Death Defying Acts (2007)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Gillian Armstrong

Writers:

Tony Grisoni (written by) &
Brian Ward (written by)

Release Date:

13 March 2008 (Australia)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

There is no escape.

Plot:

On a tour of Britain in 1926, Harry Houdini enters into a passionate affair with a psychic out to con the famous magician.

Plot Keywords:

Psychic | Narration | Escape Artist | Dying Words | Fraud

Awards:

2 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Guy Pearce	...	Harry Houdini
Catherine Zeta-Jones	...	Mary McGarvie
Timothy Spall	...	Sugarman
Saoirse Ronan	...	Benji McGarvie
Malcolm Shields	...	Leith Romeo
Leni Harper	...	Leith Romeo's wife
Ralph Riach	...	Mr. Robertson
Olivia Darnley	...	Flower Stall Seller
Anthony O'Donnell	...	Oily Librarian
Billy McColl	...	McTavish
James Holmes	...	Ugly Mug
Melanie Harris	...	Rose (as Frankey Martyn)
Aileen O'Gorman	...	Effie - Elderly Seamstress
Raymond Griffiths	...	Music Hall Dwarf
Shaun Mason	...	Heckler
Tom Cotcher	...	Boxer's Manager
Joanne Cummins	...	Houdini Fan #1
Carol Robb	...	Houdini Fan #2
Mark Carter	...	Reporter #1
MacKay Crawford	...	Psychic Reporter
Paul Grunert	...	Hotel Manager
Graeme McKnight	...	Bellboy
Aaron Brown	...	Sugarman's Assistant
Martin Fisher	...	Concierge
Emma Humphries	...	Chambermaid
Miles Jupp	...	Ventriloquist
Tim Frost	...	Tap Dancer
Cloe Mackie	...	Psychic Twin One
Holly Mackie	...	Psychic Twin Two
David McKail	...	Maitre'D
Maev Alexander	...	Autograph Hound
Richard Dean	...	Angel with Red Hair
Rod Arthur	...	Police Chief
Alan David	...	Professor
Lorraine Hilton	...	Professor's Assistant
Dodger Phillips	...	Reporter #2
Campbell Graham	...	Reporter #3
Jack Bailey	...	Redhaired Pilot
Justin Flagg	...	Montreal Student
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Graham Curry	...	Locksman (uncredited)
James Fiddy	...	American Assistant (uncredited)
Steve Lately	...	Tartan Tammy (uncredited)
Silvia Logan	...	Usherette (uncredited)
Leonard Silver	...	Reporter (uncredited)
John Warman	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Chris Wilson	...	Reporter (uncredited)

Directed by
Gillian Armstrong

Writing credits
Tony Grisoni		(written by) &
Brian Ward		(written by)

Produced by
Katherine Armfelt	....	assistant producer: UK
Chris Curling	....	producer
Kirk D'Amico	....	executive producer
Lucas Foster	....	executive producer
Tony Grisoni	....	co-producer
Dan Lupovitz	....	executive producer
Marian Macgowan	....	producer
Marcia Nasatir	....	executive producer
Joe Oppenheimer	....	co-executive producer
Celia Richards	....	assistant producer: Australia
Phil Robertson	....	co-producer
Guy Tannahill	....	line producer
David M. Thompson	....	executive producer
Brian Ward	....	co-producer
Linda Sophie Chiu	....	associate producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Cezary Skubiszewski

Cinematography by
Haris Zambarloukos		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Nicholas Beauman

Casting by
Gail Stevens

Production Design by
Gemma Jackson

Art Direction by
Paul Inglis		(supervising art director)
Anja Müller		(as Anja Mueller)

Set Decoration by
Anna Lynch-Robinson		(as Anna Lynch Robinson)

Costume Design by
Susannah Buxton
Jane Greenwood		(uncredited)

