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Magic (1978)

Magic (1978)
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Anthony Hopkins is a ventriloquist psychologically tormented by his dummy in the Richard Attenborough thriller Magic (a film with a story that may seem familiar to those who have seen the Michael Redgrave segment of Dead of Night, or the Cliff Robertson episode "The Dummy" from The Twilight Zone television series). William Goldman based his screenplay on his best-selling novel. Hopkins plays Corky, a seedy magician who is hooted off the stage in the low-rent clubs that will stoop to hire him. But when he comes across a dummy named Fats, his career is energized. Corky sees in Fats everything he lacks himself -- confidence, creativity, and verbal agility. With the help of his agent Ben Greene (Burgess Meredith), Corky rises to the top of the nightclub circuit. But with Corky's success comes an increased paranoia, and he turns down a TV contract, believing that it would mean taking a medical examination and that rumors of his mental instability might leak out. Corky takes off to a Catskills resort, run by Peggy Ann Snow (Ann-Margret), an old girlfriend now unhappily married to a volatile hick (Ed Lauter). While a frustrated Ben high tails it to the Catskills to find Corky, Corky discovers that he still has feelings for Peggy, but lands in the middle of a love triangle between the woman and her husband, where his schizophrenic personality manifests itself and additional murders occur. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

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Starring:
Anthony HopkinsAnn-Margret, (more)
Director(s):
Richard Attenborough
Theatrical MPAA Rating:
R
Format(s):
DVD  |  Blu-ray
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Synopsis of Magic

Anthony Hopkins is a ventriloquist psychologically tormented by his dummy in the Richard Attenborough thriller Magic (a film with a story that may seem familiar to those who have seen the Michael Redgrave segment of Dead of Night, or the Cliff Robertson episode "The Dummy" from The Twilight Zone television series). William Goldman based his screenplay on his best-selling novel. Hopkins plays Corky, a seedy magician who is hooted off the stage in the low-rent clubs that will stoop to hire him. But when he comes across a dummy named Fats, his career is energized. Corky sees in Fats everything he lacks himself -- confidence, creativity, and verbal agility. With the help of his agent Ben Greene (Burgess Meredith), Corky rises to the top of the nightclub circuit. But with Corky's success comes an increased paranoia, and he turns down a TV contract, believing that it would mean taking a medical examination and that rumors of his mental instability might leak out. Corky takes off to a Catskills resort, run by Peggy Ann Snow (Ann-Margret), an old girlfriend now unhappily married to a volatile hick (Ed Lauter). While a frustrated Ben high tails it to the Catskills to find Corky, Corky discovers that he still has feelings for Peggy, but lands in the middle of a love triangle between the woman and her husband, where his schizophrenic personality manifests itself and additional murders occur. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Theatrical Feature Running Time:
107 mins

Complete Cast of Magic


Director(s):
Richard Attenborough
Writer(s):
William Goldman
Producer(s):
Joseph E. LevineC.O. EricksonRichard P. Levine
Theatrical MPAA Rating:
R(Adult Situations, Violence, Not For Children, Nudity, Brief Nudity, Adult Language)
Categories:
HorrorMystery & Suspense
Warning:  This product is intended for mature audiences only. It may contain violence, sexual content, drug abuse and/or strong language. You must be 17 or older to purchase it. By ordering this item you are certifying that you are at least 17 years of age.

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Member Reviews
 
JOHN S.

Move is just too dated. Scary the first time around but if you are repeat viewing from 20 yrs ago it just doesn't entertain.

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James V.

I found MAGIC tiresome and obvious when it made its debut way-back-when but, after reading a nice NY Times review around the time the film was supposed to appear on DVD, I thought perhaps I was too young to have appreciated it. Now, after viewing over half of the movie again, it still seems tiresome and obvious. Although it's fun to watch Ann-Margaret in just about anything, to see Anthony Hopkins so young again, and to enjoy Burgess Meredith in an especially good role, the story, screenplay and direction (first two by William Goldman, the latter by Sir Richard Attenborough) are lackluster: ugly--without the depth to warrant that ugliness--and slow.

Yes   |   No

 
Scott O.

Anthony Hopkins does a nice job but I was kind of rooting for this one to end. This one is hard to get through.

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