Philip Harris

The Best 10 Movies About Magic Of All Time

So here we go, the perfect 10 movies about 'magic' of 'all time'. That is a tall order and can after all turn out to be an inventory that can be challenged by many.

What I've tried to do is collate an inventory of flicks that characteristic films which have magical themes or very apparent magical references in them. Of course the rash of Harry Potter movies, the superb Lord of the Rings trilogy and even Star Wars could possibly be included. Nonetheless, from a need to expand the checklist of magician impressed or magically themed films I have left these out as being 'too apparent'.

For causes of brevity I've additionally not included fully animated films in this list, so the likes of Fantasia, Sword in the Stone and even The Illusionist (Sylvian Chomet's 2010 movie) are usually not considered.

I've additionally ignored tv series, similar to The Magician (Invoice Bixby trained by Mark Wilson), Jonathan Creek, the quirky 1970's TV sequence Ace of Wands in addition to specific Colombo, Midsummer Murders, One Foot in the Grave episodes that have been based round magic and magicians.

So this brings us to a quick round-up of a number of the best of the magician-in-the-films films I am conscious of. Beginning with those simply outside the Prime Ten - not because of any lack of quality, simply because they're just a little peripheral to the principle list.

Passport to Pimlico (1949) directed by Henry Cornelius and that includes great performances from Stanley Holloway and Margaret Rutherford. This great Ealing comedy accommodates a sequence on the tube practice the place magician of the day The Great Masoni, drops his case allowing his doves to escape including to the surreal nature of the comic moment.

Dead of Evening (1945) directed by Alberto Cavancanti is an excellent Ealing portmanteau horror movie which contained a series of tales about a dream advised by a visitor arriving at distant farmhouse. The movie is alleged to have influenced cosmologists Hoyle, Gold and Bondi to develop the 'regular state concept'. They were inspired by the circular nature of the movies narrative. Nevertheless the movie accommodates a narrative a few ventriloquist and a less than charming dummy. Ventriloquism is related to the magical arts, therefore its inclusion here. The story is the forerunner of one that is really within the list, Magic, starring Anthony Hopkins.

Thirty 9 Steps (1939) directed by Alfred Hitchcock. The original and perhaps best version of this movie the climax of which is takes place as in a theatre the place a 'reminiscence man' is performing. The Reminiscence Act could be considered as a subset of the magical artwork of Mentalism. The good magician Harry Lorraine is world famous not only for his 'magic' act but in addition for his contribution to the coaching and development of the human memory.

The Raven (1963) directed by Roger Corman sees the nice Vincent Price, Peter Lorre and Boris Karloff as medieval magicians involved a magical duel. This fun, camp and colourful film loosely based on the Edgar Allen Poe poem The Raven, isn't the greatest example of the Corman-Value assortment, however is great fun.

Night time 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 trying magician and 'cult' leader Julian Karswell (Nial MacGinnis). In a single sequence Karswell dressed as Dr Bobo performs magic at a kids's party. The dialog which then ensues between the psychologist and the magician holds inside it a bunch of performance frames and concepts for budding bizarrists out there!. Tourneur apparently by no means wanted the audience to 'see' the demon. I many ways I wish he had had his way. The film can be even creepier and scarier if the fear was left to the creativeness - once more weird magicians take word!

The Magician (1958) directed by Ingmar Bergman. The one motive that film is outside the top ten is due to the possibility of being thought of as being 'pretentious' whether it is placed where I feel it belongs - within the prime 5 at least! Max von Sydow performs a travelling magician and 'magnetic-healer' (harkening back to the days of Mesmer) caught up in a story about prejudice, honesty, the class system and..... effectively the entire thing is multilayered. Sydow is brilliant, he rarely speaks, and Bergman's visuals are great. The film has been known as a 'thinking mans horror film/. It's creepy surreal and brilliantly acted and directed.

The Nice Buck Howard (2008) directed by Sean McGinly is constructed round John Malkovich's character who's in turn based upon the mentalist Kreskin.

Subsequent (2007) directed by Lee Tamahori sees Nicholas Cage as a person who can see a couple of minutes into the future and disguises his gift by working as a lounge magician. Cage is seen as another kind of 'magician' within the fantasy movie The Sorcerers Apprentice (2010 directed by Jon Turtletaub) which makes direct references to the Disney Sorcerers Apprentice in Fantasia.