Makeup Department
Tricia Cameron	....	hair stylist: Catherine Zeta Jones
Mark English	....	hair stylist: crowd
Mark English	....	makeup artist: crowd
Mandy Gold	....	hair stylist: crowd
Mandy Gold	....	makeup artist: Crowd
Carol Greenfield	....	hair stylist
Carol Greenfield	....	makeup artist
Graham Johnston	....	makeup artist: Catherine Zeta Jones
Denise Kum	....	hair designer
Denise Kum	....	makeup designer
Fiona Leech	....	hair stylist
Fiona Leech	....	makeup artist
Nuria Mbomio	....	hair stylist
Nuria Mbomio	....	makeup artist
Loulia Sheppard	....	hair stylist: crows (as Lou Sheppard)
Loulia Sheppard	....	makeup artist: crowd (as Lou Sheppard)
Kelly Willis	....	makeup trainee: FT2
Suzanne Jansen	....	crowd hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Philippa Atterton	....	production manager: second unit, Edinburgh
Jane Maguire	....	post-production supervisor
Fiona Morham	....	head of production: UK Film Council
Ben Rimmer	....	production manager
Charlie Simpson	....	unit manager
Matthew Vizard	....	production supervisor: BBC Films

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Guy Heeley	....	first assistant director
Carol-Anne Henderson	....	third assistant director: second unit, Edinburgh
Toby Hosking	....	second assistant director
Vicky Marks	....	third assistant director
Jeff Taylor	....	additional second assistant director
John Martin	....	assistant director (uncredited)
Charlie Reed	....	crowd third assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Damian Butlin	....	dressing props
Tony Chance	....	storyboard artist: UK
Kevin Fleet	....	dressing props
Gary Hedges	....	stand-by carpenter
Terry Heggarty	....	stand-by painter
Carol Kupisz	....	graphic designer
Ben Lloyd	....	stagehand
Rob MacPherson	....	stand-by props
Bradley Malin	....	stagehand
Paul Marah	....	stand-by carpenter
Eamon McLoughlin	....	construction manager
Campbell Mitchell	....	stand-by props
Brian Morris	....	stand-by painter
Colin Mutch	....	stand-by props
Tom Pleydell-Pearce	....	property master
Peter Pound	....	storyboard artist: Australia
Steve Summersgill	....	draughtsman
Steve Summersgill	....	stand-by art director
Catherine Whiting	....	art department assistant
Sarah Whittle	....	production buyer
Howard Weaver	....	scenic artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
Greg Beager	....	sound trainee
Gethin Creagh	....	sound re-recording mixer
Mark Franken	....	sound effects editor
Jethro Hegarty	....	sound trainee: FT2
Leah Katz	....	adr editor
Jeremy Lishman	....	sound maintenance
Michael McMenomy	....	sound effects editor
Michael McMenomy	....	sound effects mixer
Bronwyn Murphy	....	dialogue editor
Simon Okin	....	sound mixer: Location
Andrew Plain	....	supervising sound editor
Martin Seeley	....	sound maintenance
Blair Slater	....	foley recordist
Mario Vaccaro	....	foley artist
William Ward	....	assistant sound editor (as Will Ward)
Megan Wedge	....	assistant sound editor
Andy Wright	....	sound mix assistant (as Andrew Wright)
Mark Appleby	....	adr mixer (uncredited)
Antony Bayman	....	adr recordist (uncredited)
Phil Jeffers	....	foley recordist (uncredited)
Andy Thompson	....	adr mixer: London (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Stuart Brisdon	....	special effects supervisor
Steve Knowles	....	special effects technician
David McGeary	....	special effects technician (as Dave McGeary)
Terry Palmer	....	special effects technician
Nigel Wilkinson	....	special effects technician

