The Escape Artist

1982 seemed a busy year for director/producer Francis Ford Coppola, what with directing one and producing two of the three DVD releases offered by StudioCanal.

First we have The Escape Artist, starring Raul Julia, Desi Arnaz Jr. and Griffin O’Neal (son of Ryan) in the leads, the supporting cast is comprised of Joann Hackett, Teri Garr and Jackie Coogan (yep, the same Coogan who, sixty years earlier, played the title role in Chaplin’s The Kid).

Griffin O’Neal plays Danny Masters, the teenage son of late great escape artist and magician Harry Masters. The story begins with Danny walking into the editorial office of a big newspaper, bragging that if put into jail, he’s able to escape within an hour. Next we learn about Danny’s story via flashback, starting by joining his aunt and uncle (also acclaimed magicians) to teach him the tricks of the trade. Danny aims to become as brilliant as his father. However, he soon runs into trouble, especially when he picks he pocket of Stu Quinones (Raul Julia), which contains a few notes that aren’t exactly kosher so to speak. The notes are linked to Stu’s father, who happens to be the corrupt town major. But Stu is equally corrupt and soon Danny gets embroiled in a nasty cat- and mouse game through which he learns of the real circumstances that lead to his father’s death.

Griffin O’Neal is almost as brilliant as his sister Tatum in the 1973 movie Paper Moon, and the very name Raul Julia always guarantees quality.
The movie’s aspect ratio is 1.85:1 and there are three language options: English, English with German subtitles, and German.