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Newsgroups: alt.magic From: jti01@DUTS.ccc.amdahl.com Subject: Monthly Magic in the Movies Posting Message-ID: <89mO02KR34X101@JUTS.ccc.amdahl.com> Date: 1 Feb 93 20:15:12 GMT Organization: Amdahl Corporation, Sunnyvale CA Lines: 641

It's been a while since I last posted this. Enjoy!

Jeff Isozaki

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This list may not be sold, traded or distributed for profit in any way either entirely or in part without the EXPRESSED, WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE AUTHOR. The author retains exclusive rights to, ownership, sale and distribution of this list. copyright 1993.

This Text Must Accompany All Distribution of The Movie List __________

Here's the latest revision of the "Magic in Movies" list. Rev bars ('|') indicate latest additions since the last distribution of the list. Please note, question marks ('?') indicate missing information. When sending information, try to supply as much information about the movie\TV program as possible. Thanks to all who have contributed.

Please send responses, feedback, corrections, additions to: Jeff Isozaki (jti01@duts.ccc.amdahl.com)

TEMPLATE: Movie: (Title) Actor/magician: (actor/character performing effect) Effect: (name or description of the effect) Scene: (scene or where in movie the effect occurs) Available on tape: (is movie available on video tape?) Comments: (any additional info, i.e. quality of film, effects magic consultants, worth watching, etc) Info provided by: <your name/address/handle here>

