The Magician (1958)

A traveling magician and his assistants are persecuted by authorities in Sweden of XIX century. Their captures, however, didn't bring victory to those in power.

Director:

Ingmar Bergman

Writer:

Ingmar Bergman

Stars:

Max von Sydow, Ingrid Thulin, Gunnar Björnstrand

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 3 wins & 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:

troupe | charlatan | autopsy | grieving mother | love potion | 

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Taglines:

A haunting journey into the netherworld between reality and the unknown.

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Genres:

Comedy | 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:

Djurgården, Östermalm, Stockholm, Stockholms län, Sweden

Company Credits

Production Co:

Svensk Filmindustri (SF)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

AGA Sound System

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Distantly inspired by G.K. Chesterton's play "Magic" which was a favorite of Ingmar Bergman's. He staged a theater production of that play in Swedish.

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Quotes

Johan Spegel: I've prayed for just one thing in my life. "Use me. Make me your servant." But God never understood what a strong devoted slave I was. So I went unused. That's a lie too, by the way. One goes step by step into the darkness. The movement itself is the only truth.

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Connections

Referenced in Life Itself (2014)

User Reviews

Magical cinema

A wonderful film about Emanuel Vogler and his Magnetic health theater that are forced to put up a magical show in front of a sceptical crowd lead by the scientist Vergérus (another member of the Vergérus family, known from other Bergman films). Max von Sydow plays Emanuel Vogler, the tormented artist putting his faith in art and Gunnar Björnstrand the dissecting, denying scientist Vergérus.

It's said that Emanuel Vogler is based on Bergman himself, Vergérus on the Swedish film critic Harry Schein and Manda Vogler on Inrid Thulin.

Still waiting for this and other Bergman films to be released on DVD.

10/10