American Experience - Season 12 - Eps 7: Houdini
Mandy Patinkin narrates a biography of Harry Houdini (1874-1926) that focuses on his amazing feats (later ones are seen in clips; others are re-created) and the obsessions---notably his mother and death---that shaped his personality. "Escapology" was also high on the list. "He was so insanely devoted to what he did," observes author E.L. Doctorow, "that the ultimate insanity of his life never occurred to him."
About American Experience

Title: American Experience
First Air Date: 1988-10-04
Last Air Date: 2025-03-31
Status: Returning Series
Rating: 7.4/10 (from 36 votes)
Language: EN
Seasons: 38
Total Episodes: 397
Network: PBS
Genres: Documentary
Production Companies: GBH
Synopsis
TV's most-watched history series brings to life the compelling stories from our past that inform our understanding of the world today.