----------------------------------------------------------------- MOVIES (in alphabetic order) last editted = 01/25/93 ----------------------------------------------------------------- Movie: "Addams Family" the movie Magician/actor: Christopher Hart portrays "Thing" Effect: Scene: Thru-out the movie Available on tape: Yes Comments: Christopher Hart plays "Thing". He got the role due to his great hand dexterity but does no magic that I can remember. Info provided by: reeves@aosg.gsf.dec.com (Jon Reeves AOSG) ----------------------------------------------------------------- | Movie: "Airplane" | Magician/actor: Leslie Nielson | Effect: The Human Chicken Routine | Scene: ?? | Available on tape: Yes | Comments: I don't quite remember this scene nor the effect, but | Brian Abernathy reports that Leslie Nielsen performs the | Human Chicken Routine". Can anyone help me with more | info on this? | Info provided by: Brian Abernathy <cba@hpuerca.atl.hp.com> ----------------------------------------------------------------- Movie: "Billy Bathgate" Magician/actor: John Costelloe Effect: Retention Vanish and production of a Bill & Mental Trick Scene: Beginning of movie the main character folds a bill vanishes it. A few scenes later he produces a bill. Midway thru the movie, an accountant does a mental trick with money. Available on tape: Yes Comments: Mark Milton was the Magic Consultant/trainer ----------------------------------------------------------------- Movie: "Brother from Another Planet" Magician/actor: ?? Effect: Card Tricks Scene: Guy in the subway doing card tricks Available on tape: Yes Comments: Info provided by: Brian Harvey - bh@anarres.Berkeley.EDU ----------------------------------------------------------------- | Movie: "Casino Royale" | Actor/magician: Orson Welles | Effect: Asrah levitation (maybe some other stuff? Can't remember.) | Scene: Welles playing baccarat with Peter Sellers in a casino | about midway through the movie. | Available on tape: Yes | Comments: The movie itself is a James Bond movie which parodies the | James Bond movies. It tends to look a little dated today (it's | quite obviously a '60s movie.) Welles' character performs | magic for the sole reason of being an inside joke for those | who recognize Welles. | Info Provided by: Stewart Tame - stame@emunix.emich.edu ----------------------------------------------------------------- Movie: "Cincinatti Kid" Magician/actor: Steve McQueen Effect: Card sleights and flourishes Scene: Steve McQueen entertaining Tuesday Weld's parents on farm Available on tape: Yes Comments: Info provided by: Larry Headlund - lmh@world.std.com ----------------------------------------------------------------- Movie: "City of Joy" - 1992 Magician/actor: Patrick Swayze Effect: Patrick entertains a young Indian girl by vanishing a coin and reproducing it from her ear. Scene: Available on tape: not yet Comments: Info provided by: Jim Kadingo - kadingo@SSD.intel.com ----------------------------------------------------------------- Movie: "Cousins" Magician/actor: Ted Dansen Effect: ??? Available on tape: Yes Comments: I haven't seen this yet but I heard there is a little bit of magic in it. I would be interested in hearing from someone that could fill in some of the blanks. -- Jeff ----------------------------------------------------------------- Movie: "Dark Forces" (alternate title = "Harlequin") Actor/magician: David Hemings and Broderick Crawford (I think) Comments: see "Harlequin" for additional details ----------------------------------------------------------------- Movie: "Desperately Seeking Susan" Magician/actor: ???? Effect: Various Stage Illusions (performed badly) Scene: Rosanna Arquette is a magician's assistant towards the end of the movie. Available on tape: Yes ----------------------------------------------------------------- Movie: "Dr. Strangelove" Actor/magician: unknown Effect: Double one handed card fan (and nicely done) Scene: Crew of B-52 before main action starts Available on tape: Yes Comments: The effect was included to show how much time the crew had on their hands. Other characters are napping, reading Playboy, etc. Info provided by: Larry Headlund - lmh@world.std.com ----------------------------------------------------------------- Movie: "Dragonslayer" Magician/actor: ???? Effect: Cups and Balls Scene: performed by magician's apprentice at the party after the dragon is purported to be killed. Available on tape: Yes Comments: Info provided by: Mike Steiner ----------------------------------------------------------------- Movie: "The Escape Artist" Magician/actor: Griffin O'Neal (Ryan's Boy) Effect: The main character does some fairly nice close-up sleights and some juggling. Scene: Thru-out the movie Available on tape: Yes Comments: Harry Anderson was also in the movie but did not perform any magic. Info provided by: Julio Richard Laredo ----------------------------------------------------------------- Movie: "The Escapist" Actor/magician: Dick "The Bruiser" and Peter Lupus Effect: Escapes Scene: ?? Available on tape: ?? Comments: "Very expensive, still horribly done movie about Bill Shirk. Milbourne Christopher had a part in it" Info provided by Julio Richard Laredo Comments: "Horribly acted, Horribly written. The scenes between Bill Shirk and Milbourne Christopher were incompre- hensible. You see mostly escapes:from a straitjacket upside down from a helicopter; from chains with a snake wrapped around him; from a jail cell. Info provided by: Julio Richard Laredo ----------------------------------------------------------------- | Movie: "Eternally Yours" | Actor/magician: ?? | Effect: Stage Illusions and Handcuff escape | Scene: ?? | Available on tape: yes | Comments: Handcuff escape while falling thru the air by main | character. | Info provided by: Clay Amerault- cwa@acpub.duke.edu ----------------------------------------------------------------- Movie: "The Geisha Boy" Actor/magician: Jerry Lewis Effect: Various Scene: Throughout Available on tape: unknown Comments: Bumbling magician turns compentent with help of girlfriend. Typical Jerry Lewis film. Info provided by: Thomas Greenwalt-tomg@mishima.mishima.MN.ORG Info provided by: Julio Richard Laredo ----------------------------------------------------------------- Movie: "The Great Houdinis" Actor/magician: Paul Michael Glaser Effect: Typical Houdini illusions and escapes Scene: done thru-out the movie Available on tape: Yes Comments: Made for TV movie Info provided by: Jon Reeves- reeves@aosg.gsf.dec.com ----------------------------------------------------------------- Movie: "Grifters" Actor/magician: John Cusack Effect: there are some simple bill switches with folded currency Scene: Main character (I can't remember his name) shows a $20 bill in a couple of bars and then switches for a lower denomination There may be other effects but I can't remember any. Available on tape: Yes Comments: Howie Rumjahn informed me that there was alot more magic filmed for the movie but ended up on the editting room floor. Dean Dill did the consulting and makes a cameo appearance in the movie. Info provided by: Howie Rumjahn Some Info provided by: Jon Reeves- reeves@aosg.gsf.dec.com ----------------------------------------------------------------- Movie: "Hard Day's Night" Actor/magician: Wilfred Brambell plays Paul's grandfather Effect: actually a "magician as a character" but no magic Scene: Backstage a man is next to a signboard that says. "Leslie Jackson and his 10 Disappearing Doves". Paul's grandfather slaps him on the back after, some feathers fall out of the magician's sleeve, he crosses out the "10" and writes "9". Available on tape: Yes Comments: This is actually a "magician as a character" but does not perform any magic. Info provided by: Brian Harvey - bh@anarres.Berkeley.EDU ----------------------------------------------------------------- Movie: "Harlequin" (alternate title = "Dark Forces") Actor/magician: David Hemings and Broderick Crawford (I think) Effect: ?? Scene: ?? Available on tape: ?? probably ?? Comments: The movie is a political/psychological thriller that plays on all the ambivalences attached to the image of the magician. The movie begins with a child's birthday party. The child is obviously very sick. His parents have hired a magician-clown to entertain. The clown exhibits a strange ability to improve the child's health, since the father is a prominent political figure in a highly manipulative, dictatorial state, this gets the security apparatus interested.