Visual Effects by
Alicia Aguilera	....	compositor: Post Modern
Simon Alberry	....	I/O supervisor: Atlab
Naomi Anderlini	....	inferno artist: Post Modern
Tim Baier	....	compositor: Post Modern
Chris Breeze	....	3D artist: Post Modern
Brad Dunn	....	compositor: Atlab
Rebecca Dunn	....	digital supervisor: Atlab
David Edwards	....	compositor: Post Modern
Vincent Fiere	....	3D artist: Post Modern
Elliot Goodman	....	3D artist: Post Modern
Matt Greig	....	compositor: Post Modern
Michael Harkin	....	compositor: Post Modern
Makoto Hatanaka	....	3D artist: Post Modern
Paul Hegany	....	inferno artist: Post Modern
Gyuri Kiss	....	3D artist: Post Modern
Gyuri Kiss	....	lead artist
Llaszlo Kiss	....	3D artist: Post Modern
Jonathan Lau	....	matte painter: Post Modern
Jarrod Linton	....	visual effects producer: Post Modern
Demis Lyall-Wilson	....	compositor: Post Modern
Sarah McLauchlan	....	visual effects coordinator: Post Modern
Darryl Mescarenhas	....	rotoscoping: Post Modern
Hajime Nakamura	....	3D artist: Post Modern
Doan Nam	....	3D artist: Post Modern
Chris Norris	....	3D artist: Post Modern
Matthew North	....	compositor: Atlab
Kurtis Richmond	....	matte painter: Post Modern
Andrew Robinson	....	visual effects executive producer: Post Modern
James Rogers	....	visual effects supervisor: Post Modern
Chad Sandeman	....	compositor: Atlab
Steve Shearston	....	3D artist: Post Modern
Anthos Simon	....	digital opticals producer: Atlab
Luke Simshauser	....	3D artist: Post Modern
Murray Smallwood	....	compositor: Post Modern
Andrew Smith	....	data wrangler: Post Modern
Michael Stanbury	....	data wrangler: Post Modern (as Michael Stansbury)
Takahiro Suzuki	....	compositor: Atlab
Nick Tabet	....	inferno artist: Post Modern
Richard Van Den Bergh	....	on-set visual effects supervisor: Post Modern
Morten Vinther	....	inferno artist: Post Modern
Christine Wells	....	visual effects production coordinator: Post Modern
Kim Worrall	....	compositor: Post Modern

Stunts
Richard Bradshaw	....	stunt double: Mr. Pierce
George Cottle	....	stunt performer
Jim Dowdall	....	stunt coordinator
Neil Finnighan	....	stunt performer
Pete Ford	....	stunt performer (as Peter Ford)
Paul Heasman	....	additional stunt coordinator
Derek Lea	....	stunt performer
Tony Lucken	....	stunt performer
Mark Mottram	....	stunt performer
Robert Schofield	....	stunt performer (as Bob Schofield)

Camera and Electrical Department
Stuart Anderson	....	clapper loader: second unit, Ediunburgh
John Attwell	....	focus puller
Chris Bailey	....	practical electrician
Simon Baker	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Rami Bartholdy	....	clapper loader
Paul Bates	....	electrician: second unit, Edinburgh
Ashley Bond	....	focus puller
John Butler	....	rigger: second unit, Edinburgh
Emmet Cahill	....	grip trainee
Donny Campbell	....	electrician: second unit, Edinburgh
Wailoon Chung	....	electrician
Richard Curling	....	video assist trainee
Arthur Donnelly	....	best boy: second unit, Edinburgh
Hamish Doyne-Ditmas	....	focus puller (as Hamish Doyne Ditmas)
Emma Edwards	....	central loader
Gary Forsyth	....	stand-by camera operator: second unit, Edinburgh
Ross Grainger	....	electrician: second unit, Edinburgh
Mark Hanlon	....	rigging gaffer
Jon Hurley	....	clapper loader
Giles Keyte	....	still photographer
Andy Long	....	gaffer
Iain Mackay	....	clapper loader
Frank McConologue	....	electrician: second unit, Edinburgh (as Frank McConalogue)
Brian Mcgivern	....	generator operator: Lee Lighting
Grant McLean	....	electrician: second unit, Edinburgh
Mike McLoughlin	....	still photographer: Scott monument
David Morrison	....	grip: second unit, Edinburgh (as Dave Morrison)
Scott Napier	....	electrician: second unit, Edinburgh
Jeremy Nathan	....	video assist operator
Bayard Duval Outerbridge	....	camera trainee (as Bayard Outerbridge)
Nick Pearson	....	grip: "b" camera
Darren Quinn	....	grip (as Darren J. Quinn)
Luke Redgrave	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Dean Smith	....	stand-by rigger
Martyn Welland	....	electrician: Lee Lighting (as Martin Welland)
David Weller	....	stand-by rigger (as Dave Wellar)
Jackson Pearce White	....	camera trainee (as Jackson Pearce-White)
Billy Wilson	....	rigger: second unit, Edinburgh
Dave Wilson	....	electrician: second unit, Edinburgh
Simon Baker	....	Steadicam operator (uncredited)
Alice Hobden	....	underwater assistant camera (uncredited)
David Sinfield	....	electrician (uncredited)
Tim Wooster	....	underwater camera operator (uncredited)

