John Cox at Wild About Houdini just posted an excellent blog: Gone With The Handcuff King: David O. Seiznick’s Houdini which talks about a Houdini biopic in the 1940s that Hardeen was on board with as the technical adviser. Then, like so many Houdini biopics before, it vanished in a puff of smoke.
Hardeen was also going to reissue The Master Mystery:
Manny Baum and “Hardeen”, brother of the late Houdini, will reissue the 15-two-reel episode serial “The Master Mystery”, which starred Houdini, originally released in silent form by Octagon Films, Inc., 25 years ago. The reissue film will contain a narration and musical background. [Motion Picture Daily Vol. 55 No. 41 Tuesday, February 29 1944]
Unfortunately, I think it vanished in a puff of smoke.
Hey, this is interesting. I did a post a while back about Hardeen starring in a remake of The Master Mystery. But maybe this is what that was all about?
http://www.wildabouthoudini.com/2011/02/master-mystery-starringtheo-hardeen.html
I’ll need to update with a link to this post. Great work, Joe!
Oh, btw, LOVE the MM posters gathered here in a set. Where does this image come from? Is this something I can share?
I found image on Internet awhile ago. Just did a search again and found it listed as a poster at fantasma magic.
It seems once Hardeen died several film projects died with him.
Here is another one.
http://www.houdini.org/TheLifeOfHoudiniMovieHardeenDoreSchary.html
Thanks for sharing. It would have been amazing to see what projects Hardeen would have done if he lived longer; same goes for Houdini.