The Magician (1958)
"Ansiktet" (original title)

When 'Vogler's Magnetic Health Theater' comes to town, there's bound to be a spectacle. Reading reports of a variety of supernatural disturbances at Vogler's prior performances abroad, the ... See full summary »

Director:

Ingmar Bergman

Writer:

Ingmar Bergman

Stars:

Max von Sydow, Ingrid Thulin, Gunnar Björnstrand

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Max von Sydow	...	Albert Emanuel Vogler
Ingrid Thulin	...	Manda Vogler (alias Mr. Aman)
Gunnar Björnstrand	...	Dr. Vergerus, Minister of Health
Naima Wifstrand	...	Granny Vogler
Bengt Ekerot	...	Johan Spegel
Bibi Andersson	...	Sara Lindqvist
Gertrud Fridh	...	Ottilia Egerman
Lars Ekborg	...	Simson, the coach driver
Toivo Pawlo	...	Police Superintendant Starbeck
Erland Josephson	...	Consul Egerman
Åke Fridell	...	Tubal
Sif Ruud	...	Sofia Garp
Oscar Ljung	...	Antonsson, burly stableman
Ulla Sjöblom	...	Henrietta Starbeck
Axel Düberg	...	Rustan, young manservant

Storyline

When 'Vogler's Magnetic Health Theater' comes to town, there's bound to be a spectacle. Reading reports of a variety of supernatural disturbances at Vogler's prior performances abroad, the leading townspeople (including the police chief and medical examiner) request that their troupe provide them a sample of their act, before allowing them public audiences. The scientific-minded disbelievers try to expose them as charlatans, but Vogler and his crew prove too clever for them.

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Plot Keywords:

parable | 1800s | illusion | magician

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Taglines:

Into the Nether-World! You'll Gasp At This Occult Hypnotic Experience Into the Supernatural!

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Sweden

Language:

Swedish

Release Date:

27 August 1959 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Magician

Filming Locations:

Djurgardsslaten 49-51, Skansen, Djurgården, Östermalm, Stockholm, Stockholms län, Sweden

Company Credits

Production Co:

Svensk Filmindustri (SF)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

AGA Sound System

Color:

Black and White

Did You Know?

Trivia

The character name Vergerus is one that recurs throughout Bergman's work and is generally associated with lack of emotion and heartlessness.

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Quotes

Johan Spegel: I've prayed one prayer in my life: Use me, O God! But He never understood what a devoted slave I'd have been. So I was never used... But that too is a lie. Step by step you go into the dark. The movement itself is the only truth.

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Connections

Referenced in Siskel & Ebert: Remembering Gene Siskel (1999)

User Reviews

Very interesting but overlooked

Ever since seeing The Seventh Seal, I have become a fan of Ingmar Bergman. Maybe The Magician is not up there with his finest, but of the Bergman movies I've seen so far(which is perhaps a little under 2/3 of his filmography) every single one of them are worth watching in some way or other and The Magician is no exception. Maybe the ending, while intriguing is rather rushed, but as always with Bergman there is so much good. As to be expected, I love the look of the film, the settings are appropriately Gothic and everything is beautifully shot. Bergman's direction is also superb, no qualms there, while the symbols and images are meaningful and stay in your mind for a long time. The music is appropriately haunting, while the story has its compelling magic along with its fair share of fun and thrills and the dialogue is very thought-provoking. The characters are also interesting, and this is elevated hugely by the acting. Max Von Sydow gives a bravura performance, not a surprise as he is a wonderful actor whose face alone tells so much. Ingrid Thulin, Gunnar Bjornstrand, Bibbi Andersen and Naima Wifstrand give splendid support as well. All in all, The Magician is a very interesting Bergman film but sadly it is also an overlooked one. 9/10 Bethany Cox