Magic (1978)

Directed by: Richard Attenborough | 107 minutes | drama, horror, thriller | Actors: Anthony Hopkins, Ann-Margaret, Burgess Meredith, Ed Lauter, EJ André, Jerry Houser, David Ogden Stiers, Lillian Randolph, Joe Lowry, Bob Hackman, Mary Munday, Brad Beesley, Scott Garrett, Beverly Sanders, IW Klein, Patrick McCullough, Stephen P. Hart

In the thriller ‘Magic’ by director Richard Attenborough (‘Gandhi’, 1982) we meet Corky Withers (a young Anthony Hopkins), a magician who makes the step from anonymity to fame and fortune. An image arises of a very lonely man, who lives in his own world. Corky develops into a ventriloquist and the wooden doll he works with is his greatest friend, but also his enemy because the doll brings out all the bad in Corky. The makers of ‘Child’s Play’, in which the toy doll Chucky sows death and destruction, probably looked very closely at Attenborough’s film. In ‘Magic’ the doll is called Fats and he is introduced during a performance by Corky in a smoky establishment. Corky is busy with his playing cards when suddenly a voice from the audience sharply criticizes Corky’s performance. The ‘critic’ turns out to be Fats, the doll who proves indispensable in Corky’s ventriloquist act. The talking doll is popular because everyone immediately likes it. He breaks the ice between people and they love him quickly. That trait of Fats will return several times later in the film.

Ben Greene (Burgess Meredith, Sylvester Stallone’s trainer in ‘Rocky’) is a shrewd television talent hunter who discovers the unique show of Corky and his doll early on. He invites a big boss of a television station to attend a performance by Corky and after overcoming the necessary skepticism, the bigwig is also involved because of the mischievous doll Fats. But the leap from anonymous magician completing his performances to TV fame recognized by everyone on the street is proving huge for Corky. He comes across as an ordinary man, with a Scapino sweater and a heavy part in his hair, but behind that facade hides a shy, insecure and unpredictable man. To come to his senses and avoid responsibilities, Corky flees to a woman he loved fifteen years earlier. Then he didn’t dare to show his love for her, but it is again Fats who breaks the ice. Peg (Ann-Margaret from ‘Grumpy Old Men’, 1993) falls for the charms of the pop who dares to say everything Corky does not dare. And because her marriage is no longer yours, she fully embraces Corky’s rapprochement. But Peg’s budding love leads to inner conflict in Corky, with the doll acting as his conscience. Corky and Fats have grown so close that they are almost one with each other and the thought of a woman standing between them can only lead to complications. Corky and Fats are not only one on stage, but also off it.

The tragedy in “Magic” is that Corky makes fun of everyone, including himself. He thinks he has everything under control, but his fear of failure makes him panic at the slightest. In addition, he lies to the people who care about him, such as Ben Greene and Peg. He promises them golden mountains and tells them that everything is okay, but inside Corky is raging a storm that cannot be stopped. During the film Corky also literally looks more and more like Fats the doll and in one of the last scenes the resemblance is terrifying! Attenborough’s gripping thriller.