The Escape Artist

For other uses, see Escape artist (disambiguation).

The Escape Artist
File:The Escape Artist (1982) poster.jpg Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Caleb Deschanel
Produced by	Doug Claybourne Buck Houghton Fred Roos Francis Ford Coppola
Written by	David Wagoner (book) Melissa Mathison Stephen Zito
Starring	Griffin O'Neal Raúl Juliá Teri Garr Joan Hackett Gabriel Dell Desiderio Arnaz
Music by	Georges Delerue
Cinematography	Stephen H. Burum
Edited by	Arthur Schmidt
Production company	American Zoetrope
Distributed by	Orion Pictures Corporation through Warner Bros.
Release dates	May 28, 1982 (1982-05-28)
Running time	94 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Box office	$143,369

The Escape Artist is a 1982 film starring Griffin O'Neal and Raúl Juliá. It was based on a book by David Wagoner, and was the directorial debut of Caleb Deschanel. It was the final film of both Joan Hackett and Desi Arnaz.

Plot

Young and self-confident Danny Masters (Griffin O'Neal) is the teen-aged son of the late Harry Masters, the "greatest escape artist except for Houdini". Danny himself is an accomplished magician and escape artist. He leaves home to join Uncle Burke and Aunt Sibyl in their magic/mentalist act; Sibyl welcomes him but Burke is unenthusiastic.

Danny soon finds himself embroiled with Stu Quiñones (Raúl Juliá), corrupt son of Mayor Leon Quiñones. The quest for a missing wallet (pick-pocketed by Danny) leads to the comeuppance of the crooked mayor, and separately of his vindictive and out-of-control son. Along the way, Danny comes to terms with the death of his father, the circumstances of which he did not previously know.

Cast

• Raúl Juliá - Stu Quiñones
• Griffin O'Neal - Danny Masters
• Desi Arnaz - Mayor Leon Quiñones
• Teri Garr - Arlene
• Joan Hackett - Aunt Sibyl
• Gabriel Dell - Uncle Burke
• John P. Ryan - Vernon
• Elizabeth Daily - Sandra
• M. Emmet Walsh - Fritz
• Jackie Coogan - Magic Shop Owner
• Hal Williams - Cop at Mayor's Office
• Helen Page Camp - Neighbor
• David Clennon - Newspaper Editor
• Huntz Hall - Turnkey
• Harry Anderson - Harry Masters
• Carlin Glynn - Treasurer's Secretary
• Margaret Ladd - Reporter
• Doug McGrath - Photographer
• Richard Bradford - Sam City Treasurer (uncredited)

Production notes

The cast includes two members of the 1930s troupe, the Dead End Kids: Gabriel Dell and Huntz Hall.

External links

• The Escape Artist at IMDb
• The Escape Artist at Rotten Tomatoes
• The Escape Artist at AllMovie