The Magician (1958 film)
| The Magician | |
|---|---|
 Film poster | |
| Directed by | Ingmar Bergman |
| Produced by | Allan Ekelund |
| Written by | Ingmar Bergman |
| Starring |
Ingrid Thulin Max von Sydow Naima Wifstrand Gunnar Björnstrand Bengt Ekerot Bibi Andersson Erland Josephson |
| Music by | Erik Nordgren |
| Cinematography | Gunnar Fischer |
| Edited by | Oscar Rosander |
| Distributed by | AB Svensk Filmindustri |
Release date | 26 December 1958 |
Running time | 107 minutes |
| Country | Sweden |
| Language | Swedish |
Ansiktet (Swedish "The Face") is a 1958 Swedish film written and directed by Ingmar Bergman. It was released theatrically as The Face in the United Kingdom, although video releases have used the U.S. title The Magician.
The film stars Max von Sydow as a traveling magician named Albert Vogler. Reading reports of a variety of supernatural disturbances at Vogler's prior performances abroad, the leading townspeople request that Vogler's troupe provide them a sample of their act, before allowing them public audiences. The scientifically minded disbelievers try to expose them as charlatans, but Vogler has a few tricks up his sleeve.
The film was distantly inspired by G. K. Chesterton's play Magic, which Bergman numbered among his favourites. Bergman staged a theatre production of "Magic" in Swedish at one point. The film was selected as the Swedish entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 31st Academy Awards, but was not accepted as a nominee.[1]
Cast
- Max von Sydow – Albert Emanuel Vogler
- Ingrid Thulin – Manda Vogler (alias Mr. Aman)
- Gunnar Björnstrand – Dr. Vergerus, Minister of Health
- Naima Wifstrand – Granny Vogler
- Bengt Ekerot – Johan Spegel
- Bibi Andersson – Sara
- Birgitta Pettersson - Sanna
- Gertrud Fridh – Ottilia Egerman
- Lars Ekborg – Simson, the coach driver
- Toivo Pawlo – Police Superintendent Starbeck
- Erland Josephson – Consul Egerman
- Åke Fridell – Tubal
- Sif Ruud – Sofia Garp
- Oscar Ljung – Antonsson, burly stableman
- Ulla Sjöblom – Henrietta Starbeck
- Axel Düberg – Rustan, young manservant
Reception
The Magician has a unanimous approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Don Druker of the Chicago Reader called it "one of Bergman's most tightly structured and frightening films."[2] Author and film critic Leonard Maltin awarded the film three out of four stars, calling it "A thoughtful (and too-long underrated) portrait of a man who is part-faker, part-genius."[3]
Woody Allen selected The Magician as one of the five Bergman films that he would most recommend to those unfamiliar with the filmmaker.[4]
See also
References
- ↑ Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
- ↑ "The Magician (1958)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
- ↑ Leonard Maltin; Spencer Green; Rob Edelman (January 2010). Leonard Maltin's Classic Movie Guide. Plume. p. 402. ISBN 978-0-452-29577-3.
- ↑ Corliss, Richard (August 1, 2007). "Woody Allen on Ingmar Bergman". TIME. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
External links
- The Magician on IMDb
- The Magician at AllMovie
- The Magician at the Swedish Film Institute Database
- The Magician (1958) at Rotten Tomatoes
- Four Screenplays of Ingmar Bergman (contains The Magician)