So right here we go, the greatest ten films around 'magic' of 'all time'. That is a tall order and will of course grow to be a list that will be challenged by several.
What I have attempted to do is collate a list of motion pictures that function motion pictures which have magical themes or incredibly clear magical references in them. Of course the rash of Harry Potter movies, the great Lord of the Rings trilogy and even Star Wars may well be incorporated. On the other hand, from a need to expand the list of magician inspired or magically themed films I have left those out as getting 'too clear'.
For factors of brevity I have also not incorporated totally animated films in this list, so the likes of Fantasia, Sword in the Stone and even The Illusionist (Sylvian Chomet's 2010 film) are not deemed.
I've also ignored tv series, such as The Magician (Bill Bixby educated by Mark Wilson), Jonathan Creek, the quirky 1970's Television series Ace of Wands as nicely as particular Colombo, Midsummer Murders, One Foot in the Grave episodes that had been primarily based about magic and magicians.
So this brings us to a fast round-up of some of the ideal of the magician-in-the-films movies I am conscious of. Beginning with these just outdoors the Top rated 10 - not mainly because of any lack of excellent, just due to the fact they are a tiny peripheral to the main list.
Passport to Pimlico (1949) directed by Henry Cornelius and featuring great performances from Stanley Holloway and Margaret Rutherford. This great Ealing comedy consists of a sequence on the tube train exactly where magician of the day The Great Masoni, drops his case permitting his doves to escape adding to the surreal nature of the comic moment.
Dead of Evening (1945) directed by Alberto Cavancanti is a great Ealing portmanteau horror movie which contained a series of stories around a dream told by a guest arriving at remote farmhouse. The film is stated to have influenced cosmologists Hoyle, Gold and Bondi to create the 'steady state theory'. They had been inspired by the circular nature of the motion pictures narrative. Having said that the movie includes a story around a ventriloquist and a much less than charming dummy. Ventriloquism is associated to the magical arts, therefore its inclusion right here. The story is the forerunner of one That's essentially in the list, Magic, starring Anthony Hopkins.
Thirty Nine Methods (1939) directed by Alfred Hitchcock. The original and probably ideal version of this film the climax of which is requires spot as in a theatre exactly where a 'memory man' is performing. The Memory Act can be deemed as a subset of the magical art of Mentalism. The great magician Harry Lorraine is planet popular not only for his 'magic' act however also for his contribution to the education and improvement of the human memory.
The Raven (1963) directed by Roger Corman sees the great Vincent Price tag, Peter Lorre and Boris Karloff as medieval magicians involved a magical duel. This fun, camp and colourful movie loosely primarily based on the Edgar Allen Poe poem The Raven, is not the ideal instance of the Corman-Cost collection, however is great fun.
Evening of the Demon (1957) Jaques Tourneur. This great movie is an adaptation of M R James' story "Casting the Runes". Starring Dana Andrews as a sceptical psychologist 'cursed' by the Faustian searching magician and 'cult' leader Julian Karswell (Nial MacGinnis). In one sequence Karswell dressed as Dr Bobo performs magic at a children's celebration. The conversation which then ensues in between the psychologist and the magician holds inside it a host of performance frames and suggestions for budding bizarrists offered!. Tourneur apparently by no means wanted the audience to 'see' the demon. I a lot of approaches I need he had had his way. The film would be even creepier and scarier if the terror was left to the imagination - once again bizarre magicians take note!
The Magician (1958) directed by Ingmar Bergman. The only explanation that film is outdoors the Prime 10 is due to the fact of the possibility of getting regarded as as getting 'pretentious' if It really is placed exactly where I consider it belongs - in the Prime 5 at least! Max von Sydow plays a travelling magician and 'magnetic-healer' (harkening back to the days of Mesmer) caught up in a tale around prejudice, honesty, the class technique and..... nicely the entire factor is multilayered. Sydow is brilliant, he seldom speaks, and Bergman's visuals are great. The film has been known as a 'thinking mans horror movie/. It really is creepy surreal and brilliantly acted and directed.
