Step right in, young ladies,
out towards the acme of refinement.
It will astound you and amaze you.
It is also educational,
and it costs you only 10 cents.
Come on kids, let's go in.
But we told the Dean we were going to the art institute.
We're liable to get in trouble.
But the man said it was educational, didn't he?
Let's go.
Come on.
Right this way, young ladies,
four tickets for the young ladies.
And now, ladies and gentlemen, if you follow me
to the other end of the museum, as we approach
this exhibit, I ask you to do so with extreme caution
because, as I introduce to you, bruto, the wild man
who was captured in the wilds of Africa.
He is just as wild and ferocious today
as he was the day he was captured.
Ah ah, not too close ladies
because it was women who made the wild man wild.
If you please, Mr. Schultz.
Down with you!
Down!
Down with youl!
Stop it, stop it!
=- huh?
You treat him like a beast and he becomes one.
What do you mean?
Just stop hitting him, that's all.
Look out!
You made him that way, you don't hit him any more.
Now, if you young ladies and the rest of you folks
will just follow up to the rest platform,
I'd like to introduce you to the world's greatest phenomena,
the pretzel twins.
They will bend, twist, and curve
in more postions than a greenfly.
Now look here, young lady, if you don't leave
that man alone, you have to leave the place.
What, I didn't do anything do him.
He is dangerous!
Last time he grabbed a girl, she disappeared, poof!
Now leave him alone.
What's the matter with you?
Hi, Harry.
Hi, Joan.
Thank you, minnie and Sadie.
And now, ladies and gentlemen,
if you'll all just move over to the next platform,
I want to introduce to you a man
who has all the wizardry of modern magic at his fingertips.
Not a man of a thousand tricks,
but a man of 10,000 tricks.
He will not only amaze and astound you,
but will confound you with his modern feats of magic.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the great Houdini!
Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.
For my first trick, a small miracle.
As you see, I have just an ordinary piece of paper.
I take the paper, form a simple cone, bend the end.
If you please, your attention to the pitcher of milk
oh the table.
Take the milk, pour it in to the magic cone.
To the doubting thomases who don't believe this is milk,
I pour it into the glass, see?
For the young ladies who like sweet milk,
I add a little sugar.
Take the wand, stir just a little bit.
Watch.
One, two, three.
Evaporated milk.
That magic act, it's gotta go.
It slows up the turnover, you can see that, can't you?
Yeah, but he won't play the wild man
unless I let him do those tired tricks.
Are you the boss around here, huh?
Don't you see how all the girls go for the wild man?
That boy's got something.
If only he would forget the magic.
Now for my next feat, I shall need
the assistance of some volunteer from the audience.
Young lady, would you kindly step up on the platform?
Oh, I couldn't do anything like that.
Oh no, I don't want to.
I don't want to go up in front of all those people.
Come right up here, don't be afraid.
Thank you, let's give the young lady a nice hand.
And this is for assisting me.
Oh, thank you.
What is your name, young lady?
I'm not in the habit of giving my name to strangers.
She's not in the habit of giving her name to strangers.
Have we met before?
Certainly not.
Much to my misfortune.
Now, would you kindly write your name down
on this piece of paper.
Now, don't let me see it, please.
Thank you.
Have you written it?
Yes.
Now put it in the flame and drop it in the urn.
Now, concentrate on your name while it's burning.
Are you concentrating?
Yes.
Is it burning?
Yes.
Thank you very much.
Now, may I have your hand, please?
Oh please, it's going to help the vibrations.
Thank you.
Now will you close your eyes an concentrate.
You're not concentrating.
I want you to hold my hand real tight and concentrate
because I'm going to read your thoughts.
Oh my goodness.
Please, you must concentrate.
Sorry.
Thank you.
Oh, now I'm getting an image, and it's a good one.
And I rub it on my arm, watch.
There, is that your name, Bess?
Yeah!
Bess, you see, the vibrations do help.
Thank you, thank you very much.
And I thank you.
Now folks, if you step in this direction
for the next exhibit.
Oh, don't go, this is for you.
Thank you.
Don't go.
Well, let go of my arm.
Well, if I let you go I'll never see you again.
I have no intention of seeing you again.
Here.
And now folks, you can step over
in this direction, I want to introduce you
to the mystic isle of little fuchsia.
Now, of course, you won't believe me,
and oddly enough, their names are Mr. and Mrs. bigger.
Probably because he is bigger than she is.
Ah, you will notice that he doesn't say anything
because like all normal husbands, he's not allowed to.
Now, they lead normal lives just like you and me.
Psst psst.
Don't be afraid.
I'm not afraid.
= then come here.
You better get back in your cage before they whip you.
You wouldn't let him whip me, will you?
I wish I could help you.
Well, you can.
How?
By having dinner with me tonight.
= well that's the most ridiculous...
Oh Bess, you don't seem to understand.
I just wanted to meet you...
= you fake!
No, Bess.
Excuse me, ma'am.
Excuse me, Bess.
The wild man!
Please, let me explain.
Get away from me.
Miss, I've gotta talk to you.
I don't want anything to do with you.
Oh, you could have tears in your eyes
for the wild man, but for the great Houdini, nothing.
You're crazy.
Listen, you get your junk out of here, you're fired.
All right.
Now, wait a minute.
He's fired, I tell you, let him go, he's fired.
Over here, over here.
What made you want to come to coney island tonight?
= oh, I don't know, I just, well, I wanted to come.
As long as we're here, let's skip these
side show things and go on some of the rides.
All right.
Let's go over here maybe, Fred.
Only 10 cents, a thin dime.
A 10th of a dollar.
- But Bess - Oh, let's go in here, Fred.
You said we'd go on a ride.
