So listed here we go, the greatest 10 motion pictures about ‘magic’ of ‘all time’. Which is a tall get and will of training course grow to be a record that will be challenged by several.
What I have tried to do is collate a record of films that function movies which have magical themes or incredibly apparent magical references in them. Of study course the rash of Harry Potter films, the excellent Lord of the Rings trilogy and even Star Wars could be bundled. Nevertheless, from a motivation to increase the listing of magician influenced or magically themed videos I have still left these out as currently being ‘too obvious’.
For good reasons of brevity I have also not integrated completely animated films in this listing, so the likes of Fantasia, Sword in the Stone and even The Illusionist (Sylvian Chomet’s 2010 movie) are not regarded.
I’ve also dismissed tv series, such as The Magician (Invoice Bixby experienced by Mark Wilson), Jonathan Creek, the quirky 1970’s Tv set sequence Ace of Wands as nicely as specific Colombo, Midsummer Murders, Just one Foot in the Grave episodes that ended up dependent close to magic and magicians.
So this delivers us to a quick spherical-up of some of the best of the magician-in-the-movies movies I am mindful of. Starting with people just outside the house the Leading Ten – not because of any deficiency of high-quality, just because they are a small peripheral to the major listing.
Passport to Pimlico (1949) directed by Henry Cornelius and that includes fantastic performances from Stanley Holloway and Margaret Rutherford. This fantastic Ealing comedy contains a sequence on the tube train the place magician of the day The Fantastic Masoni, drops his scenario enabling his doves to escape incorporating to the surreal mother nature of the comedian minute.
Useless of Night (1945) directed by Alberto Cavancanti is a exceptional Ealing portmanteau horror motion picture which contained a collection of tales about a desire instructed by a visitor arriving at distant farmhouse. The film is claimed to have motivated cosmologists Hoyle, Gold and Bondi to build the ‘steady point out theory’. They have been influenced by the circular nature of the films narrative. Even so the motion picture has a tale about a ventriloquist and a less than charming dummy. Ventriloquism is relevant to the magical arts, hence its inclusion here. The tale is the forerunner of a single that is actually in the record, Magic, starring Anthony Hopkins.
30 9 Methods (1939) directed by Alfred Hitchcock. The authentic and potentially best variation of this movie the climax of which is normally takes spot as in a theatre in which a ‘memory man’ is doing. The Memory Act can be considered as a subset of the magical artwork of Mentalism. The excellent magician Harry Lorraine is planet famed not only for his ‘magic’ act but also for his contribution to the instruction and progress of the human memory.
The Raven (1963) directed by Roger Corman sees the good Vincent Price tag, Peter Lorre and Boris Karloff as medieval magicians included a magical duel. This enjoyable, camp and colourful motion picture loosely dependent on the Edgar Allen Poe poem The Raven, is not the finest case in point of the Corman-Rate collection, but is terrific enjoyment.
Night of the Demon (1957) Jaques Tourneur. This great film is an adaptation of M R James’ tale “Casting the Runes”. Starring Dana Andrews as a sceptical psychologist ‘cursed’ by the Faustian on the lookout magician and ‘cult’ leader Julian Karswell (Nial MacGinnis). In 1 sequence Karswell dressed as Dr Bobo performs magic at a children’s party. The conversation which then ensues concerning the psychologist and the magician retains in just it a host of overall performance frames and tips for budding bizarrists out there!. Tourneur evidently in no way required the audience to ‘see’ the demon. I quite a few techniques I wish he had experienced his way. The film would be even creepier and scarier if the terror was left to the imagination – again weird magicians get be aware!
The Magician (1958) directed by Ingmar Bergman. The only explanation that film is outside the top rated 10 is simply because of the risk of currently being considered as being ‘pretentious’ if it is put where by I believe it belongs – in the leading 5 at least! Max von Sydow performs a travelling magician and ‘magnetic-healer’ (harkening back to the times of Mesmer) caught up in a tale about prejudice, honesty, the course process and….. very well the whole factor is multilayered. Sydow is good, he rarely speaks, and Bergman’s visuals are fantastic. The movie has been identified as a ‘thinking mans horror motion picture/. It is creepy surreal and brilliantly acted and directed.