The Great Buck Howard (2008) directed by Sean McGinly is constructed about John Malkovich's character who is in turn primarily based upon the mentalist Kreskin.
Subsequent (2007) directed by Lee Tamahori sees Nicholas Cage as a man who can see a couple of minutes into the future and disguises his present by operating as a lounge magician. Cage is noticed as an additional type of 'magician' in the fantasy movie The Sorcerers Apprentice (2010 directed by Jon Turtletaub) which tends to make direct references to the Disney Sorcerers Apprentice in Fantasia.
Magic Man (2010) directed by Roscoe Lever stars Billy Zane who plays Darius, the Magic Man of the title. Billed as a thriller, this movie hasn't received the ideal of testimonials. As I've not noticed it but I can not comment - yet probably a future overview of this list may well see it incorporated.
So onto the Prime 10
ten. Excelsior Prince of Magicians 1901 directed by Georges Melies. This pioneer of film generating was a magician prior to turning his hand to cine-magic. He created a lot of brief movies of which this is only one, however several of which featured movie versions of stage tricks that magicians would adore to be in a position to truly do. He was one of the initial film makers to function quit frame, time lapse and numerous exposures. He also hand painted a lot of of the black and white motion pictures he shot. A correct innovator.
9. The Grim Game 1919 directed by Irvin Wilat. Not the very best of films to watch, however from a magician's thing of view a ought to. It featured Harry Houdini in the title part showcasing his feats of escapology. Houdini, not only a great magician however a great entrepreneur embraced early cinema yet to be incredibly honest he produced tiny lasting contribution to cinematic art. In some methods, maybe, Melies earlier '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 exact same name. This film is notable for its magical references. Not only does the 'evil' lead character Nix have supernatural powers, however his disciples have them. One of his disciples, Swann, following Nix's early demise (before his later resurrection) utilizes his magical powers to turn into a famous illusionist. The staged magic sequences are nicely carried out, there is a cameo look by the great Billy McCombe and the Magic Castle is represented as a location of secrets. The fundamental idea that 'magic is a harmful truth' is a great theme for the Bizarre Magicians readily available.
7. Cast a Deadly Spell (1991) directed by Martin Cambell, sees Detective, Harry Philip Lovecraft (played by Fred Ward) living in a 1940's Los Angeles exactly where magic is popular location. He is recruited by a wealthy man to come across a lost book - yeap, you have got it... The Necronomicon! It really is incredibly a Bogart-esque film-noire with a magical flavour, of course by definition then there are magicians. It really is witty, fun and complete of Lovecraftian references. Regrettably at the time of writing it, as opposed to its significantly less sharp sequel (Witch Hunt) is not readily available for obtain on DVD.
Witch Hunt (1994) directed Paul Schrader. A sequel to Cast a Deadly Spell in which detective, H. Phillip Lovecraft played by Dennis Hopper combats the evils and corruption of a magic wielding senator. As a sequel not shoddy, yet maybe not pretty as fun as the initial movie.
6. The Great Kandinski (1995) directed by Terry Windsor. This 'produced for Television' movie need to be integrated in this list, not only for its charm and humour, however for its sensitivities. Richard Harris (whose function is admirable) plays a retired escapologist living in a nursing home. The story revolves about Kandiski's need to 'chase another secret' and do one 'final show'. The escape featured is Houdini's Water Torture cell, which is a testament to the iconic nature of that one illusion.
5. Nightmare Alley (1947) directed by Edmund Goulding. An impressive movie and probably one of the all time ideal examples of film noire. Tyrone Power plays a 'psychic con man' Stanton Carlyle whose trail of deceit and self deceit take from rags to riches to rags. Of course the magicians readily available will quickly see a hyperlink to a performer who utilised to go out beneath the name Rinaldo, however was greater identified professionally and now to mentalists' globe wide as Stanton Carlisle. (1928 - 1990). Stanton insisted, in spite of several wonderful natured challenges, that that was his real name and was not influenced by the Goulding film.
