Magic (1978)

A ventriloquist is at the mercy of his vicious dummy while he tries to renew a romance with his high school sweetheart.

Director:

Richard Attenborough

Writers:

William Goldman (novel), William Goldman (screenplay)

Stars:

Anthony Hopkins, Ann-Margret, Burgess Meredith

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 2 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Anthony Hopkins	...	Corky Withers / Fats (voice)
Ann-Margret	...	Peggy Ann Snow
Burgess Meredith	...	Ben Greene
Ed Lauter	...	Duke
E.J. André	...	Merlin
Jerry Houser	...	Cab Ddriver
David Ogden Stiers	...	Todson
Lillian Randolph	...	Sadie
Joe Lowry	...	Club M.C.
Bob Hackman	...	Father
Mary Munday	...	Mother
Brad Beesley	...	Young Corky
Scott Garrett	...	Corky's Brother
Beverly Sanders	...	Laughing Lady
I.W. Klein	...	Maitre d'hotel

Storyline

Magician's assistant Corky performs disastrously at his first solo appearance. He is given a ventriloquist dummy called Fats to improve his act and within a few years Corky is at the height of fame. However, Fats has developed a mind of his own and wants to control his master.

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Plot Keywords:

dummy | ventriloquist | magician | high school sweetheart | boat | 

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Taglines:

Abracadabra, I sit on his knee. Presto, change-o, and now he's me! Hocus Pocus, we take her to bed. Magic is fun...when you're dead.

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 November 1978 (USA)

Also Known As:

A mágus

Filming Locations:

Blue Lakes, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, Joseph E. Levine Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Mike Nichols briefly considered directing this film.

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Goofs

Members of the crew are reflected in the cabin window when Corky gets his jacket before going out in the boat with Duke.

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Quotes

Fats: Fasten your seatbelts, everybody. It's going to be a bumpy night.

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Crazy Credits

Credits: Fats Anthony Hopkins

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Connections

References Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)

User Reviews

Anthony Hopkins/William Goldman Horror Feast

The best meals and the best movies have this in common: they're filling. Hungry? Watch Magic. Goldman's intensely suspenseful, spooky novel shows up intact on the screen, featuring Mr Hopkins in the psychotic lead. I love Hopkins enough to have several favorite performances (Guilty Conscience, Silence of the Lambs, Magic, A Married Man); while additionally loving Goldman (Princess Bride, Magic, Marathon Man, The Hot Rock, Misery) enough for you to understand where I'm coming from. Our sympathy for Hopkins' character, Corky, a ventriloquist, is forced early on, as we begin to realize the relationship Corky has with his dummy named "Fats". So, there are two main characters...if you will. The other characters just get in the way...oops...I give too much away...

Look for the following scenes especially: 1) the card game; and, 2) Corky must remain silent for 5 minutes...