Terror Island (1920)
A South Seas adventure starring Harry Houdini as an inventor battling cannibals and buried treasure in this rare surviving silent film.
Terror Island - Movie Information
Terror Island - Plot
Inventor Harry Harper travels to the South Seas, where there is buried treasure belonging to a girl, Beverly West. Naturally, others are after the loot, and Beverly's father is being held captive by cannibals until she returns to them with a pearl that belongs to one of their idols. The climax consists of Harper saving Beverly from a safe which has been lowered into the sea.
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Terror Island - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- James Cruze
Main Cast
- Harry Houdini
- Jack Brammall
- Lila Lee
- Wilton Taylor
- Eugene Pallette
- Ed Brady
- Taylor N. Duncan
- F.A. Turner
- Rosemary Theby
- Frank Bonner
Writers
- Arthur B. Reeve
- John Grey
Producers
- Jesse L. Lasky
Terror Island - FAQs
What is Terror Island about?
Terror Island follows inventor Harry Harper as he ventures into the South Seas to help Beverly West recover buried treasure. The stakes rise when Beverly's father is held captive by cannibals, and the film builds to a thrilling climax where Harper must rescue Beverly from a safe submerged beneath the ocean.
Does Harry Houdini perform real escapes in Terror Island?
Yes! The film was designed to showcase Houdini's legendary escape artistry. The standout sequence has his character freeing Beverly from a locked safe that has been lowered into the sea — a stunt that plays directly to Houdini's real-world reputation for underwater and confinement escapes.
Where can you watch Terror Island for free?
Terror Island is available to stream for free on JustWatch TV and Public Domain Movies. As a 1920 silent film, it has entered the public domain, making it widely accessible without any subscription or rental fee.
What is Terror Island's tagline and what does it mean?
The film's tagline is “Not a Serial!” — a direct message to audiences of the era. In 1920, multi-chapter serials were enormously popular, and Paramount wanted viewers to know Terror Island was a complete, self-contained feature film rather than an installment in an ongoing series.
Who are the main actors in Terror Island?
The cast is led by the legendary escape artist Harry Houdini as inventor Harry Harper, alongside Lila Lee as Beverly West and Eugene Pallette as Guy Mourdant. Wilton Taylor, Ed Brady, Rosemary Theby, and Frank Bonner round out the ensemble in this early Paramount adventure.
Is Terror Island worth watching today?
For fans of silent cinema and Houdini enthusiasts, absolutely. Terror Island is one of only a handful of surviving Houdini films and offers a fascinating glimpse of the world's greatest escape artist on screen. Its brisk 55-minute runtime and South Seas adventure setting make it an easy, entertaining watch.
How long is Terror Island?
Terror Island runs just 55 minutes — unusually short even by the standards of early feature films. That compact length keeps the adventure moving at a lively pace, with little room for the story to slow down between its treasure-hunting intrigue and Houdini's signature escape sequences.
Was Terror Island one of Houdini's few surviving films?
Yes. Houdini appeared in several films during the early 1920s, but many have been lost over the decades. Terror Island is among the rare surviving examples of his screen work, giving it special historical value for both film historians and admirers of the iconic escape artist's legacy.
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