Oh, we will, promise, later,
but let's go in here first, please.
Ah, Houdini the great.
Watch it, watch it closely, ladies and gentlemen.
Will Houdini survive, or will he become
a chip off the old block.
Watch it, watch it, ladies and gentlemen.
This is without the doubt the most dangerous stunt
ever performed before the public.
Are the ropes securely tied, gentlemen?
Yes, sir.
Thank you, thank you very much.
Now, if you'll clear the conveyor.
Ladies and gentlemen, before I throw this switch,
let's give the lad a moment of silent prayer.
Thank you very much.
And now, Houdini, are you ready to defy death?
I'm ready.
Ladies and gentlemen watching closely,
I will demonstrate before your very eyes
the murderous power of this saw.
There it goes, ladies and gentlemen, on his way to doom.
Only six feet between him and a horrible death.
The greatest death defying feat of all time.
Ladies and gentlemen, five feet, five feet.
He's in trouble now.
Hurry up, hurry up, Houdini, you haven't much time.
Four feet, ladies and gentlemen, just four now.
Three feet, ladies and gentlemen,
I can't stand to look at it any longer.
Oh no, ladies and gentlemen, I can't bear to watch it.
I only hope nothing goes wrong.
You're braver than I am, ladies and gentlemen.
Stop it, stop it!
Stop that thing!
He made it.
Wasn't that tremendous, ladies and gentlemen,
wasn't that tremendous.
But, he might not make it the next time.
Don't forget to tell your friends, ladies and gentlemen.
The next show starts in one half hour.
Thank you, thank you very much.
Anything wrong, Harry?
Ladies and gentlemen.
We have this evening an added attraction
for your special edification.
For centuries, man has been searching
for the fountain of youth.
Professor allegari has come all the way from Italy
to demonstrate this sensational discovery.
Ladies and gentlemen, for your special edification,
I give you, professor allegari!
Someone you know?
= no.
Then stop looking at him.
I can't help it.
Ladies and gentlemen, if there's an elderly gentleman
in the house who would like to become young again,
please step right up here, and I will rejuvenate him.
Please, oh, here is someone not long for this world.
Would you be so kind.
Eh?
Would you like to be rejuvenated?
Darn tootin' would, son.
Don't know what the wife's gonna say about this,
but I'm sure gonna give it a whirl.
Oh, pardon me, young lady.
Excuse me.
This way, please.
Drink.
Whoopee!
That's the same fellow we saw at coney island last week.
=I know.
Well that's why you insisted on coming here, isn't it.
=I had no idea he would be here.
Then why would you pick this of all places to come?
1 don't know, Fred.
Do you mind if we go?
But we just got here.
I don't know what's the matter, let's go.
What happened to the party that was here?
1 don't know, they just left.
They didn't even order anything.
I looked for you at the dime museum.
I looked for you at coney island
but you keep running away.
= this time I came back.
Why?
=I don't know.
=I do.
The same reason I took this job.
I knew you'd come here.
How could you know?
Well, everything happens do me in threes.
This is the third time we've met.
=I know.
I shouldn't even be here.
We're strangers.
We were never strangers.
I thought you said you forgot your gloves.
I didn't wear gloves tonight, Fred.
Come on, Bess, they're waiting.
I'm not going.
Look, I brought you here, and I'm taking you home.
I'm not going.
= what's the trouble?
No trouble at all, we're leaving.
You are leaving.
I'm sorry.
That's all right.
She came with me, she's leaving with me.
Would you like to dance?
= I'd love to.
I've only got one more show to do.
Then where would you like to go?
Wherever you go.
Is that you, Harry?
Yes, mama, goodnight.
Son, would you like to have a glass of mi...
Uh, mom, this is Bess.
Yes.
Bess, this is mom.
I'm so glad to know you.
Isn't she wonderful, mother?
Yes, she's very pretty.
Thank you.
Oh, it's a wonderful night tonight, isn't it.
I never saw a more wonderful night.
Well, now that everything is so wonderful,
what are you two wonderful people up to?
Oh, I was gonna show her some of my magic.
At 2 o'clock in the morning?
Itis?
Oh, we didn't mean to disturb you.
No, we promise not to make any noise
so you go back to bed, ma.
Isn't it a little late for a young lady to be out?
Oh no, it's all right, isn't it, Harry.
Yes, you see, she has no school tomorrow.
= no school?
No, she stays at a girls' school.
= and I'm locked out.
Locked out?
Oh, child, that's nothing to worry about,
you can spend the night with me.
= oh, no, I wouldn't want to put you to any trouble.
No trouble at all, we have lots of room.
No, mother, I'll fix a place for her.
She could take my room.
She'll do no such thing.
No, Harry, I think it's time we...
On second thought, I think it would be better
if she did go back to school,
they're probably worried about her.
I can't go back now.
Oh yes you can, goodnight, ma.
Why won't you tell her?
Oh, Bess, honey, I couldn't.
We got married so quick and all,
but I'll tell her first thing in the morning,
honest I will.
I'd feel much better if you told her tonight.
It'll be better in the morning, really.
=I don't like this.
I wish we'd tell her now.
She'd just keep us up all night talking about it.
We made it.
I love you.
Here's a night gown for you, darling.
I think it will fit.
Did you think you could fool your mother, Harry?
I just wanted to see how far you would go.
I like her, Harry.
Goodnight.
Coward.
Harry, what are you doing?
I'm working on a brand new trick, come here.
= no.
What?
You said you wanted to be in the act.
Yes, but not now.
Come on, I need you.
What do I have to do?
Get in the box.
What does it do?
= you'll see later.
Oh, Harry, I'm not gonna go in there.
Get in the box.
If you say so.
Now put your feet through here.
