Magic (1978) on Netflix
Corky Withers' magic act becomes a hit once he adds Fats, a foul-mouthed dummy. He retreats to the Catskills, where Peggy Ann Snow, his high school crush, is married to Duke.
- Netflix3.1/5
- IMDb6.8/1015,821 votes
- Rotten Tomatoes87%
Trailer
Plot summary
After Charles "Corky" Withers flops in his first professional magic act, his mentor Merlin tells him he needs a better gimmick. He returns as a magician and ventriloquist with Fats, a foul-mouthed dummy, beside him, and the act becomes a huge success. His agent, Ben Greene, is close to a deal for a television show of his own, but Corky refuses the network's medical examination, afraid the doctors will learn how little control he has over Fats. He slips away to the Catskills, the mountains where he grew up, and finds Peggy Ann Snow, the girl he loved in high school, now married to his old friend Duke. A trick with a deck of cards charms her into thinking they are soulmates, and the two sleep together, which stirs jealousy in Duke and in Fats.
Cast
- Joe Lowryas Club M.C.
- Robert Hackmanas Father (as Bob Hackman)
Did you know?!Facts and trivia about Magic (1978)
Can contain spoilers, watch the movie first.
- Attenborough said Levine persuaded him to make Magic by promising the producer would then finance his dream project, Gandhi. Levine later changed his mind, and Attenborough had to pay $2 million plus a percentage of the profits to get the rights back, calling it the only time in his career he was double crossed.
- Laurence Olivier was offered the role of the agent but was unable to do it, and Burgess Meredith was cast instead; Meredith landed the part after walking into the 21 Club one night and being cast on the spot.
- Norman Jewison was hired to direct Magic in June 1976 and wanted Jack Nicholson to star, but Nicholson turned it down, claiming he did not want to wear a hairpiece.
- Attenborough recalled the worst period of rain anyone had ever encountered in the Catskills, where Magic was shooting; the long-range forecast was so bad there was no alternative but to go ahead, so everything was shot in the rain and the film stock had to be changed.
- Steven Spielberg expressed interest in directing Magic and considered casting Robert De Niro for Corky, but the job of directing went instead to Richard Attenborough.