Magic Man (2010) directed by Roscoe Lever stars Billy Zane who performs Darius, the Magic Man of the title. Billed as a thriller, this movie hasn't obtained one of the best of reviews. As I've not seen it but I can not comment - but maybe a future evaluation of this record may even see it included.

So onto the Top Ten

10. Excelsior Prince of Magicians 1901 directed by Georges Melies. This pioneer of film making was a magician before turning his hand to cine-magic. He produced many short movies of which this is only one, but a lot of which featured movie versions of stage tricks that magicians would love to have the ability to truly do. He was one of the first film makers to feature stop frame, time lapse and a number of exposures. He additionally hand painted many of the black and white movies he shot. A true innovator.

9. The Grim Sport 1919 directed by Irvin Wilat. Not the best of flicks to watch, but from a magician's point of view a must. It featured Harry Houdini within the title function showcasing his feats of escapology. Houdini, not solely an amazing magician but an awesome entrepreneur embraced early cinema but to be fairly sincere he made little lasting contribution to cinematic art. In some methods, maybe, Melies earlier 'trick images' lessened some of the dramatic impact Houdini's live performances can have had.

8. Lord of Illusions (1995) directed by Clive Barker and primarily based on his novel of the identical name. This movie is notable for its magical references. Not solely does the 'evil' lead character Nix have supernatural powers, but his disciples have them. Certainly one of his disciples, Swann, after Nix's early demise (previous to his later resurrection) uses his magical powers to turn out to be a well-liked illusionist. The staged magic sequences are well executed, there is a cameo look by the nice Billy McCombe and the Magic Fortress is represented as a spot of secrets. The essential idea that 'magic is a dangerous actuality' is a great theme for the Bizarre Magicians out there.

7. Solid a Lethal Spell (1991) directed by Martin Cambell, sees Detective, Harry Philip Lovecraft (played by Fred Ward) living in a 1940's Los Angeles the place magic is common place. He's recruited by a rich man to find a misplaced book - yeap, you've received it... The Necronomicon! It is actually a Bogart-esque movie-noire with a magical flavour, in fact by definition then there are magicians. It is witty, fun and stuffed with Lovecraftian references. Sadly at the time of writing it, unlike its much less sharp sequel (Witch Hunt) is just not out there for purchase on DVD.

Witch Hunt (1994) directed Paul Schrader. A sequel to Solid a Lethal Spell wherein detective, H. Phillip Lovecraft played by Dennis Hopper combats the evils and corruption of a magic wielding senator. As a sequel not shoddy, however perhaps not fairly as fun as the primary movie.

6. The Nice Kandinski (1995) directed by Terry Windsor. This 'made for TV' movie have to be included in this list, not only for its attraction and humour, but for its sensitivities. Richard Harris (whose work is admirable) performs a retired escapologist living in a nursing home. The story revolves around Kandiski's need to 'chase one more secret' and do one 'final present'. The escape featured is Houdini's Water Torture cell, which is a testament to the long-lasting nature of that one illusion.

5. Nightmare Alley (1947) directed by Edmund Goulding. A powerful movie and perhaps one of the all time greatest examples of movie noire. Tyrone Energy performs a 'psychic con man' Stanton Carlyle whose path of deceit and self deceit take from rags to riches to rags. In fact the magicians on the market will immediately see a link to a performer who used to exit beneath the name Rinaldo, however was higher known professionally and now to mentalists' world vast as Stanton Carlisle. (1928 - 1990). Stanton insisted, regardless of many good natured challenges, that that was his real name and was not influenced by the Goulding film.

4. Home of Video games (1978) directed by David Mamet. Ok not really a magic movie, however encompasses a efficiency of one in all my all time magic heroes, Ricky Jay. Ricky is considered one of a bunch of con-men on this Hitchcockesque thriller. Mamet, as at all times does an excellent job in capturing temper and the film explores human motivations and behaviours. Ricky Jay is after all no stranger to the big screen, with roles in the Bond Film, Tomorrow Never Dies, Magnolia, Buck Howard, The Status and many more. This, I imagine nonetheless was his first enterprise onto the 'big screen'

3. Houdini (1953) directed by George Marshall with Tony Curtis in as Houdini. This movie does have lots to answer for in that it creates a number of the longer lasting myths about the life of the genuinely 'mythic' Houdini. His death on stage as a result of performing the 'water torture cell' is just not truth, but the film actually hints at it. The 'brush with demise' in a frozen river; the primary efficiency of the 'straight jacket' at a Magicians Society dinner nearly surely never happened - but the romance and innocence of the second saves it. The magical advisor on this movie was Dunninger.

