“Death Defying Acts,” released in 2007, presents a blend of fact and invention concerning Houdini’s last months in 1926. The film follows the performer (played by Guy Pearce) as he travels to Edinburgh, Scotland, where he encounters a psychic and her daughter who are attempting to deceive him; Catherine Zeta-Jones and Saoirse Ronan portray these characters. Timothy Spall appears as Harry's watchful tour manager. This isn’t a standard biographical film about Houdini; it’s historical fiction, sometimes called ‘faction.’ The story includes a romantic entanglement with the spiritualist, which seems disrespectful given that it contradicts what we know from Bessie, his wife, and lacks any tangible proof beyond a few diary entries. While an observer saw him escorting a woman to a carriage, this doesn't necessarily mean anything; he was a performer known for his charm and popularity during his time. It’s certainly plausible that he engaged in secret affairs, considering his fame and frequent travels. The movie primarily investigates this possibility. If you are looking for a film with cobblestone streets, music hall performances, mystery, and women speaking with a Cockney accent (which is Edinburgh's version of it), then it might be enjoyable. Although set after the Victorian era, it shares similarities with films like “The Limehouse Golem,” “From Hell,” and "Sherlock Holmes," though it’s more focused on drama than suspense and doesn’t include any particularly frightening scenes. It piques curiosity about the renowned escape artist who died at just 52 years old from a burst appendix. The movie has a running time of 1 hour and 37 minutes, and filming occurred in London and Edinburgh, as well as Pinewood Studios located west of London in Buckinghamshire. GRADE: B-

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