Jailed unjustly for a murder he did not commit, a young man uses his amazing powers of escape to free himself and pursue the actual killers, who hold his fiancée captive.Jailed unjustly for a murder he did not commit, a young man uses his amazing powers of escape to free himself and pursue the actual killers, who hold his fiancée captive.Jailed unjustly for a murder he did not commit, a young man uses his amazing powers of escape to free himself and pursue the actual killers, who hold his fiancée captive.
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaLong thought lost, this film was restored and finally made available to the public in 2015 with a screening at TCM Classic Film Festival. Film preservationist Rick Schmidlin oversaw the restoration after obtaining the single surviving print from long-retired juggler Larry Weeks, who had himself gotten the print from the Harry Houdini estate in 1947.
- GoofsAll entries contain spoilers
- Quotes
Harvey Hanford: Let's hope you will soon be independent of the old skinflint and can leave this dismal prison.
- ConnectionsReferenced in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina: Chapter Six: An Exorcism in Greendale (2018)
Featured review
A Modern Review of This Movie Was Nearly Impossible until 2015
The fact is that the "The Grim Game" was considered lost. Actually the only existing copy of the 71-minute feature was lovingly preserved by a private party (Larry Weeks) in Pennsylvania. In 2014, after financing by Turner Classic Movies (TCM), it was restored with a new music score; it was first televised in 2015.
The first title card reads, "Remote and isolated, behind high walls and barred gates, the Cameron home repels intrusion." There is even an armed guard at the main entrance. Nevertheless, Harvey Hanford (Harry Houdini) is able to enter through the side gate. He, a reporter for the Daily Call, is in love with Mary Wentworth (Ann Forrest). He has come to see her. But the wealthy recluse Dudley Cameron (Thomas Jefferson) is at odds with nephew Harvey. Now Cameron is cared for by his ward and heiress, Mary Wentworth (Ann Forrest) and two servants. Harry eagerly tells Mary that her first story will appear in Sunday's newspaper.
It has been stipulated in Dudley Cameron's will that Mary will be unable to marry while he lives. Cameron has planned for Mary to marry Doc Tyson (Arthur Hoyt) after his death. Doc Tyson is a shifty type. Cameron has previously lent the owner of the Daily Call, David Allison (Augustus Phillips) cash to keep the paper afloat, but refuses to give any more. Phillips is desperate. Meanwhile lawyer Nick Raven (Tully Marshall) is in deep cow-plop. For Cameron has caught him forging his signature. Cameron will not turn in Raven as long as he does Cameron's will. So now we have met the three schemers: Tyson, Allison, and Raven. But they work independently of each other.
Knowing that the Daily Call is failing, Harvey presents his plan to the three men. It is intricate and involves a false kidnapping, the temporary disappearance of Cameron. Harvey has also purposely planted evidence to incriminate himself. Of course, the main bad guy turns it into murder; Cameron's body is discovered in a well on his property. Harvey Hanford is accused and eventually imprisoned – but as he is really Houdini after all – he engineers a series of fantastic escapes, beginning with his breakout from prison shackles. He even slips away after he is tied up in a strait-jacket upside down alongside a multi-story building. There are several coincidences typical of many silent films, but Houdini hangs in there and shows his abilities and his stamina. Finally there is the aerial stunt: a biplane with the hero actually flying chasing another airplane with the bad guy (and Mary). It concludes with a real crash.
Although the script offers little suspense until the last reel, this film is quite good, and it was nice to see the great escape artist/stage magician in action. Houdini was even a skilled aviator. He was born in Budapest, Hungary when it was part of the old Austro-Hungarian Empire. He immigrated to the USA in the nineteenth century and was raised in Appleton, Wisconsin. His attractive co- star, Ann Forrest, born in Denmark, was quite camera-friendly on screen. She makes a desirable lady-in-distress. The feature itself is a curio that should offer bona fide entertainment for movie buffs. It is said that perhaps 80% of all silent films are lost, so it is nice to have this one back from the grave.
The first title card reads, "Remote and isolated, behind high walls and barred gates, the Cameron home repels intrusion." There is even an armed guard at the main entrance. Nevertheless, Harvey Hanford (Harry Houdini) is able to enter through the side gate. He, a reporter for the Daily Call, is in love with Mary Wentworth (Ann Forrest). He has come to see her. But the wealthy recluse Dudley Cameron (Thomas Jefferson) is at odds with nephew Harvey. Now Cameron is cared for by his ward and heiress, Mary Wentworth (Ann Forrest) and two servants. Harry eagerly tells Mary that her first story will appear in Sunday's newspaper.
It has been stipulated in Dudley Cameron's will that Mary will be unable to marry while he lives. Cameron has planned for Mary to marry Doc Tyson (Arthur Hoyt) after his death. Doc Tyson is a shifty type. Cameron has previously lent the owner of the Daily Call, David Allison (Augustus Phillips) cash to keep the paper afloat, but refuses to give any more. Phillips is desperate. Meanwhile lawyer Nick Raven (Tully Marshall) is in deep cow-plop. For Cameron has caught him forging his signature. Cameron will not turn in Raven as long as he does Cameron's will. So now we have met the three schemers: Tyson, Allison, and Raven. But they work independently of each other.
Knowing that the Daily Call is failing, Harvey presents his plan to the three men. It is intricate and involves a false kidnapping, the temporary disappearance of Cameron. Harvey has also purposely planted evidence to incriminate himself. Of course, the main bad guy turns it into murder; Cameron's body is discovered in a well on his property. Harvey Hanford is accused and eventually imprisoned – but as he is really Houdini after all – he engineers a series of fantastic escapes, beginning with his breakout from prison shackles. He even slips away after he is tied up in a strait-jacket upside down alongside a multi-story building. There are several coincidences typical of many silent films, but Houdini hangs in there and shows his abilities and his stamina. Finally there is the aerial stunt: a biplane with the hero actually flying chasing another airplane with the bad guy (and Mary). It concludes with a real crash.
Although the script offers little suspense until the last reel, this film is quite good, and it was nice to see the great escape artist/stage magician in action. Houdini was even a skilled aviator. He was born in Budapest, Hungary when it was part of the old Austro-Hungarian Empire. He immigrated to the USA in the nineteenth century and was raised in Appleton, Wisconsin. His attractive co- star, Ann Forrest, born in Denmark, was quite camera-friendly on screen. She makes a desirable lady-in-distress. The feature itself is a curio that should offer bona fide entertainment for movie buffs. It is said that perhaps 80% of all silent films are lost, so it is nice to have this one back from the grave.
helpful•20
- romanorum1
- Oct 29, 2015
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Sensationen för dagen
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $200,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 11 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content