4. House of Games (1978) directed by David Mamet. OK not pretty a magic film, however characteristics a performance of one of my all time magic heroes, Ricky Jay. Ricky is one of a group of con-men in this Hitchcockesque thriller. Mamet, as usually does a great job in capturing mood and the movie explores human motivations and behaviours. Ricky Jay is of course no stranger to the large screen, with roles in the Bond Movie, Tomorrow Never ever Dies, Magnolia, Buck Howard, The Prestige and numerous much more. This, I consider Having said that was his 1st venture onto the 'significant screen'
3. Houdini (1953) directed by George Marshall with Tony Curtis in as Houdini. This movie does have a lot to answer for in that it creates some of the longer lasting myths around the life of the seriously 'mythic' Houdini. His death on stage as a outcome of performing the 'water torture cell' is not fact, yet the movie surely hints at it. The 'brush with death' in a frozen river; the initial performance of the 'straight jacket' at a Magicians Society dinner practically definitely never ever occurred - however the romance and innocence of the moment saves it. The magical advisor on this movie was Dunninger.
I suppose It really is worth mentioning in passing that in 1998 there was a Television movie around Houdini (directed by Pen Denshem) and an earlier attempt at a biopic remake in 1976 with Paul Michael Glaser in the title function (directed for tv by Melvile Shavelson). The movie Death Defying Acts (2007) directed by Gillian Armstrong focuses on Houdini's documented interest in mediums and psychics and he is pretty the automobile by means of which yet another story can be told.
2. Magic (1978) directed by Richard Attenborough and staring Anthony Hopkins. In the film Hopkins' character begins out as a magician, however sees achievement as a ventriloquist. The movie charts the fall into insanity as the partnership Hopkins has with his dummy 'Fats'. It really is a classic movie with some of the creepier overtones becoming softened by, what some claim to be, slower sequences of sentimentality.
1. The Illusionist (2006) directed by Neil Burger and staring Ed Norton. The pace and the consider of this film is good. It really is a adore story with some great performances from a fantastic cast. The magical guidance came from Ricky Jay and Michael Webber. Norton as Eisenhiem is the very best stage magician. The cinematography is brilliant, the plot effectively involved and with, possibly a couple of surprises.
1. The Prestige (2006) directed by Christopher Nolan. While The Illusionist is sumptuous and engaging and at its core 'hopeful' and 'romantic', The Prestige is darker and offers with revenge, envy and competitiveness. Great performances from Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale as the feuding magicians each and every with a 'secret' and a narrative That's non-linear create the film engaging and effectively worth the tiny work you want to hold up with the tangled web of intrigue. The 'prestige', the finale of the film, includes revelations that may possibly surprise. Intelligent scripting brings the emotional tension to life and the wealthy magical references (Chung Ling Soo, The Bullet Catch, The Water Torture) create this film a need to for magicians. Ricky Jay seems as an established stage performer and Michael Caine is great as the illusion builder - despite the fact that I would under no circumstances ask him to build me a vanishing bird cage!
I extremely can not separate those 2 motion pictures in terms of good quality of acting, path and story so they share 1st spot billing with the significantly less serious....
Magicians (2007) really deserves a Gold Star in this list. Directed by Andrew O Connor and with script written in collaboration with David Britland, Andy Nyman and Anthony Owen and other people this is a magical tour de force. Opting for a comic appearance at the globe of the conjuror, Magicians, sees Mitchell and Webb rattle via some great one-liners; spend homage to some major magicians and have a real knock at some of the oddness That's part and parcel of the magic scene. The great Pat Web page tends to make an look, and most of the magic 'stalls' at the magic convention hosting the competitors at the centre of the movies plot had been offered by properly recognized magic dealers.
Alan Jones is a performing Magician and Mentalist. He is a Member of the Magic Circle and is at present UK President of the International Magicians Society. You can obtain out a lot more around him by going to http://www.alanjonesmagic.com
No comments:
Post a Comment