Casting Department
Vanessa Baker	....	adr voice casting: UK, Lyps Inc
Anthony Cogin	....	adr voice casting: Australia (as Tony Cogin)
William Davies	....	casting associate (as Will Davies)
Brendan Donnison	....	adr voice casting: UK, Lyps Inc
Claire McDonald	....	casting assistant: crowd

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Claire Jennings	....	costume trainee
Amanda Keable	....	costume supervisor
Billy Kimberley	....	dress maker
Anita Kwasniewski	....	costume assistant
Caroline McCall	....	assistant costume designer
Faith Thomas	....	stand-by costumer
Sally Davis	....	wardrobe assistant (uncredited)
Louise Egan	....	costume daily (uncredited)
Jane Spicer	....	costume assistant (uncredited)
Wyn Vaughan-Humphreys	....	set costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Leo Bahas	....	negative cutter: Negative Cutting Services
Olivier Fontenay	....	senior colorist
Alan Hansen	....	digital grader
Jonathan Taylor	....	assistant editor
Noelleen Westcombe	....	assistant editor
Jamie Hediger	....	assistant film colorist (uncredited)

Music Department
Liz Gallacher	....	music supervisor
Kay Garcia	....	assistant to music supervisor
Robin Gray	....	music engineer
Ron Layton	....	orchestra contractor
Daryl McKenzie	....	conductor
Daryl McKenzie	....	orchestrator
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra	....	musician
Rudolf Osadnik	....	orchestra leader
Adam Rhodes	....	music engineer
Adam Rhodes	....	music mixer
Cezary Skubiszewski	....	music arranger
Victorian Philharmonic Orchestra	....	musician
Matt Amy	....	music preparation (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Phil Allchin	....	unit driver: Ms. Armstrong
Steve Bridgen	....	unit driver (as Steve Brigden)
Martin Clay	....	driver: construction truck
Karen Cockburn	....	driver: second unit, Edinburgh
Kevin Collyer	....	driver: generator
Allison Drury	....	driver: minibus
Norman Dutton	....	driver: minibus
Russell D. Equi	....	driver: second unit, Edinburgh
Andy Finnie	....	driver: second unit, Edinburgh
Mike Gilbert	....	driver: makeup truck
Steve Haines	....	driver: tugs
John Hollywood	....	unit driver: Ms. Zeta-Jones
Dave Hopkin	....	driver: construction run around (as Dave Hopkins)
Chris John	....	driver: artist trailer
Colin Morris	....	unit driver: Mr. Pearce
Ken Price	....	driver: camera truck
D. Smith	....	driver: tugs
Bohdan Stoklasa	....	driver: costume truck
Richard Watkins	....	driver: production office
Paul Whiting	....	driver: minibus
George Yeung	....	unit driver
Christopher Russell	....	unit driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Reno Antoniades	....	legal services: UK, Lee & Thompson
Geraldine Atlee	....	legal and business affairs: BBC Films
Isabel Baquero	....	assistant choreographer
Joe Barlow	....	floor runner
Libbie Barr	....	script supervisor
Natalie Bass	....	legal services: UK, Lee & Thompson
Suzie Batters	....	production assistant (as Susie Batters)
Belinda Bennetts	....	title designer
Dave Bingham	....	psychic consultant
Kerry Brogan	....	production and finance coordinator: BBC Films
Sandra Butterworth	....	voice and dialect coach
Neil Cairns	....	production accountant
Sally Caplan	....	head of production fund: UK Film Council
Luke Carey	....	assistant: Chris Curling
Mike Clark-Hall	....	production assistant
Jennifer Cote	....	assistant: Ms. Zerta-Jones
Miglet Crichton	....	location scout: second unit, Edinburgh
Tom Crooke	....	location scout
Chris Cullum	....	health & safety officer
Emma Davie	....	unit publicist
Brendan Diver	....	caterer: second unit, Edinburgh
Dan Doyle	....	development finance
Will Evans	....	head of business affairs: UK Film Council
Hollie Foster	....	assistant coordinator
Andy Gardiner	....	runner: second unit, Edinburgh
Jamie Gavin	....	runner: second unit, Edinburgh
Jane Gibson	....	choreographer
Lesley Gogarty	....	crowd coordinator
Naomi J. Hall	....	researcher: film and stills
Sam Haveland	....	stand-in: Mr. Pearce
Leslie Hills	....	researcher: edinburgh
Stephanie Hills	....	assistant researcher: Edinburgh
Alexander Hodgson	....	assistant to director: UK
Vinnie Holden	....	head of production finance: UK Film Council (as Vince Holden)
Polly Jefferies	....	production coordinator
Matt Jones	....	location assistant: second unit, Ediunburgh
Lawrence Joseph	....	assistant accountant
Christopher Kelly	....	assistant to director: Australia
Aisling Lloyd	....	stand-in: Ms. Zeta-Jones
J.J. Lousberg	....	production executive: UK Film Council
Stephen Mascall	....	caterer
Joy Maxwell Davis	....	unit medic (as Joy Maxwell-Davis)
Jacqui McBride	....	assistant accountant
Patrick McGurn	....	runner: second unit, Edinburgh
Bryce Menzies	....	legal services: Australia, Marshalls and Dent
Kate Meyer	....	post production accountant: Moneypenny Services
Clive Noakes	....	senior client contact
Scott Penrose	....	magic consultant
Natasha Pilbrow	....	legal services: UK, Lee & Thompson
Rozza Reader	....	chef (as Rozza)
Angela Riddell	....	runner: second unit, Edinburgh
Martin Roberts	....	location assistant
Ian Robinson	....	feature sales manager
Monica Roman	....	chaperone: Miss Ronan
Isaac Sananes	....	assistant accountant
Cole Siedler	....	caterer
Nathan Smith	....	laboratory liaison
Andy Soane	....	caterer
Jane Soans	....	location manager
Jo Stewart	....	post-production script
Lee Stone	....	legal services: UK, Lee & Thompson
Stef Swiatek	....	unit nurse: second unit, Edinburgh
Alistair Thomas	....	facilities: second unit, Edinburgh
Cindy Thomson	....	location manager: second unit, Edinburgh
Jane Thurlow	....	tutor: Miss Ronan
Vanessa Widdup	....	stand-in: Miss Ronan
Michael Wood	....	production executive: BBC Films
Charlotte Wright	....	assistant location manager
Peter Boothby	....	production runner: dailies (uncredited)
Jo Cameron Brown	....	adr voice (uncredited)
Zoe Liang	....	daily floor runner (uncredited)

