20th Century Fox released Magic on 8 November 1978.
As a kid, I saw Magic in the theater. The MPAA (Bastards!) rated it R. But my parents let me see lots of movies I shouldn’t! I also read the novel. I was really into magic when I was young.
It’s not a great film for kids. I didn’t identify with the whole love story. But I’ve revisited it as an adult. It holds up well. I genuinely like it. But I’m shocked that it was made or even that the novel was published.
Producer Joseph E Levine gave William Goldman a million dollars for the screenplay! That’s $5 million today. For what? A story about a ventriloquist who goes insane? That’s almost as common as “boy meets girl.”
But I get it. There aren’t that many original stories. It’s all about the rendering. And Goldman (as usual) does a fine job of rendering this story. What’s more, it does end well in a sweet way that resonates with me.
Just the same, it isn’t nearly as good as “The Ventriloquist’s Dummy” in Dead of Night. And I prefer supernatural ventriloquist stories. My favorite is the exceptional Devil Doll.
I still think everyone should watch Magic. It works. And it looks great. The budget ends up on the screen in terms of production design, filming, and acting.
So let’s celebrate the 47th anniversary of Magic by watching this free copy:
Other 8 November Psychotronic Birthdays & Anniversaries
Filmmakers
- Bram Stoker (1847-1912): That guy who wrote that book.
- Norman Lloyd (1914-2021): Co-producer of Alfred Hitchcock Presents and director of many episodes.
- Joe Flynn (1924-1974): Actor best known for McHale’s Navy but he did a lot of film work like Now You See Him, Now You Don’t.
- Jill Banner (1946-1982): Actor best known for Spider Baby.
- Parker Posey (1968-): Actor known for Party Girl but also Blade: Trinity, The Eye and The Parenting.
- Gretchen Mol (1972-): Actor known for Rounders and The Thirteenth Floor.
- Tara Reid (1975-): Actor known for Urban Legend, Sharknado, and more.
Films
- Scars of Dracula (1970): The sixth of the ninth Hammer Dracula films.
- Transylvania 6‐5000 (1985): Two reporters go to Transylvania looking for the Frankenstein creature.
- Ransom (1996): A rich man’s child is kidnapped and he has more tools than regular people.
- Dark Asylum (2001): A woman is trapped in an abandoned asylum with a madman.
- Zombie Night (2003): Word War III brings the rise of ghouls.
- Doctor Sleep (2019): Danny from The Shining is an adult and must protect a girl with his powers.
- The Platform (2019): An inmate tries to change an unfair dystopian prison.
- Black Cab (2024): A cab driver wants to trade a pregnant passenger to a supernatural force.
- Heretic (2024): Two Mormon missionaries visit a friendly man with bad intentions.
Magic (1978) poster via Wikipedia under Fair Use.
