Before there was Copperfield, David Blaine or Criss Angel, there was Houdini—escape artist, celebrity, and the original brand of death-defying showbiz.
“Houdini: Unlocking the Mystery” digs deep into the the man who made handcuffs sexy.
You Can’t Make This Sh*t Up
- Houdini’s actual Chinese Water Torture Cell sold for over $300,000 at auction. It was thought lost until it turned up in a California basement, disassembled in parts.
- Dorothy Young, who toured with Houdini in 1925 as a teenager, appears in the doc at age 96 to describe his personality, on-stage presence, and the moment she learned of his death.
- Despite Houdini’s public war on psychics and spiritualists, magicians still gather every Halloween to try to contact him from beyond the grave—with séances held every year since his death in 1926.
Trailer for “Houdini: Unlocking the Mystery”
There’s no official trailer available for this 2005 History Channel TV doc. But here’s one clip from the doc:
And you can find more Houdini videos here on YouTube.
Watch “Houdini: Unlocking the Mystery”
You can stream “Houdini: Unlocking the Mystery” on Kanopy and the History Channel apps (with a subscription).
You can also check JustWatch for other streaming options.
Ratings:
- My Rating: 89/100
- IMDB Rating: 7.6/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: not yet rated
Director’s Note: Directed by Michael Meadows and written by Richard Brehm. This 120-minute special aired on The History Channel and features magician commentary from Lance Burton and David Copperfield.
Release Date: Originally aired in 2005 on The History Channel.
My Review of “Houdini: Unlocking the Mystery”
The Setup
The film opens with the 2004 Las Vegas auction where Houdini’s most iconic escape props—including the Chinese Water Torture Cell and Metamorphosis Trunk—were up for grabs. It expands into a detailed retrospective of Houdini’s life, with interviews from top illusionists and rare personal connections like Dorothy Young, Houdini’s last surviving stage assistant.
More Highlights from the Doc
- David Copperfield gives a personal tour of some of the Houdini props in his private museum, including the rarely seen Mirror Handcuffs and Milk Can escape.
- Lance Burton discusses how Houdini’s escape artistry inspired modern stage magic, including Burton’s own water escape routines.
- The doc traces Houdini’s evolution from small-time circus performer to global celebrity, with archival posters, handcuff keys, and grainy film footage.
- Houdini’s reputation as a debunker of spiritualists is explored with footage of fake mediums he exposed—and letters he wrote warning about their scams.
Cameos
- Lance Burton appears throughout, discussing Houdini’s influence on modern magicians.
- David Copperfield gives commentary and displays Houdini props from his private collection.
- Dorothy Young offers one of the last living firsthand accounts of performing with Houdini on tour in 1925.
Lesser-Known Details from the Doc
- Houdini’s will included instructions for his wife to hold séances each Halloween, with a secret word they agreed he would say from the beyond. After 10 unsuccessful years, she gave up.
- His custom straitjackets were lined with rivets and canvas stitching to prevent tampering accusations—many of which had been leveled by rivals.
- Magicians bid on Houdini’s props not just for display but to reverse-engineer his secrets—though some pieces, like the Water Torture Cell, remain impenetrable.
- Houdini’s private library included over 4,000 volumes on spiritualism and the occult—not to learn magic tricks, but to find ways to expose fakes.
Wrap Up
This is one of the best Houdini documentaries. Whether you’re a magic nerd or just Houdini-curious, it’s worth your time.
Thanks for reading!
Heather Fenty, Guest Writer, Daily Doc