The Fantastic Buck Howard (2008) directed by Sean McGinly is developed all over John Malkovich’s character who is in flip based on the mentalist Kreskin.
Future (2007) directed by Lee Tamahori sees Nicholas Cage as a male who can see a few minutes into the long term and disguises his present by performing as a lounge magician. Cage is viewed as a different variety of ‘magician’ in the fantasy movie The Sorcerers Apprentice (2010 directed by Jon Turtletaub) which would make direct references to the Disney Sorcerers Apprentice in Fantasia.
Magic Guy (2010) directed by Roscoe Lever stars Billy Zane who performs Darius, the Magic Man of the title. Billed as a thriller, this motion picture has not acquired the greatest of opinions. As I’ve not found it nevertheless I can not remark – but maybe a future critique of this listing may perhaps see it involved.
So on to the Major Ten
10. Excelsior Prince of Magicians 1901 directed by Georges Melies. This pioneer of film generating was a magician right before turning his hand to cine-magic. He manufactured quite a few brief films of which this is only one, but a lot of of which highlighted movie variations of phase tricks that magicians would love to be in a position to really do. He was one of the very first film makers to feature quit frame, time lapse and several exposures. He also hand painted a lot of of the black and white movies he shot. A true innovator.
9. The Grim Activity 1919 directed by Irvin Wilat. Not the greatest of films to check out, but from a magician’s point of perspective a have to. It showcased Harry Houdini in the title role showcasing his feats of escapology. Houdini, not only a great magician but a fantastic entrepreneur embraced early cinema but to be pretty straightforward he designed small long lasting contribution to cinematic art. In some ways, potentially, Melies before ‘trick photography’ lessened some of the dramatic effect Houdini’s reside performances will have had.
8. Lord of Illusions (1995) directed by Clive Barker and primarily based on his novel of the very same name. This film is noteworthy for its magical references. Not only does the ‘evil’ guide character Nix have supernatural powers, but his disciples have them. One particular of his disciples, Swann, soon after Nix’s early demise (prior to his later resurrection) utilizes his magical powers to grow to be a popular illusionist. The staged magic sequences are perfectly finished, there is a cameo overall look by the great Billy McCombe and the Magic Castle is represented as a place of insider secrets. The simple thought that ‘magic is a hazardous reality’ is a fantastic theme for the Bizarre Magicians out there.
7. Cast a Deadly Spell (1991) directed by Martin Cambell, sees Detective, Harry Philip Lovecraft (performed by Fred Ward) living in a 1940’s Los Angeles in which magic is prevalent place. He is recruited by a loaded person to obtain a shed e book – yeap, you’ve got got it… The Necronomicon! It really is definitely a Bogart-esque film-noire with a magical flavour, of course by definition then there are magicians. It really is witty, entertaining and entire of Lovecraftian references. Sadly at the time of producing it, in contrast to its much less sharp sequel (Witch Hunt) is not available for purchase on DVD.
Witch Hunt (1994) directed Paul Schrader. A sequel to Solid a Lethal Spell in which detective, H. Phillip Lovecraft performed by Dennis Hopper combats the evils and corruption of a magic wielding senator. As a sequel not shoddy, but perhaps not quite as entertaining as the very first film.
6. The Fantastic Kandinski (1995) directed by Terry Windsor. This ‘made for TV’ movie should be involved in this list, not only for its attraction and humour, but for its sensitivities. Richard Harris (whose function is admirable) performs a retired escapologist residing in a nursing residence. The tale revolves all-around Kandiski’s wish to ‘chase one additional secret’ and do one particular ‘final show’. The escape showcased is Houdini’s H2o Torture mobile, which is a testomony to the iconic character of that just one illusion.
5. Nightmare Alley (1947) directed by Edmund Goulding. An remarkable motion picture and maybe one particular of the all time finest examples of film noire. Tyrone Electricity plays a ‘psychic con man’ Stanton Carlyle whose trail of deceit and self deceit acquire from rags to riches to rags. Of program the magicians out there will immediately see a website link to a performer who utilised to go out beneath the identify Rinaldo, but was improved recognized professionally and now to mentalists’ environment broad as Stanton Carlisle. (1928 – 1990). Stanton insisted, in spite of lots of good natured worries, that that was his serious identify and was not influenced by the Goulding movie.
