The Escape Artist
(1980)
Country: USA
Genre: Coming of Age, Drama
Synopsis
Filmed in 1980 but not released until 1982, this quirky film stars Griffin O'Neal as the son of a famous magician, who is determined to both recreate his father's best-known tricks and discover the truth behind his death. Along the way, he becomes involved with the crooked machinations of his town's scheming adults. The eclectic supporting cast includes Desi Arnaz in his last screen appearance.
Notes
- Based on the 1965 novel of the same name by American writer and poet David Wagoner (b. 1926)
Cast
- Griffin O'Neal
(Danny Masters) - Raúl Juliá
(Stu Quiñones) - Joan Hackett
(Aunt Sibyl) - Gabriel Dell
(Uncle Burke) - Desi Arnaz
(Mayor Leon Quiñones) - Teri Garr
(Arlene) - Jackie Coogan [ALUMNUS]
(Magic Shop Owner) - Huntz Hall
(Turnkey) - Harry Anderson
(Harry Masters)
BoyActors Reviews
3 member reviews/ratings for this Movie
Average and Weighted Ratings are only available once a Movie has received at least 5 ratings
Most recent review listed first
Audiences at the time of its release were slightly baffled, but this is actually a stunning multi-layered poetic masterpiece, about the burning love of a boy for his dead father, and about his own search for independence, and recognition from the adult world. Griffin O'Neal was just 15 when he played Danny Masters in this movie (though the film wasn't released for another couple of years), in a performance which John Holmstrom ("The Moving Picture Boy", p. 351) called "one of the screen's greatest boy performances". Watch out for former boy star Jackie Coogan as the owner of the Magic Shop, as well as performances from former 'Dead End Kids' Huntz Hall and Gabriel Dell. Unmissable!
My Movie Rating:
10 / 10 7 / 10 Page Last Modified: 3rd September 2020
Page Added: 12th January 2005
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Very good acting from Griffin.