AllMovie

The facts are, by now, well known. He was born Erik Weisz but changed his name in emulation of a famous French magician, Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin, whom he idolized. Following the change, Harry Houdini ascended to international celebrity during the first few decades of the 20th century for escape feats that seemed impossible. He broke free of everything from a Chinese water torture cell to an oversized milk can, and in the process left millions of fans pondering his ingenious methods. Then, some eighty years after Houdini's death, the secrets began to emerge, when an individual auctioned off the largest known private collection of Houdini assets on October 30, 2004. As hosted by celebrated magician Lance Burton, this History Channel program looks into the insights gained from the auctioned items, clearly disclosing many of the tools and tricks Houdini used; it also discusses the man's personal life and relationship to such individuals as his wife and mother.