4. Home of Game titles (1978) directed by David Mamet. Alright not genuinely a magic film, but functions a general performance of one of my all time magic heroes, Ricky Jay. Ricky is 1 of a group of con-adult males in this Hitchcockesque thriller. Mamet, as normally does a wonderful job in capturing mood and the motion picture explores human motivations and behaviours. Ricky Jay is of training course no stranger to the big screen, with roles in the Bond Motion picture, Tomorrow Never ever Dies, Magnolia, Buck Howard, The Prestige and several much more. This, I consider even so was his first undertaking on to the ‘big screen’
3. Houdini (1953) directed by George Marshall with Tony Curtis in as Houdini. This movie does have a ton to reply for in that it generates some of the lengthier lasting myths about the life of the genuinely ‘mythic’ Houdini. His demise on stage as a outcome of performing the ‘water torture cell’ is not truth, but the movie unquestionably hints at it. The ‘brush with death’ in a frozen river the initially efficiency of the ‘straight jacket’ at a Magicians Modern society evening meal pretty much definitely never transpired – but the romance and innocence of the instant will save it. The magical advisor on this movie was Dunninger.
I suppose it is really worth mentioning in passing that in 1998 there was a Television set motion picture about Houdini (directed by Pen Denshem) and an previously attempt at a biopic remake in 1976 with Paul Michael Glaser in the title position (directed for tv by Melvile Shavelson). The film Dying Defying Acts (2007) directed by Gillian Armstrong focuses on Houdini’s documented fascination in mediums and psychics and he is genuinely the vehicle by which one more story can be advised.
2. Magic (1978) directed by Richard Attenborough and staring Anthony Hopkins. In the film Hopkins’ character commences out as a magician, but sees achievement as a ventriloquist. The motion picture charts the drop into insanity as the romance Hopkins has with his dummy ‘Fats’. It can be a vintage movie with some of the creepier overtones getting softened by, what some declare to be, slower sequences of sentimentality.
1. The Illusionist (2006) directed by Neil Burger and staring Ed Norton. The pace and the really feel of this film is excellent. It is a love story with some great performances from a superb solid. The magical suggestions came from Ricky Jay and Michael Webber. Norton as Eisenhiem is the best phase magician. The cinematography is amazing, the plot nicely included and with, possibly a few surprises.
1. The Prestige (2006) directed by Christopher Nolan. Whilst The Illusionist is luxurious and engaging and at its main ‘hopeful’ and ‘romantic’, The Status is darker and specials with revenge, envy and competitiveness. Excellent performances from Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale as the feuding magicians each and every with a ‘secret’ and a narrative that is non-linear make the movie participating and well value the little effort and hard work you will need to continue to keep up with the tangled internet of intrigue. The ‘prestige’, the finale of the film, incorporates revelations that might shock. Intelligent scripting delivers the psychological tension to everyday living and the rich magical references (Chung Ling Soo, The Bullet Capture, The H2o Torture) make this movie a should for magicians. Ricky Jay appears as an proven phase performer and Michael Caine is good as the illusion builder – though I would under no circumstances inquire him to establish me a vanishing hen cage!
I genuinely won’t be able to individual these two films in phrases of high-quality of acting, course and tale so they share first location billing with the significantly less significant….
Magicians (2007) basically justifies a Gold Star in this listing. Directed by Andrew O Connor and with script prepared in collaboration with David Britland, Andy Nyman and Anthony Owen and others this is a magical tour de power. Opting for a comic glimpse at the globe of the conjuror, Magicians, sees Mitchell and Webb rattle as a result of some wonderful a single-liners shell out homage to some crucial magicians and have a authentic knock at some of the oddness that is section and parcel of the magic scene. The great Pat Webpage helps make an appearance, and most of the magic ‘stalls’ at the magic convention web hosting the competitors at the centre of the films plot have been delivered by nicely recognized magic dealers.
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