of Houdini's movies.
So just a head's up that this is coming out next week. Looks like the set has most of his major works:
THE MASTER MYSTERY serial (1919, 238 Min., Color Tinted)
TERROR ISLAND (1920, 55 Min., B&W)
THE MAN FROM BEYOND (1922, 68 Min., Color Tinted)
HALDANE OF THE SECRET SERVICE (1923, 84 Min., Color Tinted)
THE GRIM GAME (Fragment, 1919, 5 Min., Color Tinted)
the special features include
* An examination of scenes deleted by the New York Censor Board and Correspondence with them
* Image gallery
* Detailed film notes
* 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
* Detailed film notes
Trailer is here. It shows some of the crazy stuff, like the real, mid-air plane collision and the "automaton" robot from the serial.
Here's zorrothefox's review:
Houdini: The Movie StarRelease date: April 8
Details: 1919-23, Kino International
Rated: Not rated
The lowdown: In the early part of the 20th century, no man was more mysterious or mesmerizing than Harry Houdini.
He was more than a magician; he was an escape artist who could not be held by chains, ropes or handcuffs.
His popularity was so great that he branched out into movies, where his miraculous escapes were worked into the plot.
This three-disc set from Kino spotlights Houdini's short film career.
Appropriately, Houdini began his career in a 15-chapter serial, a genre geared toward action that suited him perfectly.
In "The Master Mystery" (1919), he battles a corrupt patents company trying to stifle progress. Along the way, he battles a robot called the Automaton.
The second disc offers two Houdini features, "Terror Island" and "The Man From Beyond." In the former he plays an inventor, in the latter, a man who returns to life after being frozen for 100 years in the Arctic.
The disc also contains the last three chapters of "The Master Mystery."
The third disc features "Haldane of the Secret Service" another action thriller that allows the star to display his escaping expertise.
The disc also offers a five-minute fragment from a feature entitled "The Grim Game."
Kino has done a very fine job restoring the elements available to present these films.
Explanatory text is used to bridge the missing passages.
The movies contain newly composed scores by some well-known silent film accompanists, including Stuart Oderman and Jon C. Mirsalis.
Don't miss: Among the extras on the discs are filmed records of various Houdini escapes; the "Metamorphosis" illusion performed by the artist's brother; a 1914 recording of Houdini introducing his "Water Torture Cell"; and correspondence with New York state's censorship board concerning certain scenes from his movies.
This is a wonderful release and Kino should be applauded for its efforts.
So just a head's up that this is coming out next week. Looks like the set has most of his major works:
THE MASTER MYSTERY serial (1919, 238 Min., Color Tinted)
TERROR ISLAND (1920, 55 Min., B&W)
THE MAN FROM BEYOND (1922, 68 Min., Color Tinted)
HALDANE OF THE SECRET SERVICE (1923, 84 Min., Color Tinted)
THE GRIM GAME (Fragment, 1919, 5 Min., Color Tinted)
the special features include
* An examination of scenes deleted by the New York Censor Board and Correspondence with them
* Image gallery
* Detailed film notes
* 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
* Detailed film notes
Trailer is here. It shows some of the crazy stuff, like the real, mid-air plane collision and the "automaton" robot from the serial.
Here's zorrothefox's review:
Houdini: The Movie StarRelease date: April 8
Details: 1919-23, Kino International
Rated: Not rated
The lowdown: In the early part of the 20th century, no man was more mysterious or mesmerizing than Harry Houdini.
He was more than a magician; he was an escape artist who could not be held by chains, ropes or handcuffs.
His popularity was so great that he branched out into movies, where his miraculous escapes were worked into the plot.
This three-disc set from Kino spotlights Houdini's short film career.
Appropriately, Houdini began his career in a 15-chapter serial, a genre geared toward action that suited him perfectly.
In "The Master Mystery" (1919), he battles a corrupt patents company trying to stifle progress. Along the way, he battles a robot called the Automaton.
The second disc offers two Houdini features, "Terror Island" and "The Man From Beyond." In the former he plays an inventor, in the latter, a man who returns to life after being frozen for 100 years in the Arctic.
The disc also contains the last three chapters of "The Master Mystery."
The third disc features "Haldane of the Secret Service" another action thriller that allows the star to display his escaping expertise.
The disc also offers a five-minute fragment from a feature entitled "The Grim Game."
Kino has done a very fine job restoring the elements available to present these films.
Explanatory text is used to bridge the missing passages.
The movies contain newly composed scores by some well-known silent film accompanists, including Stuart Oderman and Jon C. Mirsalis.
Don't miss: Among the extras on the discs are filmed records of various Houdini escapes; the "Metamorphosis" illusion performed by the artist's brother; a 1914 recording of Houdini introducing his "Water Torture Cell"; and correspondence with New York state's censorship board concerning certain scenes from his movies.
This is a wonderful release and Kino should be applauded for its efforts.