Info provided by: LeGrand Cinq-Mars - rjb@u.washington.edu ----------------------------------------------------------------- Movie: "A Haunting We Will Go" w/ Laurel and Hardy Actor/magician: Dante the Magician Effect: Some of Dante's stage act is included. Laurel and Hardy play with some of the props. Scene: ?? Available on tape: ?? Comments: Info provided by: Merlyn LeRoy - merlyn@digibd.com ----------------------------------------------------------------- Movie: "Houdini" Actor/magician: Tony Curtis portrays Houdini Effect: Typical Houdini illusions and escapes Scene: done thru-out the movie Available on tape: Yes ----------------------------------------------------------------- Movie: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade Actor: River Phoenix Effect: Actor escapes from his pursuers through a magicans box Scene: End of chase of young Indy, about 15 minutes into the movie Available on tape: Yes Comments: Scene done without cuts, everyone has seen this anyhow Info provided by: fuhrhop@fokus.berlin.gmd.dbp.de (Christian Fuhrhop) ----------------------------------------------------------------- Movie: "Judex" Magician/actor: Channing Pollock Effect: I haven't seen this but I heard he does some great dove work at the beginning of the movie. This is the guy that Lance Burton tried to pattern his dove work after. Available on tape: Yes Comments: I know that this is available on tape but have not been able to find it. I would appreciate any additional information on the movie quality and magic. (- jeff) ----------------------------------------------------------------- | Movie: Leap of Faith | Actor/magician: Steve Martin, Lukas Haas/Ricky Jay | Effect: Steve Martin's Mentalist act, cold reading and simple | sleights (the whole phony spirtualist bag) throughout various | scenes in the movie. | Lukas Haas/Ricky Jay vanishes a bottle cap (ala "lapping") | while playing chess with Steve Martin's character. | Available on tape: not yet | Comments: | Info provided by reeves@aosg.gsf.dec.com (Jon Reeves AOSG) ----------------------------------------------------------------- Movie: "Magic" Actor/magician: Anthony Hopkins Effect: a few simple effects. I remember one very simple card trick done with Ann Margret. Scene: done thru-out the movie Available on tape: Yes Comments: I didn't care too much for this movie nor the magic ----------------------------------------------------------------- Movie: "The Magician of Lublin" Actor/magician: Alan Arkin Effect: Escapes Scene: ?? Available on tape: yes Comments: I haven't seen this one but saw the box at my local video store. It describes the magician as an escape artist. Other then that, I don't know anything more. Send me an update if you've seen it. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Movie: "Malcolm X" | Actor/magician: Denzel Washington | Effect: Bullet Palm | Scene: Russian Roulette Scene | Available on tape: not yet (12/2/92) | Info provided by bh@anarres.CS.Berkeley.EDU (Brian Harvey) ----------------------------------------------------------------- Movie: "My Cousin Vinny" Actor/magician: Joe Pesci/??? Effect: Transforms card from one card to another by turning it over twice Scene: Meeting with Ralph Macchio in jail (about 50 minutes into the movie). Available on tape: yes Comments: James Brandon was the Magic Consultant Info provided by reeves@aosg.gsf.dec.com (Jon Reeves) ----------------------------------------------------------------- Movie: "Nashville" | Magician/actor: Jeff Goldblum Effect: Vanishing salt trick | Scene: Done by minor biker character (Jeff Goldblum) at counter in | a diner. The camera angle clearly shows this version to use a clear gimmick inside the salt shaker as a means for making the salt dissappear. Jeff also does a silk color change. Available on tape: Yes Comments: Info provided by Scott Brigham, Barry Hayes ----------------------------------------------------------------- Movie: Penn and Teller's "Cruel Tricks for Dear Friends" Magician/actor: Penn and Teller Effect: some simple effects for getting even with friends. Available on tape: Yes Comment: There are some very simple but extremely cleavor effects. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Movie: "Penn and Teller Get Killed" Magician/actor: Penn and Teller Effect: Teller gets impaled by 10 power drills. One effect (not really magic) is done they P & K are hanging upside down. Scene: Studio taping at the very beginning of the movie. Available on tape: Yes Comments: Comments on this movie ranged from Hilarious to fair. I personally thought the movie was a bit campy but there were some extremely bright moments in the movie, like the scene at the airport metal detector. Comments: "It's definitely a rentable and if you can catch it at a 2d run house, go for it. Destined to be a cult classic. Lots o'laughs and there's not really any foul language or nudity so you can bring the kids and grandma too!" (From: mjamroz@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (Margaret Jamroz)) Comments: "Contains a raft of neat effects-- plus one or two exposures. (James Randi appears as "Rope Puller #3.")" (From: revpk@cellar.org (Brian 'Rev P-K' Siano)) ----------------------------------------------------------------- Movie: "Penn and Teller Go Public" Magician/actor: Penn and Teller Effect: there are alot of really great stuff. Strait-jacket escape, I don't remember the rest. Available on tape: Yes Comment: This tape is from a special done on Public TV. It was an hour long special featuring Penn and Teller. Very good magic and comedy. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Movie: Penn & Teller "Invisible Thread" Actor/Magician: Penn Gillette & Teller Effect: A couple of simple ones, including a cute one called "Invisible Thread". Scene: The whole darn thing. Available on Tape: ??? Comments: Penn & Teller save the world with a card trick. Teller actually talks in this one. A cute film, filling the stereo-typical views of magicians as obtrusive, unwanted entertainers. Info provided by: HANS C. MASING - HCM100@psuvm.psu.edu ----------------------------------------------------------------- Movie: "The Playboys" Actor/magician: Aidan Quinn/Pat Fallon Effect: 1) produces egg from behind boy's ear; 2) swallows double-edge razor blade Scene: 1) Arrival in town as advance man for theater troupe, drumming up interest; 2) totally random insertion, irrelevant to plot Available on tape: yes Comments: I *still* don't know why that razor blade scene is in there; he's not even in front of any kind of audience, not even an audience of one, and there's no mirror in evidence, or anything. Info provided by Jon Reeves - reeves@aosg.gsf.dec.com

