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IMDbPro

The Magician

Original title: Ansiktet
  • 19581958
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 41m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
10K
YOUR RATING
The Magician (1958)
ComedyDrama
A traveling magician and his assistants are persecuted by authorities in Sweden of the 19th century. Their capture, however, didn't bring victory to those in power.A traveling magician and his assistants are persecuted by authorities in Sweden of the 19th century. Their capture, however, didn't bring victory to those in power.A traveling magician and his assistants are persecuted by authorities in Sweden of the 19th century. Their capture, however, didn't bring victory to those in power.
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
10K
YOUR RATING
    • Ingmar Bergman
    • Ingmar Bergman
  • Stars
    • Max von Sydow
    • Ingrid Thulin
    • Gunnar Björnstrand
    • Ingmar Bergman
    • Ingmar Bergman
  • Stars
    • Max von Sydow
    • Ingrid Thulin
    • Gunnar Björnstrand
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 41User reviews
    • 53Critic reviews
    • 86Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award

    Photos90

    Max von Sydow, Axel Düberg, Åke Fridell, Ingrid Thulin, and Naima Wifstrand in The Magician (1958)
    Max von Sydow and Bengt Ekerot in The Magician (1958)
    Max von Sydow, Lars Ekborg, and Ingrid Thulin in The Magician (1958)
    Max von Sydow and Ingrid Thulin in The Magician (1958)
    The Magician (1958)
    The Magician (1958)
    The Magician (1958)
    The Magician (1958)
    Max von Sydow in The Magician (1958)
    Bibi Andersson, Oscar Ljung, Birgitta Pettersson, and Sif Ruud in The Magician (1958)
    Gertrud Fridh in The Magician (1958)
    Åke Fridell and Sif Ruud in The Magician (1958)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Max von Sydow
    Max von Sydow
    • Albert Emanuel Vogler
    Ingrid Thulin
    Ingrid Thulin
    • Manda Vogler (alias Mr. Aman)
    Gunnar Björnstrand
    Gunnar Björnstrand
    • Dr. Vergerus, Minister of Health
    Naima Wifstrand
    Naima Wifstrand
    • Granny Vogler
    Bengt Ekerot
    Bengt Ekerot
    • Johan Spegel
    Bibi Andersson
    Bibi Andersson
    • Sara Lindqvist
    Gertrud Fridh
    Gertrud Fridh
    • Ottilia Egerman
    Lars Ekborg
    Lars Ekborg
    • Simson, the coach driver
    Toivo Pawlo
    Toivo Pawlo
    • Police Superintendant Starbeck
    Erland Josephson
    Erland Josephson
    • Consul Egerman
    Åke Fridell
    Åke Fridell
    • Tubal
    Sif Ruud
    Sif Ruud
    • Sofia Garp
    Oscar Ljung
    Oscar Ljung
    • Antonsson, burly stableman
    Ulla Sjöblom
    Ulla Sjöblom
    • Henrietta Starbeck
    Axel Düberg
    Axel Düberg
    • Rustan, young manservant
    Birgitta Pettersson
    Birgitta Pettersson
    • Sanna
    Frithiof Bjärne
    • Border Officer
    • (uncredited)
    Tor Borong
    • Border Officer
    • (uncredited)
      • Ingmar Bergman
      • Ingmar Bergman
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The character of Vergerus was based on critic Harry Schein who disliked Bergman's work.
    • Goofs
      (at about 13 mins) When Tubal gets on in a carriage, a policeman hangs outside the carriage door but in the very next shot, the policeman is again seen to hang on the same door.
    • Quotes

      Johan Spegel: I didn't really die, yet I've already begun haunting people. Actually, I think I make a better ghost than human being. I'm finally convincing. Something I never was as an actor. A shadow of a shadow. Don't be concerned for my sake, sir. I've already begun to decompose.

    • Connections
      Featured in Premio Donostia a Max Von Sydow (2006)

    User reviews41

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    I didn't die, but I haunt the living.
    Vogler's Magnetic Health Theater rolls into town and is promptly summoned for a meet with the town big wigs. Hoping to expose all involved in the theatre as charlatans, the disbelievers request a personal show before allowing the show to go public. With very interesting results.

    There is a belief amongst many Ingmar Begman fans that Ansiktet (The Magician) is far too accessible a piece to be considered one of his greatest pieces. And whilst it does find Bergman more easy to understand for the casual viewer, it's however still complex enough to thrill and niggle the mind in equal measure. Taking two factors that he very much adored, masks and magic, Bergman threads them off into various directions, and in the process testing us the audience as to just what to expect from the story. The mysterious wonder of it all is naturally aided by Bergman's use of light and shadowy trickery, symbols loom heavy without dampening the theme on offer, with nothing of course actually quite being as it seems.

    As is normally the case under the master director, the cast are uniformally strong. With Gunnar Bjornstrand and Ingrid Thulin particularly standing out. But really this is all about tricks and ideas relating to magic and its blending in with reality. So much so that with the end comes an awakening that we the audience are indeed props in one of Bergman's shows, and that can never be a bad or even an accessible thing.

    A fascinating picture from a very fascinating director. 8/10
    helpful•21
    5
    • hitchcockthelegend
    • Jun 5, 2009

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 27, 1959 (United States)
      • Sweden
      • Swedish
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Djurgården, Östermalm, Stockholm, Stockholms län, Sweden
    • Production company
      • Svensk Filmindustri (SF)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 41 minutes
      • Black and White
      • AGA Sound System

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