Channel 5 (UK) Documentaries

TV's 50 Greatest Magic Tricks (2011x7)

: 31, 2011

From Houdini to the present day, illusionists have been catching bullets between their teeth, sawing people in half and reading minds. But which ones stand the test of time? Escaping from peril is the theme of many tricks. Many acts have been seen in which performers free themselves from the constrains of handcuffs, strait jackets or ropes while being suspended in, above or under a tank of water, fire or ice. Are today’s big show-stopping events, such as making the Statue of Liberty disappear, any more spectacular than playing Find the Lady with a skilled card sharp? Channel 5 takes a look at the tricks that still maintain the magic.