----------------------------------------------------------------- Movie: "Pretty Woman" Magician/actor: ???? Effect: Coins Across routine Scene: sidewalk magician at the beginning of the movie Available on tape: Yes Comments: Info provided by barnett@crd.ge.com ----------------------------------------------------------------- Movie: "The Seven Faces of Dr. Lao" Actor/Magician: Tony Randall, and George Boston Effect: various Scene: throughout - especially with Merlin Available on tape: yes Comments: a mysterious circus comes to a small western town with fulfillment for everyone's dreams and dreads. (George L. Boston taught Randall several tricks for the film, as well as using his hand to play the talking serpent). Info provided by: Mike Jittlov - jittlov@gumby.cs.caltech.edu ----------------------------------------------------------------- Movie: "Sneakers" Actor/Magician: Jojo Marr (performer) / Ricky Jay (consultant) Effect: coin vanish Scene: first scene of movie Available on tape: not yet (9/20/92) Comments: Marr performs the effect; Jay is listed as an advisor. Info provided by: reeves@zk3.dec.com (Jon Reeves) ----------------------------------------------------------------- Movie: "Sting" Magician/actor: Paul Newman/John Scarne Effect: Paul Newman performs some nice card flourishes. Actually performed by the great hands of the late John Scarne and filmed to look like Newman. Scene: On the train before the poker game (I think) Available on tape: Yes Comments: Info provided by sg@cbnewsh.att.com ----------------------------------------------------------------- Movie: "Strange Love of Martha Ivers" Actor/magician: Van Heflin Effect: Coin roll across knuckles Scene: ?? Available on tape: ?? Comments: ?? Info provided by Julio Richard Laredo ----------------------------------------------------------------- Movie: "Terror Train" Magician/actor: David Copperfield Effects: Floating woman, floating rose; cigarette thru coin; card production and flourishes (all done in typical Copperfield flair) Scene: Middle of the movie, on the train Available on tape: Yes ----------------------------------------------------------------- Movie: "The Time Travelers" Magician/actor: Sci-Fi collector Forrest J Ackerman, & others Effect: square-to-circle, lots of stuff Scene: the hyper-scientific android construction scene Available on tape: maybe - call Forry for info - (213) MOON-FAN Comments: sci-fi movie in color. The plot revolved around some time traveling scientists who end up in a future post holocaust Earth. The movie was probably made in the late 50's or early '60's. Magic effects were used as science devices: the card between glass effect used photos of planets, and was called a viewscreen. The metal circle to square was done repeatedly on a robot assembly line. The rotisserie vanish and pepper ghost illusion were used as a transport send and recieve. All effects were actually performed. Info provided by: rja@batcomfs.Eng.Sun.COM Info provided by: Mike Jittlov - jittlov@gumby.cs.caltech.edu ----------------------------------------------------------------- Movie: "Truly, Madly, Deeply(?)" Magician/actor: actor playing the psychologist (Nina, the heroine's new beau) Effect: in order to avert a "tea room brawl," he turns a Russian novel into the air where in turns into a dove. Scene: about 1/4 into the movie, when Nina stops with her friend Myra for tea in a tea room staffed by illeagal immigrants. Available on tape: Yes Comments: This movie is billed as "the thinking person's 'Ghost'" but, while it has funny moments/scenes, it is not a comedy, but a deeply textured drama. Info provided by: Mary R. Jensen - mj0v+@andrew.cmu.edu ----------------------------------------------------------------- Movie: "The Wizard of Speed and Time" Actor/Magician: Mike Jittlov Effect: producing a feature film out of thin material Scene: throughout (over 400 effects shots, many magic-based) Available on tape: usually at Blockbuster; also laserdisk Comments: Jittlov stars as a special effects wizard fighting the Hollywood System, in a bizarre comedy-adventure satirizing his own experiences at Disney Studios. Jittlov began inventing original magic illusions at age 12, fooling the Pros at IBM and SAM meetings and pestering Blackstone at Hollywood Magic. He also gave the first magic show at the Magic Castle in 1963. (to Jay Ose and friends). Info provided by: Mike Jittlov - jittlov@gumby.cs.caltech.edu

