Magic (1978)

Director:

Richard Attenborough

Writers:

William Goldman (novel)
William Goldman (screenplay)

Release Date:

8 November 1978 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | 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 | Boat

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

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:

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

Filming Locations:

Blue Lakes, California, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

The original trailer for this movie, featuring the dummy Fats was removed from broadcasting stations after parents complained on how scary it was. In the trailer Fats talks, closes his eyes after he says the last line, which is "when you're dead", the voiceover mentions the actors and the rating (R) at which point Fats opens his eyes and they roll to the left.

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:

Fats:Stop the Postman!
Corky:How? How? With what?
Fats:Me! Me! Me! Me! Meeee!

Movie Connections:

References "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" (1962)

A forgotten psychological/horror gem

This somehow has become a forgotten movie which seems odd that after the subsequent success and recognition of Anthony Hopkins in Silence of the Lambs that more people didn't look back at his 1978 performance in this psychological/horror gem. William Goldman has quite a record of novels being adapted to film or screenplays by him which include No Way to Treat a Lady, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Stepford wives, The Great Waldo Pepper, All the Presidents Men, Marathon Man, Misery and A Bridge Too Far among other memorable films. Actor/Dirctor Richard Attenborough who is notable for directing Ghandi, Chaplin and A Bridge Too Far teams up again with Goldman to bring us Magic. Anthony Hopkins as the ventriloquist also provides the voice of his menacing dummy. Bergis Meredith turns in a great performance as usual as well as Ann Margaret. This is Hopkin's film though and he is superb in lead role. I saw this in the theater during it's initial release and have only seen it once since then. Don't know why this doesn't make on TV more often. I would give this an 8.0 out of 10 and recommend it.