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IMDbPro

The Magic Show

  • 1983
  • G
  • 1h 45m
IMDb RATING
5.8/10
69
YOUR RATING
Doug Henning in The Magic Show (1983)
ComedyMusical

A young magician with an unorthodox look and style's first big break is threatened by a villainous rival.A young magician with an unorthodox look and style's first big break is threatened by a villainous rival.A young magician with an unorthodox look and style's first big break is threatened by a villainous rival.

  • Director
    • Norman Campbell
  • Writers
    • Jerry Ross
    • Bob Randall
  • Stars
    • Doug Henning
    • Didi Conn
    • Jon Finlayson
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    5.8/10
    69
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Norman Campbell
    • Writers
      • Jerry Ross
      • Bob Randall
    • Stars
      • Doug Henning
      • Didi Conn
      • Jon Finlayson
    • 9User reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos

    The Magic Show (1983)
    Doug Henning in The Magic Show (1983)
    Doug Henning in The Magic Show (1983)
    Doug Henning in The Magic Show (1983)

    Top cast

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    Doug Henning
    • Doug
    Didi Conn
    Didi Conn
    • Cal
    Jon Finlayson
    • Van Zyskin
    Jack Creley
    Jack Creley
    • Shumway
    Sandee Currie
    Sandee Currie
    • Donna
    Taborah Johnson
    Taborah Johnson
    • Dina
    Anita Morris
    Anita Morris
    • Charmin
    Paul Soles
    • Manny
    Paul Dorsey
    • Barney
    Paul A. Gordon
    Paul A. Gordon
    • Steve
    • (as Paul Gordon)
    Barnie Wood
    • Mike
    Aaron Ferguson
    • 9 Year Old Boy
    Eric Richard
    • 8 Year Old Boy
    Les Rubie
    • Stage Doorman
    Hadley Kay
    • Boy in Audience
    • Director
      • Norman Campbell
    • Writers
      • Jerry Ross
      • Bob Randall
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      Jon Finlayson as Van Zyskind was a last minute replacement for Ron Moody.

    User reviews9

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    3/10
    I was there
    I was there when this was filmed before a live audience in the Autumn of 1980. It wasn't really a stage production, it was all staged for the cameras. They had to pause every ten minutes to reload the film. There were three stationary cameras in the house, and one "panglide" camera that followed the actors around on stage. The music was all pre-recorded. At the time, all we heard were the "rythm" tracks -- the strings and horns etc were added in post-production. All of the "illusions" were shot live. However, some of the songs and dialogue were done in additional takes without an audience. Incidentally, the animal wranglers weren't sure what size of elephant the producers wanted, so they delivered three! The film was originally intended for cinemas, but was never released. It was also intended to have a full stereo soundtrack (the audio was recorded on 48 track tape), not the fake stereo that's on the DVD. I believe it may also have been intended to have a wider aspect ratio. As for the changes in the book and score from the Broadway show, composer Stephen Schwartz said he realised that THE MAGIC SHOW was basically a children's musical. I suspect that the cutting of "West End Avenue" reflects that. Incidentally, the music arranger. Eric Robertson, worked on "Spellbound" -- the Toronto show with music by Howard Shore, book by David Cronenberg and produced by Ivan Reitman -- that evolved into "The Magic Show".
    helpful•0
    0
    • melatkey
    • Sep 23, 2007

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • March 3, 1983 (Canada)
    • Country of origin
      • Canada
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Exhibition Place, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Cinequity Corporation (Toronto)
      • Corinth Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • CA$4,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 45 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono

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