I suppose it is value mentioning in passing that in 1998 there was a TV film about Houdini (directed by Pen Denshem) and an earlier try at a biopic remake in 1976 with Paul Michael Glaser in the title position (directed for tv by Melvile Shavelson). The film Death Defying Acts (2007) directed by Gillian Armstrong focuses on Houdini's documented curiosity in mediums and psychics and he is actually the automobile through which another story can be told.

2. Magic (1978) directed by Richard Attenborough and staring Anthony Hopkins. Within the movie Hopkins' character begins out as a magician, but sees success as a ventriloquist. The film charts the autumn into madness as the connection Hopkins has along with his dummy 'Fats'. It's a classic film with a few of the creepier overtones being softened by, what some declare to be, slower sequences of sentimentality.

1. The Illusionist (2006) directed by Neil Burger and staring Ed Norton. The tempo and the feel of this film is wonderful. It is a love story with some nice performances from an outstanding cast. The magical advice got here from Ricky Jay and Michael Webber. Norton as Eisenhiem is the ideal stage magician. The cinematography is sensible, the plot properly concerned and with, maybe a number of surprises.

1. The Status (2006) directed by Christopher Nolan. While The Illusionist is sumptuous and engaging and at its core 'hopeful' and 'romantic', The Prestige is darker and deals with revenge, envy and competitiveness. Nice performances from Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale as the feuding magicians each with a 'secret' and a narrative that is non-linear make the film engaging and well definitely worth the little effort it is advisable to sustain with the tangled internet of intrigue. The 'prestige', the finale of the film, contains revelations that may surprise. Intelligent scripting brings the emotional pressure to life and the rich magical references (Chung Ling Soo, The Bullet Catch, The Water Torture) make this movie a should for magicians. Ricky Jay seems as a longtime stage performer and Michael Caine is nice as the phantasm builder - although I would by no means ask him to build me a vanishing hen cage!

I really can't separate these two films by way of quality of performing, direction and story in order that they share first place billing with the much 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 others this can be a magical tour de force. Choosing a comic book take a look at the world of the conjuror, Magicians, sees Mitchell and Webb rattle through some great one-liners; pay homage to some key magicians and have a real knock at a number of the oddness that is part and parcel of the magic scene. The nice Pat Web page makes an look, and most of the magic 'stalls' on the magic conference hosting the competition at the centre of the movies plot have been offered by well-known magic dealers.

This post is written by Luis Garcia 1, he is a web enthusiast and ingenious blogger who loves to write about many different topics, such as embroidered polo shirts. His educational background in journalism and family science has given him a broad base from which to approach many topics, including embroidered polo shirt and many others. He enjoys experimenting with various techniques and topics like shirt embroidery, and has a love for creativity. He has a really strong passion for scouring the internet in search of  inspiational topics.

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The Royal Navy website gives ships and crews from the past.

Playoff-bound Ravens roughed up by Chargers (Sacramento Bee)

The Baltimore Ravens got the kind of treatment they usually dish out.

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Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco rolls over after being sacked by
Baltimore Ravens tackle Jah Reid during the first half of an NFL football
game, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011, in San Diego.

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San Diego Chargers wide receiver Malcom Floyd catches a pass as Baltimore
Ravens defensive back Jimmy Smith defends during the second half of an NFL
football game, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011, in San Diego.

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San Diego Chargers inside linebacker Takeo Spikes, left, tackles Baltimore
Ravens running back Ray Rice during the first half of an NFL football game,
Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011, in San Diego.

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San Diego Chargers running back Ryan Mathews, top, dives into the end zone for
a touchdown as Baltimore Ravens inside linebacker Jameel McClain, left,
defends during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011,
in San Diego.

Sacramento Bee

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