= I think this is ridiculous getting in here,
waking me up in the middle of the night...
Now put your head through there.
= put me through here, I don't like this at all, I'm scared.
Watch your fingers.
What would people say if they could see me here now?
I won't tell a soul, are you comfortable?
As comfortable as I could be.
Good.
Harry, I'm scared though.
What are you doing down there, huh?
Fixing this in.
Oh, don't do that, that's not fair, don't.
Don't, Harry, I'm nervous enough as it is.
Where are you, what are you doing?
I went to get the saw.
The saw, what are you gonna do with that?
I'm gonna saw you in half.
Oh no, Harry, no, you're going to do it, I won't let you.
Harry, let me out of here!
Harry!
Shh, you wanna wake mother up?
I hope I do, she'll get me out of here.
Now, it's not gonna hurt, close your eyes.
How do you know, you're not inside.
Harry, Harry, I'm scared.
Harry, let me out of here.
Harry, Harry, Harry.
Don't worry.
= oh!
Harry, Harry.
It's a great effect, isn't it?
Yes, it's wonderful, but will we have to do
something like this every night?
Was it so awful?
No, but I expected something different
on my wedding night.
J the bell in the bay
j on the day that my love sailed away j
J and the gulls wheeling high
j write farewell from the sky
j but the bell in the bay
J said goodbye j~
Why you oughta...
I'll kill them, I'll kill them!
I've never been so insulted in all my...
Now, calm down.
That's the way they show their appreciation.
Appreciation?
Come on, honey, you're next, don't let them stop you.
Me?
I'm not gonna go out there.
They love magicians in West Virginia.
Are you sure?
Oh yeah, go out there.
Music, maestro, please.
Thank you, thank you very much.
Now, if you'll keep your eye on my charming assistant,
I shall make all the goldfish dissolve into thin air.
One, two...
Oh, poor goldfish.
Ow!
Oh.
At least give us a chance.
Ah, get off the stage, go on.
For my next trick.
I will create an effect never performed on any stage.
I will disappear from this spot right before your eyes.
Well, hurry up and disappear.
I'll help him disappear.
Don't worry, folks, I'm right here.
They like you, son.
Thank you.
Stay here, do some more for 'em.
Bess, listen to them, listen to that applause.
I've got 'em eating right out of my hand.
What's the matter, baby?
= what's the matter?
They break up our act, I fall down and cut my leg.
You look like a squashed tomato
and you ask me what's the matter?
We're not in showbusiness, we're sitting ducks
in a shooting gallery.
We won't always have to play to an audience like that.
It's the only kind we played to in the last year.
Oh, but it's bound to get better.
Here's what's left of the goldfish.
They haven't caught the rest yet.
Say, folks, you better hurry up.
The midnight train for wheeling's on time.
= thanks.
Wheeling, we'll probably get shot there.
Look, Harry, let's go back to New York.
We can't get bookings in New York.
Well, we could take that job in a safe factory.
Yeah.
Look, your knowledge of locks and combinations,
I'm sure that they'd pay you well.
Yeah.
Will you try it, Harry?
= no.
Why not?
I'm a magician, not a locksmith.
You can't pull bread out of a hat.
Well, if you want bread, you should have married a baker.
At least a baker makes something people want.
Nobody seems to want your magic, Harry.
There's nothing new in card tricks.
What does it mean to go through trap doors
and escape from cabinets, what does it all mean?
=I don't know what it means.
I only know what it does to me.
Like tonight when I did that disappearing act.
Tough as they were, you should have seen their faces.
I gave 'em a thrill, something to take home and talk about.
So you thrilled them for a minute,
by tomorrow it'll be forgotten.
Next time I'll give 'em a bigger thrill,
something they won't forget so soon.
Audiences are never satisfied.
They love you for the moment that you please them.
Darling, I'll love you forever.
I'd like to make a home for us, something that would last
if you just let me.
Magic is all I know.
Oh, you could be anything you wanted to be.
How?
I never went to school.
I started working when I was nine years old
with a magician in a tent show.
If I quit now and take that job in that factory,
I'll be there for the rest of my life.
Bess, I didn't marry you to give you that kind of a life.
Oh my darling, don't you understand?
I'm so tired of riding milk trains
and living out of suitcases
where I'd be satisfied if just once
we could spend two nights in the same place.
Hey, ain't you packed that stuff yet?
Come on, let's go.
That train only stops for the milk.
I'll be right there.
Well, we'd better hurry.
Unhook me, please.
Quit, Harry.
Harry?
We'll miss the train.
Harry.
= oh, Mr. brown, when do you think I'd get a chance
to work on the safes?
What's the matter, don't you like your job?
Oh, I like it well enough,
but you can train a chimpanzee for the work I'm doing.
Not a bad idea, son, drop it in the suggestion box.
Guess you've been working on the big safes
a long time, haven't you, Mr. otter.
Oh, about 40 years.
Is that so?
Yeah.
I was wondering someone accidentally got locked up
in one of these, could they get out
by working the tumblers from the inside?
Not out any of my safes they couldn't.
Couldn't, huh?
= no.
Let me try it sometime?
Certainly not, are you crazy?
No, I'm just asking.
Well, go back and do your work and leave me alone.
I'm sorry, Mr. otter, I'm just wondering.
Go on.
What kind of people are getting work around here now.
Hiya, ma.
Hello, honey.
Hiya, dear.
How are you?
= fine.
How'd things go today?
Just great.
I opened 8,642 locks.
Oh, cheer up, Harry.
They'll let you work in the big safes soon.
I'm sure, in about 40 years.
Well, at least we're not dodging tomatoes
and you get paid every Saturday night.
Thank you.
Harry?
Hm?
= you're two and a half dollars short.
Am I?