"Great film, but which effects are magic-based? They looked like mostly special effects to me. (I know something about both spfx and magic.) Could someone give a few examples here?" Question asked by - Daniel Efran - de0t+@andrew.cmu.edu ----------------------------------------------------------------- Movie: "Young Houdini" Magician/actor: Wil Wheaton (of Star Trek - TNG fame) Effect: coin sleights Scene: ?? Available on tape: ?? Comments: Movie purportedly about Houdini (Erich Weiss) as a young boy but taking substantial liberty with biographical details. Part of the movie is based on dream/trance sequences having to do with mystical experiences as a result of meeting an older magician who takes him under his wing.

I saw this last year on cable TV, but cannot remember any of the actors, the title or whether it was a premium channel or not! ...I just remember the nice coin sleights the boy does before he runs away from home early in the film. I forget how it ends other than he seems to come out of the trance or dream state somewhere out West.

Info provided by Scott Duncan <duncan@ctt.bellcore.com

"Movie bit the big one. Badly filmed, badly plotted, stupidly cast and incorrectly researched (I think I even saw them spelling it Ehrick--AAGGHH!) This movie should be burned." Info provided by Morgaine "I never give my real name ..." ================================================================= MOVIES WITH DESCRIPTIONS BUT NO TITLE (please send any info on these) ================================================================= Movie: ???? "Raffles" ????? Magician/actor: David Niven Effect: ?? Scene: ?? Available on tape: ?? Comments: An old black and white movie. Stars a young David Niven as a magician (ala Cardini) looking for the ultimate trick and ended up doing some death defying escape trick. I don't recall if he successfully defied death. Info provided by rja@batcomfs.Eng.Sun.COM ----------------------------------------------------------------- Movie: "???" Magician/actor: Houdini Effect: Escapes Scene: ?? Available on tape: ?? Comments: Houdini performed in some early "silent" movies doing various escapes. ================================================================= MOVIE TITLES THAT MAY HAVE MAGIC - ================================================================= Movie: "Get To Know Your Rabbit" Actor/magician: John Astin Effect: ??? Scene: ???? Available on tape: Yes ----------------------------------------------------------------- Movie: "Mad Magician" Actor/magician: Vincent Price Effect: ??? Scene: ?? Available on tape: ?? Comments: ?? Info provided by Julio Richard Laredo ----------------------------------------------------------------- ================================================================= TELEVISION SERIES WITH MAGIC ================================================================= Movie: "Black's Magic" (TV Series) Magician/actor: Hal Linden Scene: TV Series Available on tape: probably not Comments: Info provided by Julio Richard Laredo ----------------------------------------------------------------- Movie: "Columbo" (TV Series) Magician/actor: 3 different Magicians (one is Christopher Hart) Effect: ESP, Ambitious Card, Houdini Broken Wand Funeral and more Scene: Thru-out show Available on tape: probably not but watch for Columbo re-runs Comments: This episode has Columbo solving the murder of a magician Plot revolves around an evil stage guillotine designed by Bruce Sinclair. Bruce also did the Magic Consultation for the episode. Info provided by Howie Rumjahn - Bok@Dartmouth.Edu. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Movie: "Escape" (TV Series) Magician/actor: Christopher George Scene: TV Series Available on tape: probably not Comments: Series about an escape artist Info provided by Julio Richard Laredo ----------------------------------------------------------------- Movie: "The Magician" (TV Series) Actor/magician: Bill Bixby Effect: Various Scene: through-out Available on tape: Doubtful Comments: Rich magician turns detective. Info provided by Thomas Greenwalt-tomg@mishima.mishima.MN.ORG ----------------------------------------------------------------- | Movie: "The Magic Land of Alakazam" (Saturday TV Series) | Actor/magician: Mark Wilson | Effect: Various | Scene: through-out | Available on tape: Doubtful | Comments: This was a Saturday morning TV show that aired for | several years. Mark Wilson and his wife Nani Darnell would | entertain kids in the live studio audience with large stage | illusions and smaller platform and close-up magic. I seem | to recall that Mark would teach a simple trick every week. | Info provided by Brian Abernathy <cba@hpuerca.atl.hp.com> ----------------------------------------------------------------- | Movie: "????" (Weekly TV Show) | Actor/magician: ??? | Effect: Various | Scene: | Available on tape: Doubtful | Info provided by Brian Abernathy <cba@hpuerca.atl.hp.com> | Comments: A weekly show originating from the Magic Castle and | shown on Saturdays. ----------------------------------------------------------------- | Movie: "????" (Weekly/Daily TV Show) | Actor/magician: ??? | Effect: Various Close-up effects | Scene: | Available on tape: Doubtful | Comments: This was a 5 minute segment/seguey in that was called | something like "TV Magic Hands" or something like that. Each | day, these pair of hands would do a very simple trick and then | demonstrate how to do it. ----------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- This list may not be sold, traded or distributed for profit in any way either entirely or in part without the EXPRESSED, WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE AUTHOR. The author retains exclusive rights to, ownership, sale and distribution of this list. copyright 1993.

This Text Must Accompany All Distribution of The Movie List __________