A disclaimer at the start of the miniseries offers that what we’re about to see is a mix of fact and fiction, and producers “defy you to tell the difference.” (The last half will debut Tuesday.) Shot in Budapest, the miniseries covers Houdini’s invention as a magician upon leaving home, a fraught relationship with wife and assistant Bess (Kristen Connolly), a battle against spiritualists with whom he strongly disagreed and even his (not quite historically accurate) recruitment into Western espionage circles in the days leading to World War I. Abrams (“Nuremberg”), “Houdini” packs in plenty about its subject’s life over four hours. Written by Nicholas Meyer and executive produced by the TV veteran Gerald W. When audiences tired of the novelty he moved on to increasingly dangerous feats - plunging off bridges into icy water, for instance. After early struggles, he found success in the U.S.
Born Erik Weisz in Budapest, Hungary, before immigrating with his family to Appleton, Wis., the boy who would become Harry Houdini was not a simple figure, in love with illusions and attention equally and willing to undertake risky acts to pursue them both.
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