= uh huh.
You didn't stop any place, did you?
As a matter of fact I did.
Had a chance to pick up a bargain.
Oh really?
Where is it and what is it?
They're good ones.
= oh, I'm sure.
Here, I'll prove it to you, put 'em on.
Now make sure they're locked good.
They're locked.
You're sure?
You wouldn't think I could get out of them, would you?
Now cover them with the towel.
That's right.
That makes 8,643 locks that I've opened today.
That's very nice, Harry.
You'd better finish washing, dinner's just about ready.
Just a minute, we're not eating here.
I'm taking you out for dinner.
Taking me out?
Oh, where are we going?
Well, it's a surprise.
Well, what will I wear?
Oh, mama, do you think that maybe...
It's all finished except the belt.
= oh, finished?
Oh, thank you.
The astor?
Can we afford it?
Nothing but the best for you, my love.
Thank you.
There's quite a few magicians here tonight, isn't there.
Magic's getting to be quite a hobby.
It's actually a model of a very old...
What's going on up there?
Today, we've discovered that if we use a machine
like like correctly, we can place an object in the hole,
we can pass the blade through the object
with absolutely no damage to either the cabbage
or the celery down below.
Watch the miracle of magic, ready, one, two.
Something seems to have gone wrong.
I'll tell you, I don't have another cabbage,
and I did want to do this tonight.
Ah, but I did bring a young lady with me,
I wonder if you'd mind helping, would you please?
You're not afraid, are you?
No.
= fine.
Just kneel down please on the pad there.
And just to make sure you don't go any place,
for a few minutes, we'll lock you in like so.
Is your head on good and tight?
All right, ready again then.
At the count of three, watch the blade.
Ready, one, two, three.
You see, ladies and gentlemen, the object of this trick
is to make it look as vicious as possible
without doing any damage to the young lady.
Now, that didn't hurt, did it.
What's gone wrong?
Congratulations.
It was very good, thank you.
And thank you, little lady.
She keeps her head very well.
Ladies and gentlemen, as a finale
for the evening's entertainment,
and before we have our dinner,
we offer a challenge and escape routine
that has never been tried before.
I will ask for volunteers.
Bring on the restrainers.
That's right, don't be bashful.
Harry.
But they just asked for vol-.
Come along, now let's see how many have we here?
One, two, three, four.
Oh, come, gentlemen, this is for the grand prize.
We need one more volunteer.
Now, fellows, these are regulation straitjackets
which have been loaned to us for this occasion
by bellevue hospital.
No inmate has ever escaped from one of these.
Surely there is one more brave soul in this gathering.
Oh, go on if you're gonna make a fool of yourself, go on.
Here.
Yes, better take your coat off.
Put it right over there.
Will a couple of you gentlemen help us?
We have your little evening jacket right here.
That's right.
Just strap it good and tight.
Here, ready?
Now, right arm first, and the left.
That's it, that's the way they do it.
Strap him up good and tight there.
How are we back here?
Fine, come along, let's line up here.
Hurry up, boys.
That's right, line up there in the line all clear.
Now, as you can see, ladies and gentlemen,
one has to be a little crazy to put on one of these.
Now, gentlemen, the stage is yours, and good luck.
Music please.
Tremendous.
Magnificent, my boy, magnificent.
And I guess there's no doubt as to who wins the prize.
There you are, my boy, and good luck to you.
You know, Mr. Houdini, no one has ever escaped
form a straitjacket before.
I've been a magician for over 40 years,
I've been quite a few places, seen quite a few things
in my time, but there was always some explanation,
some trick.
Tonight there was none, there couldn't have been,
yet you got out.
I'm sorry to disappoint you, Mr. malue,
but it was a trick.
You've done it before?
No, but it's still a trick.
We must all guard your secrets,
I can't ask you how you did it.
But if you'll take a little advice from an old man,
drop it, give it up.
But why, if it made such an impression?
Because it isn't a trick.
You've seen something like this before haven't you.
Where? Who did it?
Well it was many years ago in Berlin,
a man named Von schweger.
There was nothing unusual about his act until the finish.
Then he was sealed inside a giant bottle.
Now, the bottle was not faked, yet he got out.
Well, how could he get out of a sealed bottle?
The talk was that Von schweger was able to dematerialize.
Of course, it was only talk.
Von schweger, Von schweger.
I've read all the books on the great magicians,
but I've never seen his name mentioned.
Just when he could have made name for himself,
he quit the profession.
Why?
No one knew for sure, but I think he was frightened
by what he was able to do.
= I'd like to meet him.
Is he still alive?
Last I heard he was.
But he never sees anyone.
Oh, well we seem to be about the last to leave.
Goodnight, Mrs. Houdini, it was nice to meet you.
Thank you.
Goodnight, sir.
Drop it, drop it.
It'll make you famous, but it will kill you.
You're not happy, are you, Harry?
Why shouldn't I be?
Because I stopped you from doing what you really wanna do.
I won't lie to you, Bess, I'd rather do magic
than test locks.
But I'm happy, believe me I am.
An audience does something to you, Harry.
Like tonight, you got out of the straitjacket
and everybody applauded.
You were like a different person.
Which me do you like the most?
I like you both very much.
Hey, we forgot about the prize that you won.
It's in my coat pocket.
Here it is.
What is it?
= it's a boat ticket.
Boat ticket?
= uh huh.
To Europe.
Europe?
Oh, Bess, that's where I've always wanted to go.
That's where I really could learn something.
Why, I might even meet Von schweger.
Well it's a round trip passage for one.
We can trade it in for two one ways can't we?
Or we could cash it in for a down payment on a house.
If we don't take this opportunity,
we'll never get it again.
More important to you than anything, isn't it.
