Magic Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A magician gets a puppet who’s basically his id, and things get homicidally awkward when he tries to date his high school crush.

🍿 Magic: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Corky’s Early Career and the Emergence of Fats

Corky, a struggling magician, bombs during his first solo performance. His mentor advises him to find a gimmick. He returns two years later as a ventriloquist with a foul-mouthed dummy named Fats, achieving instant success. This newfound fame sets the stage for Corky’s descent into madness.

The Pressure of Fame and a Fateful Retreat

Corky’s manager, Ben Greene, secures a lucrative TV deal, but it requires a medical examination that Corky refuses, fearing exposure of his mental instability. He retreats to his hometown in the Catskills, seeking solace at a lakeside resort run by his high school crush, Peggy Ann Snow, who is unhappily married. The film explores Corky’s increasing reliance on Fats, blurring the lines between reality and delusion.

Descent into Madness and Violence

Corky’s conversations with Fats take on a sinister tone, revealing a disturbing personality split. When Ben confronts Corky about his mental state, Fats convinces Corky to kill him, leading to a violent confrontation and cover-up. The arrival of Peggy’s husband, Duke, further complicates matters, resulting in more bloodshed as Corky tries to protect his secret.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Corky (Anthony Hopkins): A magician and ventriloquist descends into madness as his dummy, Fats, increasingly controls him.
• Fats (Anthony Hopkins (voice)): The foul-mouthed dummy who becomes the embodiment of Corky’s suppressed desires and darker impulses.
• Peggy Ann Snow (Ann-Margret): Corky’s high school crush who unwittingly becomes entangled in his deteriorating mental state.
• Ben Greene (Burgess Meredith): Corky’s concerned agent who tries to help him but becomes a target due to his declining mental health.
• Duke (Ed Lauter): Peggy’s jealous husband who is suspicious of Corky and eventually becomes another victim.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Ben Greene: “Make Fats shut up for five minutes.” – Corky’s agent challenges him to control his dummy and prove his sanity in a tense scene.
• Fats: “Abracadabra, I sit on his knee. Presto, change-o, and now he’s me! Hocus Pocus, we take her to bed. Magic is fun…we’re dead.” – Fats says the tagline to the movie in the trailer and in the movie when speaking to Corky on their partnership.
• Corky: “All I have is houses near decay and graves.” – Corky expresses his deep-seated loneliness and despair, highlighting his troubled past.
• Corky: “Us is you. It was you all the time.” – Corky’s last words to Fats just before he dies.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $7,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $23,638,975
• Worldwide Gross: $23,638,975

💥 Magic Reviews

Personal Review

I watched ‘Magic’ because I love Anthony Hopkins. This movie creeped me out! The way he embodies both Corky and Fats is truly disturbing. The five-minute silence scene is masterful – the tension is palpable. I’m not usually a horror fan, but this psychological thriller kept me on the edge of my seat. Ann-Margret’s performance adds a layer of intrigue. Definitely a must-see for Hopkins fans!

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of psychological thrillers”
  • “Viewers interested in movies about mental illness”
  • “Anthony Hopkins fans”
  • “Those who enjoy character-driven stories”
  • “Viewers looking for a classic horror film with a unique premise”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Violence”
  • “Profanity”
  • “Disturbing themes”
  • “Suggestive content”

Professional Reviews

• IMDb: “Richard Attenborough directs a tense thriller with horror undertones about a ventriloquist who slowly loses his sense of reality and starts to live through his dummy. The dialogues are good and Hopkins’ performance is outstanding. The idea of evil ventriloquist dummies might not be new (The Great Gabbo, Dead of Night) but ‘Magic’ is neatly elaborated and very well-acted.
• A Potpourri of Vestiges Review: “Richard Attenborough’s Magic (1978) is an exceptional work of cinema. Anthony Hopkins delivers the best performance of his life. Magic (1978) is a psychological thriller of the highest quality.

Audience Reactions

Anthony Hopkins’s performance as both Corky and Fats is disturbingly brilliant.: Viewers praised the film’s suspenseful atmosphere and the exploration of mental illness.

Overall Consensus: A chilling psychological thriller elevated by Anthony Hopkins’s performance.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Gene Wilder was the original choice for Corky, but producer Joseph E. Levine wanted to avoid casting comedians to maintain the film’s serious tone.”
• “Anthony Hopkins not only learned magic tricks for the film but also mastered ventriloquism to perform Fats’s voice.”
• “The Fats dummy was designed by Disney employees, but Disney ultimately chose not to associate with the dark themes of the movie.”

🖥️ How to Watch Magic?

As of October 2024, “Magic” is available for rent or purchase on various platforms including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your local listings for cable or streaming options, as availability may vary by region. Unfortunately there are no free options at this time, however keep your eye out, as the film occasionally appears on streaming services.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Magic, you might like these similar films:

• Dead of Night (1945): Features a segment about a ventriloquist and his increasingly sinister dummy, prefiguring the themes of Magic.
• Psycho (1960): Explores similar themes of split personality and psychological breakdown leading to violence.
• Child’s Play (1988): Features a doll possessed by a killer. While more overt horror, it deals with similar anxieties about inanimate objects turning malevolent.
• The Twilight Zone: The Dummy (1962): A classic episode that explores the unsettling relationship between a ventriloquist and his dummy, with a chilling twist.

🛒 Magic Related Products

• Magic (Blu-ray): High-definition Blu-ray release of the classic thriller for collectors.
• Fats Ventriloquist Dummy: A recreation of the Fats doll from the movie, perfect for fans and collectors.
• Magic: The Novel by William Goldman: The novel the movie is based on, explore deeper themes and darker undertones.
• Anthony Hopkins Movie Collection: Collection of Anthony Hopkin’s greatest movies. The perfect way to rediscover cinematic masterpieces.

🎧 Soundtrack

Magic features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Ah! Sweet Mystery of Life” – performed by Victor Herbert

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Penn Jillette (Penn & Teller) Reviews Magic Tricks from Movies & TV | Vanity Fair

Ever wonder how realistic those magic tricks in movies actually are? Penn Jillette breaks down some iconic cinematic illusions, and honestly, it’s fascinating to see how much is smoke and mirrors (literally!).

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