Black Magic (1949 film)
| Black Magic | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by |
Gregory Ratoff Orson Welles (uncredited) |
| Produced by | Gregory Ratoff |
| Screenplay by |
Charles Bennett Richard Schayer |
| Based on |
Mémoires d'un médecin: Joseph Balsamo 1846-8 novel by Alexandre Dumas |
| Starring |
Orson Welles Nancy Guild Akim Tamiroff |
| Music by | Paul Sawtell |
| Cinematography |
Ubaldo Arata Anchise Brizzi |
| Edited by | Fred R. Feitshans Jr. James C. McKay |
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Production
company |
Edward Small Productions
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| Distributed by | United Artists |
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Release date
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Running time
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105 minutes |
| Country | United States Italy |
| Language | English |
| Budget | 250,000,000 lire ($1.5 million) |
Black Magic is a 1949 film adaptation of Alexandre Dumas's novel Joseph Balsamo. It was directed by the Russian-born Gregory Ratoff. Set in the 18th century, the film stars Orson Welles in the lead role as Joseph Balsamo, a hypnotist, magician and charlatan who also goes by the alias Count Cagliostro, and Nancy Guild as Lorenza/Marie Antoinette. Akim Tamiroff has a featured role.
Alexandre Dumas, Sr. (Berry Kroeger) tells his son Alexandre Dumas, Jr. (Raymond Burr) the story of Joseph Balsamo (Orson Welles). Through flashbacks we learn that Balsamo was a French gypsy boy who endured much hardship. He was tortured under the command of Viscount de Montagne (Stephen Bekassy) and his parents were ordered to hang. Some years later, he learns the secrets of hypnosis from Dr. Mesmer (Charles Goldner). Ignoring the doctor's advice that he use his powers for healing, he exploits his new talent to the full, gaining wealth, fame and prestige. After changing his name to Count Cagliostro, he becomes famous all over Europe. Things begin to go downhill when he enters a plot to substitute a young girl called Lorenza (Nancy Guild) for Queen Marie Antoinette along with gypsies Gitano (Akim Tamiroff) and Zoraida (Valentina Cortese).
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