From: jti01@DUTS.ccc.amdahl.com
Newsgroups: alt.magic
Subject: "Magic in the Movies" - Monthly Listing
Date: 1 Oct 92 02:11:14 GMT
Reply-To: jti01@DUTS.ccc.amdahl.com ()
Organization: Amdahl Corporation, Sunnyvale CA


 Hi Folks,
 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 a
 information, please try to supply as much information about the movie/TV
 show as possible. Thanks to all of you who have contributed entries and
 constructive comments.

 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 here>

 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
   MOVIES (in alphabetic order)                last editted = 10/01/92
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
       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: "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 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:
       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:
       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 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 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.
       Info provided by: bh@anarres.Berkeley.EDU (Brian Harvey)
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Movie: "Harlequin" (alternate title = "Dark Forces")
       Actor/magician: David Hemings and Broderick Crawford (I think)
       Effect: ??
       Scene:
       Available on tape: ??
       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@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: "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
       Available on tape: not yet
       Comments:
       Info provided by reeves@aosg.gsf.dec.com (Jon Reeves)
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
       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. 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: probably not yet -- still in theaters (6/22/92)
       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: ???
 |     Effect: coin vanish
 |     Scene: first scene of movie
 |     Available on tape: not yet (9/20/92)
 |     Comments: I haven't seen the movie yet but heard this from someone
 |               on the net.
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
       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: "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?"
 |     Info provided 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: 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.
       Info provided by  rja@batcomfs.Eng.Sun.COM
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Movie: "???"
       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
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
       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 SERIES 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.
       Info provided by Howie Rumjahn - Bok@Dartmouth.Edu.
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Movie: TV Series "The Magician" ?
       Actor/magician: Bill Bixby
       Effect: Various
       Scene: Throughout
       Available on tape: Doubtful
       Comments: Rich magician turns detective.
       Info provided by Thomas Greenwalt-tomg@mishima.mishima.MN.ORG
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------