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The Magician [DVD] [1958]
 
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The Magician [DVD] [1958]

DVD ~ Max von Sydow
3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
RRP: £19.99
Price: £9.68 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
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Product details

  • Actors: Max von Sydow, Ingrid Thulin, Gunnar Björnstrand, Naima Wifstrand, Bengt Ekerot
  • Directors: Ingmar Bergman
  • Format: Black & White, PAL
  • Language Swedish
  • Subtitles: English
  • Region: All Regions
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Classification: PG
  • Studio: Palisades Tartan
  • DVD Release Date: 24 Sep 2001
  • Run Time: 100 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B00005MKXD
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 20,129 in DVD (See Bestsellers in DVD)

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Reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
A sort of existential horror movie set in what often feels like a darkly imaginary 1846, The Magician is Ingmar Bergman's meditation on the restrictive nature of modern rationalism. Max Von Sydow cuts a suitably melancholy and mystical figure as Dr Vogler, the mute hypnotist who travels with a group of players to Stockholm, only to be examined and humiliated by a team of sceptical inquisitors led by Gunnar Bjornstrand's Dr Vergerus and a hog-like police chief. Dr Vogler exacts his revenge on Vergerus, however, in an extraordinary feat of illusion.

With its elaborate, occasionally expressionistic sets and its feel of a scrupulously re-enacted nightmare, The Magician is reminiscent at times of Poe or even The Cabinet of Dr Caligari. However, the "below stairs" characters--including Ake Fridell's ebullient Master of Ceremonies and a host of giggling wenches--add comic energy to what is otherwise a startling and sombre reflection of the nature of art and life. It would prove a turning point in Bergman's career as he moved away from his early, "romantic" period.

On the DVD: Presented in the original academy ratio, the mix of soft light and harsh shade for which credit should go to photographer Gunnar Fischer, is well-restored here. In notes from his memoirs included here, Bergman relates how his adventures and privations as part of a theatre company in Malmo provided inspiration for The Magician, while critic Ronald Bergman's notes talk of "the ability of the artist to find truth in both fact and fantasy". --David Stubbs

Special Features
DVD 5
Swedish
Region 0
Dolby Digital Swedish
Dolby Digital
Star And Director Filmographies
Scene Selection
Film Notes
The Bergman Collection Trailer
English


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Customer Reviews

6 Reviews
5 star:
 (1)
4 star:
 (3)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:
 (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.5 out of 5 stars (6 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Key Bergman, 29 Jun 2005
By Colin C "Colin C" (Glasgow) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   
This is an important work in Bergman's filmography, a historically set, metaphorical, theatrical statement before he moved on to the more intimate chamber-films of the 1960s. It would be foolish to make definite statements concerning this film, because it remains mysterious and elusive even after repeated viewing, but central themes would certainly include IB's own personal feelings on being an artist (and an 'outsider'), and fears of being 'exposed' in some way as a charlatan.

'The Magician' doesn't have many slapstick gags or zany one liners, and it retains the doom-laden, oppressive atmosphere of 'The Seventh Seal', so don't come to 'The Magician' if you are in the mood for Chevy Chase. If you are exploring Bergman's work, though, this should be a priority buy, ahead of the minor works of the 40s which Tartan are now releasing, as it is a fascinating and important film. As ever, Max von Sydow is majestic.

I would have preferred to see this released as 'The Face', which is the actual translation of the Swedish title and the proper UK title, rather than the American title Tartan have gone with. This is a minor gripe though and the print of the film is excellent. All in all, highly recommended.

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Icy Swedish horror......, 30 Jan 2006
By A Customer
"The Magician" filmed in 1958 is not quite one of the best Bergman films but still manages to shock,enthrall and entertain in equal measure.

Dr Vogler brings his magicians troupe to a small swedish town where he is humilated by smalltown cynics,causing him to perform his greatest deception......

Throughout the picture the genius of Bergman shines through, the careful interiors, the crackling dialogue(more akin to theatre than film) and the unsettling eerie Nordic mix of fairytale and reality.

In summary this film is all about illusion but is grounded in reality,flights of fancy are not what Bergman is about, his every second is about the human mind,human existence and human reality.

Overall a spell-binding film, the only weaknesses are possibly in the rushed ending. Tartan DVD add directors notes as extras and the overall picture quality is very good

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Charlatanism and witchery., 22 May 2009
The Magician is a magical early 50's film from Bergman. He opposes to the magic
of Vogler's Magnetic Health Theatre the cold rationalism of Dr. Vergerus and
the other government officials, the chief of police and the consul. In 1846 the
travelling troupe are on the run and are heavily disguised. Ingrid Thulin acts
as a male assistant to her husband Dr. Vogler, who is himself disguised behind a false hair and beard. They have a director of the Co. who sells their act to new customers. The old woman with them, a witch, sells love potions. Is Vogler a charlatan or a man with supernatural powers? Vogler's face in disguise as a mute is messianic. He represents to Vergerus "what cannot be explained". However science can penetrate all mysteries. Vogler and his troupe are submitted to questions
in such a humiliating manner to unmask their fraud. They have been invited to stay at the inn where they are to perform. There are elements of fairy tale and horror show,ghosts, dying and dead actors. In one of the acts the chief of police's wife reveals he's a fraud. Another man, a driver, attempts to kill Vogler to escape his power. Vogler enacts a terrible revenge on Dr. Vergerus. In this little allegory Bergman was drawing on his theatrical experiences: the duality of artists in a closed world of illusions and the ambiguous relationship with the world outside. He had to beguile the audience.Film represented the longing for pure artistry(the dying actor expresses this). Bergman's true target was a film critic married at the time to Thulin. This film is a perfect example of the best of his early work. Von Sydow's illusionist is related to the wordless actress Vogler (L.Ullman ) in Persona.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars SATISFYING ON MANY LEVELS
Many people may have missed the satisfaction of reading the extra layer of meaning in this film: that the "magician" is the the filmmaker or visa versa, in this case Bergman... Read more
Published 21 months ago by stuart

1.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely dire
My boyfriend is a big Bergman fan and I get subjected to these things now and again. Whilst "Wild Strawberries" and "Torment" were okay this one is absolutely the worst film... Read more
Published on 5 Jan 2006 by jobags

4.0 out of 5 stars Another example of Bergmans magic
Ingmar Bergmans the Magician is a very vell told tale of snake oil salesmen and travelling magicians. Read more
Published on 17 Feb 2002 by Magnus Carlström

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