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Death Defying Acts

  • 2007
  • PG
  • 1h 37m
IMDb RATING
5.8/10
11K
YOUR RATING
Guy Pearce and Catherine Zeta-Jones in Death Defying Acts (2007)
This is the theatrical trailer for Death Defying Acts, directed by Gillian Armstrong.
Play trailer2:24
1 Video
53 Photos
Period DramaPsychological ThrillerTragedyDramaHistoryRomanceThriller

On a tour of Britain in 1926, Harry Houdini (Guy Pearce) enters into a passionate affair with a psychic out to con him.On a tour of Britain in 1926, Harry Houdini (Guy Pearce) enters into a passionate affair with a psychic out to con him.On a tour of Britain in 1926, Harry Houdini (Guy Pearce) enters into a passionate affair with a psychic out to con him.

  • Director
    • Gillian Armstrong
  • Writers
    • Tony Grisoni
    • Brian Ward
  • Stars
    • Catherine Zeta-Jones
    • Guy Pearce
    • Timothy Spall
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    5.8/10
    11K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Gillian Armstrong
    • Writers
      • Tony Grisoni
      • Brian Ward
    • Stars
      • Catherine Zeta-Jones
      • Guy Pearce
      • Timothy Spall
    • 41User reviews
    • 54Critic reviews
    • 48Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 5 wins & 7 nominations total

    Videos1

    Death Defying Acts: Theatrical Trailer
    Trailer 2:24
    Death Defying Acts: Theatrical Trailer

    Photos52

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    + 46
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    Top Cast52

    Catherine Zeta-Jones
    Catherine Zeta-Jones
    • Mary McGarvie
    Guy Pearce
    Guy Pearce
    • Harry Houdini
    Timothy Spall
    Timothy Spall
    • Sugarman
    Saoirse Ronan
    Saoirse Ronan
    • Benji McGarvie
    Malcolm Shields
    Malcolm Shields
    • Leith Romeo
    Leni Harper
    Leni Harper
    • Leith Romeo's wife
    Ralph Riach
    Ralph Riach
    • Mr. Robertson
    Olivia Darnley
    Olivia Darnley
    • Flower Stall Seller
    Anthony O'Donnell
    Anthony O'Donnell
    • Oily Librarian
    Billy McColl
    • McTavish
    James Holmes
    • Ugly Mug
    Mel Harris
    • Rose
    • (as Frankey Martyn)
    Aileen O'Gorman
    • Effie - Elderly Seamstress
    Raymond Griffiths
    Raymond Griffiths
    • Music Hall Dwarf
    Shaun Mason
    Shaun Mason
    • Heckler
    Tom Cotcher
    Tom Cotcher
    • Boxer's Manager
    Joanne Cummins
    • Houdini Fan #1
    Carol Robb
    • Houdini Fan #2
    • Director
      • Gillian Armstrong
    • Writers
      • Tony Grisoni
      • Brian Ward
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews41

    5.810.8K
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    Summary

    Reviewers say 'Death Defying Acts' Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Curabitur pretium tincidunt lacus.

    Nulla facilisi etiam dignissim diam quis enim lobortis scelerisque
    Lorem ipsum dolorSit amet consecteturAdipiscing elitSed do eiusmodTempor incididuntUt labore et doloreMagna aliquaUt enim ad minimVeniam quisNostrud exercitation
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    Related interests

    Emma Watson, Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, and Eliza Scanlen in Little Women (2019)
    Period Drama
    Rosamund Pike in Gone Girl (2014)
    Psychological Thriller
    Casey Affleck and Michelle Williams in Manchester by the Sea (2016)
    Tragedy
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Liam Neeson in Schindler's List (1993)
    History
    Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1942)
    Romance
    Cho Yeo-jeong in Parasite (2019)
    Thriller

    Storyline

    Did you know

    • Trivia
      Guy Pearce spent six weeks learning Houdini's tricks from magician Ross Skiffington.
    • Goofs
      The opening scene reveals the partially built arches of the Sydney Harbour Bridge behind Houdini as he is lifted to the surface of the water. Houdini died in 1926. Construction of the arches did not commence until 1928.
    • Quotes
      • Benji McGarvie: Monkeys are just like you and me.
      • Sugarman: You speak for yourself.
      • Benji McGarvie: You're no different. The great Houdini says jump, and you jump. You're just a dancing monkey.
      • [hands him her half-eaten candy apple]
    • Connections
      Referenced in Lockout (2012)
    • Soundtracks
      The Flowers of Edinburgh
      (uncredited)
      Traditional
      [Played by fiddler in the pub]

    Top picks

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    Details

    • Release date
      • March 13, 2008 (Australia)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • Australia
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Hungarian
    • Also known as
      • Death Defying Acts: Houdini's Secret
    • Filming locations
      • Fortune Theatre, Russell Street, Covent Garden, Westminster, Greater London, England, UK(McTavish's Music Hall - exterior)
    • Production companies
      • Australian Film Finance Corporation (AFFC)
      • Myriad Pictures
      • BBC Film
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    • Budget
      • $20,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $5,665
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $3,561
      • Jul 13, 2008
    • Gross worldwide
      • $8,396,245
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    • Runtime
      • 1h 37m(97 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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