Houdini (1953)

The life of legendary magician Harry Houdini (Tony Curtis) and his rise from a carnival performer to a world renowned magician. Based on the book HOUDINI by Harold Kellock and directed by George Marshall (DESTRY RIDES AGAIN). Who would imagine a movie about the life of Harry Houdini could be such a crashing bore? This highly fictionalized nonsense regurgitates every movie biography cliche imaginable. The film divides its time between the domestic tedium with Janet Leigh as Mrs. Houdini and Houdini's career. The film was popular with audiences (Curtis and Leigh were the "it" couple of young Hollywood at the time) but unless you're a fan of the two, the movie is a slog to sit through. With Torin Thatcher, Angela Clarke, Connie Gilchrist and Michael Pate.