Magic (1978)

Director:

Richard Attenborough

Writers:

William Goldman (novel)
William Goldman (screenplay)

Release Date:

8 November 1978 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

A Terrifying Love Story.

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Dummy | Ventriloquist | Magician | High School Sweetheart | Alter Ego

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 2 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

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
Patrick McCullough	...	Doorman
Stephen P. Hart	...	Captain
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Michael J. Harte	...	Minister (as Michael Harte)

Directed by
Richard Attenborough

Writing credits
William Goldman		(novel)
William Goldman		(screenplay)

Produced by
C.O. Erickson	....	executive producer
Joseph E. Levine	....	producer
Richard P. Levine	....	producer

Original Music by
Jerry Goldsmith

Cinematography by
Victor J. Kemper

Film Editing by
John Bloom

Casting by
Jane Feinberg
Mike Fenton

Production Design by
Terence Marsh

Art Direction by
Richard Lawrence

Set Decoration by
John Franco Jr.

Costume Design by
Ruth Myers

Makeup Department
Cherie	....	hair stylist
Lee Harman	....	makeup artist
Hallie Smith-Simmons	....	makeup artist

Production Management
C.O. Erickson	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mike Haley	....	first assistant director: second unit
François Moullin	....	second assistant director: second unit
Arne Schmidt	....	first assistant director
Jerry Sobul	....	second assistant director (as Jerald Sobul)

Art Department
John Rozman	....	swing gang
Sal Sommatino	....	property master
Michael White	....	sketch artist

Sound Department
Clint Althouse	....	sound boom
Jonathan Bates	....	sound editor
Nigel Galt	....	assistant sound editor
Gerry Humphreys	....	dubbing mixer
Larry Jost	....	sound mixer
Patrick Yacono	....	sound re-recording mixer: restoration

Special Effects by
Bob MacDonald Jr.	....	special effects (as Robert MacDonald Jr.)

Stunts
Gregory J. Barnett	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Robert Marta	....	assistant camera (as Bob Marta)
Bruce McBroom	....	still photographer
Robert C. Thomas	....	camera operator (as Robert Thomas)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Michael J. Harte	....	costumer: men (as Michael Harte)
Shirlee Strahm	....	costumer: women

Editorial Department
Dennis Erkel	....	assistant editor
Chris Ridsdale	....	assistant editor
Douglas Robertson	....	associate editor

Music Department
Leonard A. Engel	....	music editor (as Len Engel)
Arthur Morton	....	orchestrator

Transportation Department
Steve Bonner	....	driver: grip truck

Other crew
Dennis Alwood	....	ventriloquial consultant
Michael Bailey	....	consulting magician
Robert Blair	....	animal trainer: cat
Robert Easton	....	accent consultant
Lew Horwitz	....	consulting magician (as Lewis Horwitz)
Sandy McLeod	....	script supervisor
Ann Skinner	....	script consultant
Patrick Watkins	....	dialect advisor
Michael White	....	assistant to director

Production Companies

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
• Joseph E. Levine Productions (as Joseph E. Levine)

Distributors

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (1978) (USA) (theatrical)
• City Film (1979) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Fox-Stockholm Film Distribution (1979) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Blay Video (1982) (USA) (VHS)
• Dark Sky Films (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Koch Media (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
• MPI Home Video (????) (USA) (DVD)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1981) (USA) (TV)
• Nelson Entertainment (19??) (USA) (VHS)
• Nelson Entertainment (19??) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2004) (Australia) (DVD)

Other Companies

• DeLuxe Laboratories  prints by (as DeLuxe)
• Screen Time Images  color correction
• Screen Time Images  film transfer

Also Known As:

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:M18 | Iceland:16 | Netherlands:16 | Sweden:15 | USA:TV-PG (cable rating) | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 (re-rating) | Norway:16 (original rating) | UK:15 (video rating) | UK:X (original rating) (1978) | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Blue Lakes, California, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

The role of Corky was originally offered to Jack Nicholson, but upon hearing that he would have to wear a hairpiece to play the role, Nicholson turned it down.

Goofs:

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

Quotes:

Corky:I'd like to say that goin' to bed with you is maybe the best three things that ever happened to me. And I'd love some coffee. And I adore you. And I take it with cream and sugar. And your breasts belong in the Louvre, which is a museum in Paris that I plan on visiting with you once you get wise and decide to leave the old ear-blower.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Freaks and Geeks: Noshing and Moshing (#1.15)" (2000)

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...