Tonight's Halloween, something strange
always happens to me on Halloween night.
We can't pass it up.
It's your ticket, Harry.
You won it.
I won't stop you if you wanna go.
Well, I won't go alone.
And I won't go with you.
You're just afraid because of what he said tonight.
I'm more than just afraid.
He's an old man, they're always afraid of new things.
We shouldn't be.
Maybe I shouldn't be but I am.
Well I can't live without you.
Cash it in.
Oh, Harry.
Harry, darling.
Here's your quarter, get ready.
Are you sure you can get out?
I'll get out before they know I'm in.
Quick.
Ah, what are you doing over there?
Now you've done it.
That's all right, he told me to do it,
he said he could get out.
But he can't get out.
Mr. brown, Mr. brown?
Where's Mr. brown?
Mr. brown, there's a man locked up in the safe.
Can't you open this?
No, the time lock is on, it's set for 24 hours,
it won't open until tomorrow.
= who's in there?
= Houdini.
Oh, I might have known it.
Well, we can't let him die in there,
it'll give the company a bad name.
We've got to think of something.
Well, one thing, but it'll ruin the safe.
Well ruin it, a man's life is at stake.
Get clear, it's a short fuse.
What did you blow it up for?
You'd have given me a little more time, I'd have gotten out.
= you're fired.
I still don't understand what you were doing
inside that safe.
I told you a hundred times, I was having my lunch.
You did it deliberately.
You wanted to get fired.
Why would I do a crazy thing like that?
So you could go back to being a magician.
What's wrong with magicians?
That's what I was when you married me.
Well if you love your magic more than you love me,
good luck to both of you because I'm leaving!
Go talk to her, Harry, don't let her leave.
Look at this soup, it's like water.
Where did she ever learn to cook anyway.
I made the soup.
You can stop packing.
I'm the one that's leaving.
Harry, where are you going?
Where they don't water the soup.
Time in captivity, Oscar, the human sea serpent.
Half man and half...
Thank you.
Hey, just a minute, lady.
It's all right.
Alive, alive, living.
Ladies and gentlemen,
my latest invention, the metamorphosis.
Music, please.
Would you please examine the trunk
and see that there's no means of escape.
Satisfied?
Yes.
Now will you pick it up and turn it around
and show the audience that it's just an ordinary trunk.
Thank you.
Would you fasten these on my wrists, please.
A bag.
Are they secure?
= now tie it.
Thank you. I'm sorry, you won't be able to go this trip, no.
Lock it.
Now tie it with the rope.
Some good sailor knots.
Tight?
Locked! You hold the key.
Girls?
Ladies and gentlemen, the metamorphosis.
One, two, three, four.
Five, six, seven.
Would you please untie the ropes
that you yourselves tied?
And now we will unlock the trunk
and make sure there's no changes
and nothing has been touched.
And the bag.
Untie it, please.
Fake, fake.
Did I hear someone yell fake?
I'm dooley of the London examiner.
I say all you yank magicians are fakes
and that's a trick trunk.
I'd like to see you get out of something real.
I resent your remarks.
I'll offer 100 pounds to anyone
who can lock me up in anything I cannot escape from.
Just a minute, just a minute.
Mr. Houdini, Mr. Houdini.
Let the gentleman speak.
Mr. Houdini, I challenge you to escape
from one of our London jails.
I'd like nothing better than to accept your challenge,
Mr. dooley, but I'm afraid the authorities
would not permit it.
I see inspector marlick
of Scotland yard is in the audience.
What do you say now, yank?
My offer still stands.
Let's teach the yank a lesson, inspector.
= call the faker's bluff.
Lock him up.
Show him he can't fool us,
Scotland yard.
No no no, it can't be done.
Please, please.
I'll admit that Scotland yard has
the finest police brains in the world.
But these old sardine cans you call jails
are no challenge to the great Houdini.
You hear that, inspector?
You can't let him get away with it.
You tell him.
I believe we can accommodate Mr. Houdini.
Thank you very much, inspector.
But it'll have to be in the morning
for I have a matinee tomorrow.
Very good.
There's one condition however.
Yes, sir.
Unless you can escape, you'll remain locked up
for 24 hours.
I have never missed a performance.
Come and see me here tomorrow afternoon.
That goes for you too, Mr. dooley.
Oh, I'll be here.
I'll be here, goodnight, all.
Oh you really had that audience steamed up tonight.
Which means a packed house tomorrow.
Harry?
I'll have to see the manager about better billing,
raise in salary.
Harry?
What?
What happens if you can't get out tomorrow?
I could open the locks of these old english jails
with a buttonhook.
I hope so.
Yeah?
Went over great, didn't it, yank.
= you should have been an actor.
I wasn't so bad, was I.
Say, how big a spread do you think we're gonna get
out of the papers?
No, you just get out of that jail Mr. Houdini,
and I'll guarantee that you make the front page.
I'll get out.
You're gonna need a picture.
Which one, honey?
= I like this one.
And play it up big.
Now I'll trouble you for that two pounds.
I'll give it to you tomorrow right after the matinee.
Look, yank old boy.
My end of the bargain was to get you in jail,
you promised me two pounds.
I want it now because tomorrow
you might not be here to pay me.
Harry?
Thank you.
Oh and by the way, I forgot to tell you
but in our jails, the cells are built different
than in the states.
The locks aren't in the doors.
Good luck, yank.
I assure you, inspector, my jail is escape-proof.
= Mr. Houdini seems to think otherwise.
We shall see, we shall see.
As you can see, inspector,
you can look too, Mr. Houdini,
this is no ordinary cell block.
The lock can only be opened from the outside
and you can't reach it from inside the cell.
You still want to try it?
