John Calvert Performs A Tribute To Houdini

Magician John Calvert performs a tribute to the world's best-known magician and escape artist: the legendary Harry Houdini. Calvert, a distinguished looking elderly gent, is seen swiftly extricating himself from ropes and handcuffs, both flying an airplane and racing a speedboat while blindfolded, and performing Houdini's underwater escape trick as a prelude to his onstage magic show. Together with his wife, Mr. Calvert displays an array of the customary magic tricks: levitation, sawing a body in half, the flying handkerchiefs, making objects disappear and reappear, and other standard feats of legerdemain - as well as a few newer ones (including a rather impressive decapitation). In addition to the magic show, viewers are treated to early film clips with Calvert and Red Skelton and western star Lash LaRue. A Tribute to Houdini, while not nearly as appealing or as elaborate as a David Copperfield production, is an entertaining and diverting way to spend ninety minutes. Recommended. (Available from: Main Street Video, 781 South Main St. Memphis, TN 38106.)