Number 59, July 5, 1920 [page 19] A message from Houdini, The Handcuff King, to readers of “Cinema Chat”:

14 June 1920

To the Editor of Cinema Chat.

Dear Mr. Editor, –

I thought it might interest your readers to know that I am finishing up my tour in Great Britain.

The six months I have spent here have been, without the question of a doubt, the most successful, artistically and financially, of my theatrical career.

I fly to Paris by aeroplane June 27^th, and take a few street scenes there for a tentative picture and fly from Paris to Cherbourg July 2^nd, where I catch the Cunard liner Imperator and sail for America.

Shall always be delighted to hear from my admirers.

My kindest regards and best wishes to all friends.

I beg to remain,

Sincerely yours,

Houdini

P.S. – Should you wish to inform your readers, those desiring to write to me can address me c/o Famous Players-Lasky Corporation, 485, Fifth Avenue, New York City.

After reading the letter, I asked myself a few questions:

• What was Houdini doing in London for 6 months?
• What tentative picture was he talking about?
• And was it ever made?

I went to the Houdini Bible, The Career of Eric Weiss by Kenneth Silverman, for answers.

Below are some excerpts from Silverman that I believe answer the mail:

…his time abroad was filled with movie work and long post-poned appearances on the Moss circuit.

Before going abroad, Houdini had reached a major decision. Instead of working for Famous Players-Lasky or another studio, he would produce his own motion pictures. He shot street scenes in London, Edinburgh and Paris for a film about counterfeiting, tentatively called “The Dupe”.

When Houdini returned to America, in mid-July 1920, his attention was fixed on film work.  Over the next eighteen months, in fact, he gave not a single stage performance. As if to make it impossible for himself to turn back, before leaving England he unsentimentally destroyed $25,000 (his figure) worth of illusions he had bought–“never used even a thought.”  And when giving his customary shipboard performance for charity, he had himself billed as “the World Famous Cinema Star.”

Although he had brought back street-scenes for a picture about counterfeiting, he also considered making a film version of The Count of Monte Cristo (one of his ten favorite books) or of some tales by Poe (whose grave in Baltimore he photographed).  He dropped these plans, to write the scenario for a movie to be called The Man From Beyond.

I find it amusing that readers of Cinema Chat could address a letter to Houdini; and ironic it was care of Famous Players-Lasky (FPL) Corporation, when he was essentially done with FPL.

Other related links:

• Cinema Chat Series Part 1 or 3