Black Magic (1949)

Hypnotist uses his powers for revenge against King Louis XV's court.

Director:

Gregory Ratoff

Writers:

Alexandre Dumas père (novel), Charles Bennett (adaptation),

Stars:

Orson Welles, Nancy Guild, Akim Tamiroff

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Orson Welles	...	Joseph Balsamo aka Count Cagliostro
Nancy Guild	...	Marie Antoinette / Lorenza
Akim Tamiroff	...	Gitano
Frank Latimore	...	Gilbert de Rezel
Valentina Cortese	...	Zoraida
Margot Grahame	...	Mme. du Barry
Stephen Bekassy	...	Viscount de Montagne
Berry Kroeger	...	Alexandre Dumas, Sr.
Gregory Gaye	...	Chambord / Monk (as Gregory Gay)
Raymond Burr	...	Alexandre Dumas, Jr.
Charles Goldner	...	Dr. Franz Anton Mesmer
Lee Kresel	...	King Louis XVI / Innkeeper
Robert Atkins	...	King Louis XV
Nicholas Bruce	...	De Remy
Franco Corsaro	...	Chico

Storyline

Giuseppe Balsamo detto Cagliostro, zingaro e mago, vuole vendicarsi del visconte di Montagne, che ha torturato, in passato, lui e la sua famiglia. Usando i suoi poteri ipnotici, Cagliostro spinge il visconte al suicidio. Dopo un matrimonio fallito (sua moglie ama Gilbert, un ufficiale della guardia della Regina) e dopo essere stato smascherato in pubblico dal dottor Mesmer, famoso ipnotista, viene ucciso in duello sui tetti dal capitano delle guardie.

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Plot Keywords:

hypnotism | gypsy | marie antoinette | revenge | novelist | 

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Taglines:

The biggest picture in ten years! The greatest cavalcade of intrigue, spectacle, adventure and excitement you'll ever see on the screen

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA Italy

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 August 1949 (USA)

Also Known As:

Cagliostro

Filming Locations:

Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Edward Small Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Italian censorship visa # 5644 dated 20 April 1949.

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Goofs

In Balsamo's climactic escape attempt, Gitano passes him a pistol, seen very clearly as a small flintlock typical of the period. Balsamo then fires at least four shots from it without any time to reload. Repeating pistols not invented until the nineteenth century, and looked nothing like the gun used by Balsamo.

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Connections

Version of Cagliostro - Liebe und Leben eines großen Abenteurers (1929)

User Reviews

Where is the DVD?

I saw this movie as a boy and it lingers after nearly fifty years as a haunting memory. It may be what we now call noir, but the twinkle in Welles' eye also lingers, suggesting a gris texture. That twinkle is the same that Harry Lime (cine verde?) flashed to Holly Martin in the alley scene of The Third Man (which was also made in Europe in 1949).

Cagliostro was a brilliant montebank, alchemist,poseur and rascal of the first order. Welles gave him credibility, perhaps recognizing a kindred spirit down the centuries. I still remember the dark, cobbled streets and slick rainy roof tops of eighteenth century European cities -- scenes also not unlike the ones in The Third Man. The ending, I remember, was also bitter sweet.

I wish that those who produce lesser know classics for DVD restoration might see this "foreign" movie; it is obviously available somewhere since there have been other reviewers. If they chose it I could have my childhood Madeleine experience, and others would have another Welles film to compare with the finite now available.