Thanks
Christine King	....	thanks
Andrew Lesnie	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Australian Film Finance Corporation (AFFC)
• Myriad Pictures
• BBC Films
• Zephyr Films
• Macgowan Films (in association with) (as Nacgowan Lupovitz Nasatir Films)
• Cinemakers
• Film Finance
• Myriad Pictures
• New South Wales Film and Television Office, The (in association with) (as NSW Film and Television Office)
• UK Film Council
• Zephyr Films (in association with)

Distributors

• Alfa Films (2008) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Audiovisual (2008) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Becker Entertainment (2007) (Australia) (theatrical)
• DeA Planeta Home Entertainment (2007) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Dendy Films (2008) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Eagle (2008) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Equinoxe (2008) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Genius Products (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Golden Village Entertainment (2008) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Gussi Artecinema (2008) (Mexico) (theatrical)
• Imagem Filmes (2008) (Brazil) (theatrical)
• Korea Screen (2008) (South Korea) (theatrical)
• LNK Filmes (2008) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• Ledafilms (2008) (Mexico) (TV)
• Lionsgate (2007) (UK) (theatrical)
• MG Film (2007) (Croatia) (all media)
• Nordisk Film Theatrical Distribution (2008) (Finland) (DVD)
• Nordisk Film (2008) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Pyramid (2008) (Russia) (theatrical)
• Shapira Films (2008) (Israel) (theatrical)
• Third Rail Releasing (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2009) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Viva International Pictures (2009) (Philippines) (theatrical)
• Weinstein Company, The (2008) (USA) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Atlab (digital opticals) (as Atlab Australia)
• Postmodern (digital visual effects) (as Post Modern)

