The complete version of an extremely rare narrative film starring fabled escape artist/illusionist Harry Houdini has been rescued, restored, and will soon see the light of day.
This much-sought-after 1919 film — a complete print of which only recently was brought to TCM for restoration — features the escape artist and legendary illusionist in one of his few starring roles.
[EDIT]
In The Grim Game, Houdini plays Harvey Hanford, a young man who is framed for murder. As Hanford escapes from the police and goes after the gang of men who framed him, the movie offers numerous opportunities for Houdini to display his own skills as an escape artist, illusionist and stuntman. Among the most remarkable sequences is a mid-air collision between two airplanes that was a real accident caught on film and used in the story.
…says THIS piece at deadline, where you can also learn more about the film’s interesting path to recovery and restoration.
I love, love, LOVE stories like this - someone has “X” piece of film or television in their possession, and either don’t know how important the title is to history, or are reluctant to let it go for whatever reasons. And then common sense (or the almighty dollar) prevails…
I’ve zero doubt that a number of other presumed ‘lost’ titles are still waiting to be discovered in someone’s closet, attic, or garage storeroom. Let’s hope we prove my assertion right before the material is too far regarded to recover/enjoy. I know I’m going to be insanely meticulous when it comes time to clean out my media-maven mom’s hoarder house…God knows what wonders await explorers there.
THE GRIM GAME makes it’s debut at The Turner Classic Movie Festival in March. Presumably, it will subsequently appear on the network proper in the not too distant future?
Here's a snippet of the aforementioned plane incident (not from the restored/complete print)...
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Glen Oliver
“Merrick”