Keys won't help you, Mr. Houdini, but we'll make sure.
I'll take the hat and the coat.
Let's have the belt.
Open your mouth.
The pin and the tie.
I'll have the shoes too.
I've heard about these trick heels.
All right then, let your pockets out.
Turn around.
And just so you have something to play with
here's some nice pretty bracelets for you.
Now, Mr. Houdini, your things will be right outside the door
in case you make it.
Don't worry, we'll see you in 24 hours.
We won't let you starve.
Tea is served at four, and dinner at six.
Good luck, yank.
Oh, warden?
Yes, what is it?
Maybe you can use them on someone else.
We'll see who has the last laugh, Mr. Houdini.
Nope, guv'nor, I've tried.
Ladies and gentlemen.
= we want Houdini!
We want Houdini!
Please, please, ladies and gentlemen,
due to circumstances beyond our control,
Mr. Houdini has been unavoidably detained.
We know, he's in our jail!
Right you are, lad!
Please, please, I know how you feel.
While Mr. Houdini cannot appear before you in person,
he will not disappoint you.
Well, where is he?
Please, please, he is sending his alter ego
from the spirit world to take his place
and we will need complete silence
if Mr. Houdini's alter ego is to appear.
It's impossible.
Just a minute, just a minute.
Mr. Houdini, maybe you got out of our jail,
but I got something you can't get out of.
Put out your hands.
Heh, ladies and gentlemen,
nobody can get out of these cuffs.
I made them myself and there ain't no key.
The only way to get 'em off is saw 'em off.
Anybody who wants to go out for a bit of fish and chips,
you'll have plenty of time.
I say there, you in for the night?
I say he is.
Where's my handcuffs?
Oh, I'm sorry.
= Mr. Houdini, let me be the first to congratulate you.
It seems that our escape proof jail
has a bit of a hole in it.
Mr. Houdini, we have had our operator
check every Von schweger in the Berlin telephone book,
but none of them seem to be the one you're looking for.
Thank you very much.
All these letters I sent come back the same way.
Addressee unknown, not at this address.
Oh, why don't you forget it, Harry?
Harry?
Mmm?
I bet you've forgotten what day this is.
Bet I haven't.
My birthday.
Oh, I felt sure you'd forget.
= I'd like to.
Say, notice all he grey hairs?
Wouldn't you like a surprise?
Not particularly.
Well, you're going to get one whether you like it or not.
Thank you.
My dance, I believe.
That's my girl.
Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention please.
As you know, the gentleman
in the middle of the floor is Houdini, the great magician.
Maybe if we try hard enough, we can get him to do
ohne of his famous tricks for us.
Shall we try?
Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, I hadn't planned
a performance tonight, but maybe I have something
that will amuse you.
So if you'll get me a couple of brooms,
I'll get my wife and we'll see what we can do.
Thank you.
And now I f you'll bring the music platform, please.
I'll need the aid of a few gentlemen from the audience.
Would you, sir?
And the young officer.
Would you take this broom and hold it
at the edge of the platform?
Would you do the same thing?
Now hold them both very securely.
Bess?
Would you put your arms around the brooms?
Like this?
Yes.
I'll have to get my cape out of the way.
Make yourself as comfortable as possible.
There.
You look very lovely tonight.
It's a shame to put you to sleep.
=I don't minnd.
Are you ready?
All right, concentrate on my hand.
Concentrate.
You're getting sleepy.
Happy birthday.
Sleep, sleep, sleep.
You can take that broom away now.
Relax your arm, relax, relax.
Rest your head.
Sleep.
Now if you'll have me lift her.
Up up up up.
There.
You can let go now.
And I let go.
And would you let go.
Would you pass that broom underneath, please?
And over.
I don't recommend this as an after dinner trick.
Are you herr Houdini?
Yes.
You will appear before the tribunal tomorrow at 10
to answer these charges.
What charges?
It seems I've been labeled a fraud by the kaiser's court.
I might have to go to jail.
Agh, well get me down before you go, will you?
Go back to sleep.
Oh, would you help me lower her please.
Gently, easy, that's it.
There.
When I snap my fingers you will awaken.
When any magician transgresses the bounds of reason
and humbugs the people into not only thinking
but believing that he is supernatural,
then this man becomes a menace to society
and must be restrained
from further practice of such deception.
= will the defendant rise?
How do you answer these charges?
I have never claimed to be supernatural.
All my escapes have been effected by purely physical means.
I see only one way to resolve this point.
If both parties will agree, we will put it to a test
right in this court.
= I will submit to any test your honor chooses.
The prosecution agrees to a test.
Very well, the court will be recessed for 30 minutes.
The combination of this safe is known
only to myself and my bailiff.
Now, if Mr. Houdini can open the safe right
in this courtroom, I will dismiss the charges against him.
= just a moment.
Your honor, I will do better than that.
You can lock me inside the safe and I'll get out.
= Mr. Houdini, I only asked you to open it.
I'll get out.
Remember the last safe you got in to?
I knew you'd think of that.
Lock it up.
Come on, lock it up, what are you waiting for?
Aren't you worried?
= no.
Pretty hot in there.
Wonderful, wonderful, Mr. Houdini, marvelous.
Yeah, very good.
But Harry never saw that safe before,
how did he ever do it?
What is the trick?
The trick, mama, was to get the judge to lock him
in the safe.
Safes were built to keep people from breaking in, not out.
Hello?
Is anybody here?
Hello?
Is anyone here?
Hello?
= you are too late.
Herr Von schweger died two days ago.
I'm sorry to hear that.
I was in Switzerland when I got his letter.
I came as quickly as I could.
He was very anxious to talk to you.
I've been trying to see him ever since I came to Europe.
=I know.
He made me send your letters back.
