From: jti01@DUTS.ccc.amdahl.com
Newsgroups: alt.magic
Subject: "Magic in the Movies" list
Date: 15 Apr 92 23:18:07 GMT
Reply-To: jti01@DUTS.ccc.amdahl.com ()
Distribution: na
Organization: Amdahl Corporation, Sunnyvale CA



 Hi Folks, here's the latest revision of the "Magic in Movies" list.
 I've added revision bars ('|') to all new additions since the last time
 I sent out the list. I've also added a new section to include television
 specials and series. If this section gets too big, I will separate it
 out and handle as a separate list. Until then, I will include it in this
 list. When sending a new entry, please try to supply as much information
 about the movie/TV show as possible. Thanks for your support.

 Please send responses, feedback, corrections, additions, gratuities to:

 Jeff Isozaki (jti01@duts.ccc.amdahl.com)


    TEMPLATE:

       Movie: (Title)
       Actor/magician: (person 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, effect, etc.)

 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
   MOVIES (in alphabetic order)                last editted = 3/09/92
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Movie: "Adams Family" the movie
       Magician/actor: ???
       Effect: portrays "Thing"
       Scene: Thru-out the movie
       Available on tape: Not yet
       Comments: I haven't seen the movie yet but the guy who plays
                 "Thing" is an accomplished magician. He got the role
                 of Thing due to his great hand dexterity.
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
       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 bh@anarres.Berkeley.EDU (Brian Harvey)
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
       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: Larry Headlund  lmh@world.std.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. Thanks
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
       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: "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: Information provided by Mike Steiner
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Movie: "The Escape Artist"
       Magician/actor: A young kid (I don't remember his name)
       Effect: The main character does some fairly nice close-up
               sleights and some juggling.
       Scene: Thru-out the movie
       Available on tape: Yes
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Movie: "The Great Houdini's"
       Actor/magician: Michael Glasser?? (the guy from Starsky and Hutch)
       Effect: Typical Houdini illusions and escapes
       Scene: done thru-out the movie
       Available on tape: Yes
       Comments: I think this movie was made for TV
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 |     Movie: "Grifters"
 |     Actor/magician:
 |     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.
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 |     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 and 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.
 |     Information provided by: bh@anarres.Berkeley.EDU (Brian Harvey)
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
       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 by: merlyn@digibd.com (Merlyn LeRoy)
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
       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: "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.
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
       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: "Nashville"
       Magician/actor: ????
       Effect: Vanishing salt trick
 |     Scene: Done by minor character at counter in a diner (Barry Hayes
 |            says the magician is Jeff Goldblum of "The Fly" fame). The
              camera angle clearly shows this version to use a clear
              gimmick inside the salt shaker as a means for making the
              salt dissappear.
       Available on tape: Yes
 |     Comments: Information 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: "Pretty Woman"
       Magician/actor: ????
       Effect: Coins Across routine
       Scene: sidewalk magician at the beginning of the movie
       Available on tape: Yes
       Comments: Information provided by barnett@crd.ge.com
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
       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 supplied by sg@cbnewsh.att.com
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
       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
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------

==========================================================================
 MOVIES WITH DESCRIPTIONS BUT NO TITLE (please send any info on these)
==========================================================================

       Movie: ????  "Raffles"  ?????
       Magician/actor: David Niven
       Effect: ??
       Scene: ??
       Available on tape: ??
       Comments: old movie in black and white.  Stars David Niven when he
               was young, as a magician ala. Cardini.  As I recall he was
               looking for the ultimate trick and ended up doing some
               death defying escape trick.  I don't recall whether he
               successfully defied death.
               Information provided by  rja@batcomfs.Eng.Sun.COM
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Movie: "???"
       Magician/actor: ??
       Effect: ??
       Scene: ??
       Available on tape: ??
       Comments: sci-fi movie in color. It was called something like Robot
               Massacre as I recall. The plot revolved around some time
               travelling 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. And the
               rotisserie vanish and peppers ghost illusion were used as
               a transporter send and recieve. All effects were actually
               performed.
               Information provided by  rja@batcomfs.Eng.Sun.COM
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Movie: "???"
       Magician/actor: ??
       Effect: coin sleights
       Scene: ??
       Available on tape: ??
       Comments: "Movie purportedly about Houdini (Erich Weiss) as a young
                 boy but taking substantial liberty, I believe, 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.

             Information provided by Scott Duncan <duncan@ctt.bellcore.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
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
==========================================================================
 TELEVISION EPISODES WITH MAGIC
==========================================================================

 |     Movie: Columbo
 |     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.
 |             Information provided by Howie Rumjahn - Bok@Dartmouth.Edu.
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Newsgroups: alt.magic