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Magic (1978 film)

Magic
Magicposter.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Richard Attenborough
Produced by Joseph E. Levine
Richard P. Levine
Screenplay by William Goldman
Based on Magic
by William Goldman
Starring Anthony Hopkins
Ann-Margret
Burgess Meredith
Ed Lauter
David Ogden Stiers
Music by Jerry Goldsmith
Cinematography Victor J. Kemper
Edited by John Bloom
Distributed by 20th Century Fox
Dark Sky Films
Release date
  • November 8, 1978 (1978-11-08) (U.S.)
Running time
107 min.
Country United States
Language English
Budget $7,000,000
Box office $23,800,000

Magic is a 1978 American psychological horror film directed by Richard Attenborough and starring Anthony Hopkins, Ann-Margret and Burgess Meredith. The screenplay was by William Goldman, who also wrote the novel upon which it was based.

Charles "Corky" Withers has just failed in his first attempt at professional magic. His mentor "Merlin" (E.J. André) says that he needs to have a better show business gimmick. A year later, Corky comes back as a combination magician and ventriloquist with a foul-mouthed dummy named Fats and is a huge success. His powerful agent Ben Greene is on the verge of signing Corky for his own television show, but Corky bails out for the Catskills, where he grew up, claiming to be "afraid of success." In truth, he does not want to take the TV network's required medical examination because doctors might find out that he suffers from severe issues, and that even off-stage he cannot control Fats (a manifestation of Corky's id).

In the Catskills, he reunites with his high-school crush, Peggy Ann Snow, who is stuck in a passionless marriage with Corky's friend from high school, Duke. A magic trick with a deck of cards charms Peg into thinking they are soulmates. She and Corky make love, which sparks the jealousy not only of Peggy's tough-guy husband but also the dummy Fats. Greene arrives unexpectedly, having tracked Corky down. After a tense confrontation, in which Greene discovers the truth about Corky's mental state, the agent demands that Corky get help. Fats, however, convinces Corky to kill Greene. Corky does this by using Fats' hard, wooden head. He then removes all of Greene's identification and drags the corpse to the lake. When Corky tries to dispose of the body, however, Greene suddenly lunges at him, still alive.


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