Other Companies

• Allan Eaton Studios  music recording facility
• Ardmore Sound  adr recording: Ireland (as Ardmore Sound Studio Screenscene)
• Arion Facilities  dailies telecine transfers
• Audiolink Radio Communications  walkie talkies
• Australian Film Commission, The  developed in association with
• Australian Picture Library  archive footage
• Bank of Ireland  financed with the assistance of
• Bank of Ireland  production financing provided by
• Blue Rider Finance  bridge funding
• Bon Appetit Catering  casting (as Bon Appetit)
• Buzzy's Recording Services  adr recording: Los Angeles (as Buzzy's Recording)
• Clearing House, The  legal clearances
• F.I.L.M. Archives  archive footage
• Frame, Set & Match  on-line facility (as Frame, Set and Match)
• Goldcrest Post Production London  adr recording: UK
• Guild of British Camera Technicians  
• HW Wood Australia  post-production insurance
• ITN Source  archive footage
• International Film Guarantors  completion guaranty
• Kodak  film stock
• Lakeshore Records  soundtrack
• Lee & Thompson  legal services: UK
• Lee Lighting  lighting
• Lyps Inc.  adr voice casting: UK
• M.A.C.  make-up supplies (as MAC)
• Marshalls & Dent  legal services: Australia (as Marshalls and Dent)
• Moneypenny Services  post-production accounting
• National Lottery  developed with the support of
• Negative Cutting Services  negative matching
• Newbridge Entertainment Capital  financed with the assistance of (as Newbridge Film Capital)
• Optical & Graphics  end credits
• Orient Pacific  music publisher (as Orient Pacific Music)
• Panavision UK  camera equipment provided by
• Pinewood Studios  underwater sequences
• Production Copier Company  production equipment and services
• Rizvi Traverse  financed with the assistance of
• Rocksteady  location security
• Scottish Screen  developed with the support of
• Screenscene  adr recording: Ireland
• Showfilm  travel: Australia
• Sing Sing Studios  music mixing facility
• Sing Sing Studios  music recording facility
• Sky Media Travel  travel: UK
• Soundfirm  adr recording: Australia
• Soundfirm  sound re-recording
• Spectrum Films  editing facility
• The Casting Network  extras casting
• Totally Entertainment  insurance
• Travel Too  travel: Australia (as Traveltoo)
• Victorian Philharmonic Orchestra  music performed by

Also Known As:

Death Defying Acts: Houdini's Secret (USA) (DVD box title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for some sensuality, thematic material, language, violent content and smoking.

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

UK | Australia

Language:

English | Hungarian

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:PG | Ireland:PG | South Korea:15 | Singapore:PG | USA:PG | New Zealand:PG | Finland:K-7 | Hong Kong:IIA | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Netherlands:12 | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | Mexico:B

Filming Locations:

Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

Australian Film Finance Corporation (AFFC)

Goofs:

Anachronisms: In the scene before Houdini try to communicate with his passed mother via Mary McGarvie, it can be clearly seen there is a vacuum tube that happened to be a 6C33C Russian vacuum tube, which does not exist until the 60s, and further more, that vacuum tube couldn't work anymore, since it was leaked (it has a white layer of powder inside the tube that shows there is air inside).

Beautiful, sugary and pretty cheap

As it happens, I translated the Romanian version of this movie's "novelisation", adapted by Greg Cox, so I'm pretty familiar with the details and subtleties of the storyline. As it was already stated here, the script is linear, predictable and formulaic. Correctly built-up, but with no spark. Further, the climax and outcome are messy, superficially constructed and insufficiently justified, leaving in air not a few loose ends...

The commenter Rainmonkey is right: Houdini had no trust and tolerance for spiritualism and the occult in general. It's true that at first, being deeply affected by hid beloved mother's death, he sincerely hoped to contact her through several mediums, and these ones' failings made hum turn frustrated and embittered, thus embarking his crusade of exposing them all as fraud. There were even some notorious instances when, landing as it seems over some genuine psychics, he fabricated fake "evidence" of their alleged "tricks" only to prove them also as crooks. Well, THIS would have been indeed a dramatic ending of our movie here: once Benji starts to have REAL manifestations, Houdini could have tried to rig the experiment as to make it look false - thus, compromising all the human relationship he had built so far with the two Scots... Unfortunately, Grisoni, Ward and Armstrong went for the cheap and well tried beaten trails, with no originality at all...

All in all, a passable entertainment for hairdressers and biology-teachers in junior high - beautiful, sugary and pretty cheap.