So many magicians over the years have tried to see him.
You are the first to whom he gave an appointment.
= what made him decide to see me?
Herr Von schweger had no Patience with magicians
who could do only tricks.
He made me follow your European tour very closely.
When he was convinced that you were worthy.
He finally agreed that he would talk to you.
Do you know what he wanted to tell me?
He had nothing to tell you.
He wanted to ask you if you knew the secret
of how to dematerialize.
Me?
But I heard that he had already done it.
It happened before I became his assistant.
I asked him, he would neither admit it nor deny it.
But one thing I am sure of, he was never able to repeat it.
I know because I helped him spend
the rest of his life trying.
He intended to give you this.
Well, shall we go?
Go?
Go where?
Otto is my name.
Now I am working for you.
But I'll be leaving for America before long.
So, you will need me.
Looks like Von schweger left me more than just a man
in a bottle.
I can't understand it.
It's 3:30 and they were invited for 2:00.
Are you sure you sent out the invitations, Bess?
I delivered an invitation myself
to every newspaper in town.
Then why haven't the reporters shown up?
Maybe they do not know who you are, Harry.
Everybody knows who I am, mama, look at those.
But that was in Europe, Harry.
Americans are from Missouri, you have to show them.
Mama's right.
No one met us at the boat.
Otto, if the press won't come to me,
I shall go to the press.
Get my straitjacket.
Go away!
= remarkable fella.
I'll interview him today.
= remember when he worked for us?
= you fired him.
= I fired him?
Shut up.
I know it's none of my business,
but does he really like this sort of thing?
Certainly.
That is why he's going to jump
into the Detroit river tomorrow.
Do you think he'll need any more, sir?
No thank you, that will be enough.
Thank you, sir.
Oh, get out of that tub.
I gotta get used to it.
Otto, get him out of there.
What are you trying to do?
Do you wanna catch pneumonia?
Here, let me get that wet bathing suit off.
I've gotta practice.
You're practicing for nothing.
The Detroit river's completely frozen.
No one will expect you to jump.
But the theater has advertised it for weeks,
I can't back out now.
= you'll have to call it off.
It's below zero outside, that ice will be a foot thick.
= I've cut a hole in the ice.
Oh, well that's crazy.
If you jump, I'm jumping with you.
Well if I had you with me under that ice,
I bet we could set a new record.
Do you know what day it is tomorrow?
Yeah, Thursday.
It's Halloween.
That's not your day.
To me it's just another Thursday.
The chain broke.
Gangway, coming through, please.
Otto, I know he's in trouble.
He should be out by now.
He's never been under that long before.
Get the grappling hooks, let this rope down.
Quickly.
Drop those hooks in.
It's empty, he's not in there.
Take her to the hotel.
Drop those hooks in, he may be able to see them.
Lower, lower, lower, lower.
Nobody could come out of that alive.
I guess we got a headline.
Yeah.
Extra extra, extra paper.
Extra, extra, Houdini lost in Detroit river.
Extra paper.
Harry.
Oh, Harry.
Darling, you're alive.
Yes, Bess.
I'm all right, Bess.
Shh shh.
Don't cry now.
I'm all right.
I didn't figure on the river's current.
It carried me downstream.
I thought I'd never find the opening.
Then I heard my mother's voice calling.
I swam towards the sound and found the opening in the ice.
Oh, as long as you're safe.
Don't cry, Bess, I'll never leave you,
I'll never leave you.
Hello?
Yes he is.
Long distant?
Just a moment.
= hello.
Yes, this is Harry Houdini.
What time did she die?
Yes, we'll take the first train home.
Mother died the time I heard her calling me.
Oh my dear, my poor poor darling.
All right?
Hmm, good subject.
You know Houdini, don't you, Simms?
= interviewed him.
Then what's happened to him?
Why should a man at the height of his career
drop out of sight for two whole years?
Well, when his mother died,
he cancelled his tour and went into seclusion.
Wouldn't see anybody, not even me.
A man like that just couldn't be idle.
He must be up to something.
Find out what it is.
Mr. Houdini?
Why, it's Mr. Simms of the observer.
That's right.
I wonder if you could spare me a moment.
I'm sorry but we're just leaving for an appointment.
Well, if you could just answer a few questions.
Some other time, we're late.
Look, after all you owe me something.
I was the only reporter
who covered your straitjacket escape, remember?
Get in.
We're doing a feature story on you
in our Sunday supplement.
I wanna bring the article up to date.
Past two years are blank.
They've been a blank to me too, Mr. Simms.
Oh, how do you mean that?
Do you believe in the hereafter?
I guess so.
Most everyone believes there's something beyond this life.
I've been trying to make contact.
You mean you're trying to communicate
with someone who's dead?
Exactly that, with my mother.
That's impossible.
Why?
Because it's never been done?
You just said you believed in something beyond this life.
If there is, there must be some way to reach it.
There is, by dying.
= that closes the door.
I wanna open it.
Is that what you've been doing for two years?
Yes, with no success.
Tonight we're going to try again.
Would you like to come along?
Me?
Well, my editor...
You're not afraid, Mr. Simms?
Certainly not.
Come in, spirits.
Yes, spirit.
= oh.
Ooh!
Are you all right there?
=- mmm.
Oh, oh.
Was there a materialization?
There sure was something.
You didn't see it?
When I go into a trance I see or hear nothing.
I must rely on those present.
If seance was a success or not?
Well, I heard music.
It sounded like a Hungarian waltz.
And there was a woman's image here in the garden.
Do these things have any significance?
That waltz was my mother's favorite song.
And the image in the garden
did bear a resemblance to mother.
Then you are indeed fortunate, Mr. Houdini.
Most first seances produce nothing.
