TCM Film Festival - The Grim Game

[Dustin Stinett]

The Grim Game will be screened on the final day of the TCM Film Festival (March 26 to 29) with live musical accompaniment. The Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh version of Houdini screens earlier the same day.

Sunday's schedule, more information, tickets, and more here:

http://filmfestival.tcm.com/programs/fe ... eduleDay=4

[Richard Kaufman]

I just want a damn blu-ray!

[Leonard Hevia]

TCM is selling on their website the Blu-Rays and DVDs of the movies they will screen at this festival--but not the Grim Game!

[M.Lee]

Will this be Broadcast on TCM network any time soon ?


Michael Lee

[Richard Kaufman]

Not before they make some money on it. I'm sure the restoration cost a bit.

[Brad Jeffers]

Will this be Broadcast on TCM network any time soon?

The press release says the world television premier will be "later in the year".

[houdinisghost]

Yesterday as Dorothy Dietrich, Dick Brookz, John Cox, Joe Monti and I were strolling through the property where Houdini lived when he filmed "the Grim Game" (by special gracious permission of the owner Jose Luis Nazar). It is a miracle that the film didn't die with Larry Weeks. This was entirely the doing of Dick and Dorothy. And serendipity. It is their story to tell, but, if Rick Schmidlen hadn't popped by the Houdini Museum in Scranton at the precise moment in time. . .
John Cox must write up their story on his Wild About Harry site.
It's full of intrigue.

[Doug Thornton]

From a message this weekend from the Society of American Magicians:

"The Society of American Magicians will bring Past National President Harry Houdini back to its National Convention by presenting the long-lost Harry Houdini classic movie The Grim Game to the Marriott Hotel Downtown in Philadelphia (July 1-4) . This 1919 film is considered Houdini’s best and was thought to be lost to time until a complete print was recently rediscovered and brought to Turner Classic Movies for restoration. The last surviving copy obtained from the Houdini Estate in 1947 was owned by the late Larry Weeks who sold it to TCM. The silent era will be screened with a new musical score. The owners of the Houdini Museum (Dorothy Dietrich and Dick Brookz) in Scranton, PA will be on hand at the event to answer questions on the history of the restoration. Only convention registrants will be able to see this film."


[Note: I did some minor editing on the original message - for grammar and adding Dorothy and Dick's names.]

[Jim Martin]

This is on the TCM site and includes information that the live screening ..."will feature a World Premiere original score composed and conducted by Brane Živkovic."

http://filmfestival.tcm.com/programs/fi ... grim-game/

[Richard Kaufman]

Considering how bad all of Houdini's films are, it would really be a surprise if The Grim Game is any good!

[JohnCox]

The movie is great. But of course I would say that.

If there's any interest, I've posted the first part of a very detailed Q&A with the producer of the restoration, Rick Schmidlin. He takes me step-by-step through the entire journey.

http://www.wildabouthoudini.com/2015/04 ... -game.html

Part II on Sunday.

[houdinisghost]

Who's going to listen to you about Houdini's acting anymore, Richard? Ben Mankiewicz said he thinks Houdini's a good actor.
Admittedly, he said that he was basing that on Houdini's performance in "the Grim Game" so we am trying to insulate Mr. Mankiewicz against at least one of the other films lest he change his mind.

[I.M. Magician]

For me, Houdini's acting ability really isn't important. It's getting to see him on film that I really appreciate.

[observer]

Is Houdini's acting being judged by the film standards of today, or of 1918-1923?

[Richard Kaufman]

As a fan of silent cinema, I judge his acting abilities against those of other actors of the period.

[Diego]

How many "actors" today, can only wish they had the talent and presence, that Fairbanks, Chaney, Chaplin, Keaton,and others of that era did?

[Richard Kaufman]

And Lillian Gish! One of the original United Artists.

[Leonard Hevia]

And Lillian Gish! One of the original United Artists.

I think you mean Mary Pickford. She helped co-found United Artists along with her husband Douglas Fairbanks, Charlie Chaplin, and D.W. Griffith.

[JohnCox]

I think Houdini's acting got worse as he went along and started to study the craft. He studied himself stiff. He was much better in the early movies because he's just being natural. The Grim Game, being his second film, is perfect. He still has all that early naturalness, but he's had experience. He also has a top flight director this time. His charisma comes through in Grim Game unlike any other film. He's also playing a closer version of himself, which I think helps.

It's a remarkable film and an incredible piece of rediscovered magic and silent film history. Seems pretty lame to reduce it to a discussion of Houdini's acting. Just doesn't seem all that important to me.

Part II of my interview with Rick Schmidlin.
http://www.wildabouthoudini.com/2015/04 ... -game.html

[Richard Kaufman]

Yes, Pickford of course. Thanks.

Yes, let's discuss the film and completely ignore the acting ability of its star, and the only reason it was made in the first place.

Maybe it is the one good film that Houdini made. We'll know soon enough.

[JohnCox]

Yes, let's discuss the film and completely ignore the acting ability of its star, and the only reason it was made in the first place.

Well, I didn't say completely ignore it. I gave my own opinion on it above, and I addressed it in my review. I just don't think anyone, then or now, goes to see a Houdini movie for his acting, or even the story for that matter. They go to see Houdini do his famous escapes on screen. And in that regard, The Grim Game delivers. Just the famous image of Houdini in chains got a round of applause. That's all.

[Richard Kaufman]

I must admit, despite my grumping, that I'm looking forward to seeing it.

[JohnCox]

I think you'll see a big difference in this one, Richard. I've always felt bad for general audiences who come to a Houdini movie out of curiosity and fun and find themselves having to sit through The Man From Beyond or Haldane. I've seen audiences just deflate during these, and I can't blame them. I always suspected The Grim Game was the Houdini movie that would play best to a modern audience, and the premiere certainly proved that to be the case. It's fast and breezy and funny and has great escapes. It's what you imagine a Houdini movie would be. One of the reasons I'm so happy about this restoration is it finally gives general audiences a good and easy Houdini movie to watch.

[houdinisghost]

I think the reason Houdini didn't become a big movie star and develop as an film actor was his age. Robert Osborne was introducing a film that starred my friend James Edwards and he said, "At the time this film was made there were articles predicting that James Edwards, not Sidney Poitier, would be the first modern black movie star. That's true, but, James Edwards had already missed his chance. He was 10 years older than Sidney, and during that brief window in an actor's life when the audience first "gets him" age is critical. In the French one reeler "Merveilleux Exploits du Célébre Houdini" Houdini is 35, slender, and movie star handsome. He's extremely relaxed. He's a natural.
There is enough of that Houdini left ten years later when he gets a sweet contract to star in two pictures for Paramount, which are produced by one of the premier production companies, Lasky Famous Players.
Houdini got a very good director, I man I knew, named Irvin Willat and "the Grim Game" is an excellent film -- the best of all the Houdini films although every one of them is damned interesting.
But, I think it was the last time Houdini could convincingly play on screen a young, handsome, somewhat innocent, but, fearless and clever, fellow such as Harvey Hanford. When James Edwards was ready to be a movie star, the movies weren't ready for him, and the same thing happened to Houdini.