Wil Wheaton runs away to join the circus—literally. The 80s did Houdini dirty and I love it.
This biographical movie depicts the youth of the magician Harry Houdini (1874 - 1926). As a boy his name was Eric Weiss and his father wanted him to become a locksmith. But he ran away and joined the traveling show of Dr. Grimaldi, where he learned the tricks of a magician and a little mystery from his Indian assistant, too.
Acting
Wil Wheaton commits to every hokey trick with sincere wonder.
Production
Budget so small the circus feels like six people and a tent.
Director
James Orr
Wil Wheaton
Ehrich Weiss / Young Harry Houdini
Jeffrey DeMunn
Adult Harry Houdini
Kerri Green
Calpernia
Barry Corbin
Elmore
Roy Dotrice
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
José Ferrer
Dr. Tybalt Grimaldi
Phillip Brock
Wesley
Michael Alldredge
Yardbull
Sean McClory
Sean O'Casey
Lee de Broux
Marshall
Rita Zohar
Mrs. Weiss
J.C. Quinn
Slats
Mike Pniewski
Large Miner
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was one of three Houdini projects in the 80s, all competing to cash in on magician nostalgia. The others had bigger budgets and actual theatrical releases.
J. Reuben Silverbird played the 'mystical Indian assistant' stereotype that aged like milk, typical of 80s family entertainment's clumsy multiculturalism.
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