It usually takes several
before the receptive vibration is established
to contact the other side.
As a newspaper reporter, Mr. Simms,
I'd be pleased to know your impression.
Well, in my drinking days I could explain it.
You saw what the others saw.
Yeah, but it held no significance for me.
It wasn't meant to.
But it did mean something to the houdinis.
I'm quite exhausted, if you will excuse me.
Don't go yet.
The spell is broken, we can do no more at this evening.
All right, Otto, you can let him go.
Hm, well what do you know?
There should be a microphone up.
Now where is the music?
Well, Otto, it looks like we've drawn another blank.
= you mean all mediums are fakes?
= no, I'm sure there are those that are Sincere
and believe in what they're doing.
I just haven't found them.
Shall we go, dear.
Take that thing off.
= oh, Mrs. Houdini?
Yes?
Mr. Houdini is not in the theater.
Well, where is he?
= you'll find him over at sherman's ironworks on 14th street.
Oh, thank you.
This is why you kept me in the country all week, huh?
So you and Otto could get this thing rigged.
You don't have to get so upset.
We just wanted to see if it was workable.
Don't lie to me, Harry.
I've been to the theater, it's plastered all over the front.
I've done water escapes before, this is nothing different.
Nothing different?
It's an exact copy of Von schweger's man in the bottle.
It's what killed him, don't you understand, Harry,
it's what killed him.
I haven't played to an audience in two years,
I've gotta give 'em something new.
Well, why did it have to be this?
It'll be the most spectacular thing I've ever done.
And the most dangerous.
Bess, people aren't going to stand in line
and watch me pull rabbits out of a hat.
Why?
Why must every act you do be flirting with death?
Because it's the only act
that'll hold an audience spellbound.
People fall asleep at the opera,
but they stay wide awake at the bull fights
because there's one man defying death down in that arena.
You take this out of my act and I'm nothing.
You keep it in and we're both nothing.
I'll have this sent down to the theater,
we'll test it for tomorrow's performance.
Well what are you standing there for?
What are you doing here?
I didn't want you to be without an audience.
= cut it out.
Why?
It's what you live for, isn't it?
What do you want me to do?
The house is sold out for tomorrow night.
Wherever you go, the house will be sold out.
You make it sound like something terrible.
Itis.
People paying a dollar to see aman in love with death.
That's crazy talk.
I wish it was another woman that took you
from me, Harry, that I could fight, this I can't.
Bess, wait.
Bess, you gotta listen to me.
If I listen, I'll give in.
What are you trying to do to me?
I'm trying not to lose you.
How? By walking out on me?
Yes, maybe without me you don't go on.
Without you I wouldn't wanna go on.
All right, Bess, I won't do it.
I'll cut it out of the act.
Still hurts you there, doesn't it.
It's all right.
You should have had that taken care of a long time ago.
It's nothing, it comes and goes.
I think it's your appendix.
Since when have you been practicing medicine, Otto?
Oh, you don't have to be a doctor
to know that something's wrong.
All right, I'll have it looked at
sooh as we finish the tour.
20, 21, 22.
And now, ladies and gentlemen,
as you read in the newspapers this morning,
Houdini has been challenged to liberate himself
from a steel straitjacket.
Please walk up on the stage.
Thank you.
Come forward, gentleman.
Gentleman, have you ever met Houdini or myself before?
No, never.
I understand that you made this contraption yourself.
Yes, in our shop.
We have every confidence in it.
Yeah, and we don't think he can get out of it.
Oh, so if you do not think he can get out of it,
and you made it yourself,
perhaps you had better put him into it.
Well, here goes the coat again.
Put your arms in there.
Thank you.
Now turn around please.
Turn around again.
Now, you put your wrists right in like that.
That's right.
There.
Looks as if you've got me pretty well locked up.
I think it'll hold you all right.
My cape, please.
Will you hold this in front of me?
Oh yes, surely.
Ah, that's a little too high.
Sorry.
How long did it take you to make this?
About a month.
Uh huh, did you use good steel?
Oh yes, the very best.
Well, some steels are better than others, you know.
Oh yes, that's true.
= excuse me.
I think you got a bad piece, but better luck next time.
You're really a wonderful audience
and I do wanna thank you for this heartwarming welcome
you've given me on my return to the stage.
I do hope I pleased you and that you'll be coming back
to see me again and again.
And each time you do come back, I promise you
bigger and better thrills.
Goodnight, and thank you very much.
= what about the torture cell?
Why don't you do what you promised?
Do that trick you promised us.
You are exhausted, come.
We want the torture cell.
They are never satisfied, ignore them.
=I can't.
Close your ears.
You have given them enough.
What about the torture cell?
Houdini, what are you going to do?
It's like a madhouse out there.
They demand that other trick.
= tell them Houdini is sick.
Come on.
Get the torture cell ready.
Harry, you can't.
Remember your promise.
More, more, more.
= the torture cell!
Now, would the two gentlemen
who have just before come to assist us again?
Come up on this stage.
Gentlemen, I have one lock for you, and one for you.
Will you come over this side, sir.
Lock him up securely.
Ladies and gentlemen, Houdini is now prepared
to enter the pagoda torture cell.
This particular form of escape
has never been attempted by anyone anywhere.
For your information, this shell contains
two tons of water.
Now quickly, gentlemen, stand up on those steps.
Fix the locks in position.
As soon as Houdini is lowered into the water.
Are you ready, Houdini?
Go!
Watch the top.
Five seconds!
10 seconds!
15 seconds!
20 seconds!
25 seconds!
Half a minute!
Get the doctor!
Darling.
Harry.
Harry, it's Bess.
Bess?
Yes.
I'll come back, Bess, if there's any way, I'll come back.
I'll come back.