Magic (DVD)

Any fan of scary-doll movies is at least somewhat familiar with Magic, the story of a ventriloquist and his not-so-dumb wooden chum.

The novel Magic by William Goldman is a different animal from the film and while compelling it lacks the impact of the movie — seeing and hearing the ventriloquist and his creepy dummy add quite a bit to the experience.

Movie magic truly brings the story to life: Before he was a Sir, actor Anthony Hopkins puts in a top-notch performance as stage-magician Corky Withers, a self-recriminating perfectionist who quickly rises from failure to success when he adds a foul-mouthed ventriloquist dummy called Fats (voiced by Hopkins) to his nightclub act.

But he's only a big fish in a little pond… his chance at superstardom comes in the form of a television pilot offer. Corky's agent Ben Greene (Fats calls him "Gangrene") — played brilliantly by Burgess Meredith — tells him they're all set for easy street; all they have to do is take the medical exam and shoot the show. Corky steadfastly refuses to take the medical and runs away without a backward glance. Along for the ride, of course, is his constant companion and ever-faithful confidante, Fats.

Corky returns to his hometown, checks into the quaint lakeside motel run by his winsome childhood sweetheart Peggy Ann Snow (Ann-Margaret), and tries to forget his big city troubles. But even more turbulence awaits in the deceptively idyllic setting — turns out Peggy Ann is unhappily married to a super-jealous outdoorsman (Ed Lauter), Gangrene gets wind of Corky's whereabouts and gives chase, and Fats takes his pick of potential victims.

Directed by Richard Attenborough and with a screenplay written by Goldman, Magic is a suspenseful, compelling, and genuinely sinister cerebral horror film. Aside from some cheesy music during a sex scene, and some accent-uncertainty from the now completely masterful Hopkins, Magic is not at all dated. The story, setting and conclusion fit right in with today's sensibilities and the modern viewer won't be left wanting. Even what should be the most static moments in the film — for instance, when Gengrene challenges Corky to keep Fats quiet for five minutes — are fraught with tension.

Music by Jerry Goldsmith (Oscar-winner for his music in The Omen) and fantastic cinematography from Victor Kemper (recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society of Cinematographers) round out the experience.

If you like psychological horror and if dolls creepy you out, you cannot go wrong with Magic.

DVD Goodies:

• Featurette Fats and Friends
Dennis Alwood, the ventriloquial consultant on Magic, hosts a half hour documentary entitled Fats and Friends. First, there is a brief overview of the history of ventriloquism. There's a montage of old postcards, photos of various vintage dummies, footage from vaudeville, and handbills. Alwood talks a little bit about Fred Russell and Coster Joe, the founding act of ventriloquism as we know it.

Alwood touches on the eerie connection between schizophrenia and the art of ventriloquism. He talks about he got the job on Magic, and how his figure, Dudley, was up for the role of Fats. Apparently, the hideous Dudley was "too cute" (besides, in keeping with tradition, the dummy had to be a caricature of Hopkins). There is a special guest star in the documentary, plus a brief cinematic overview of ventriloquism (Lon Chaney in The Great Gabbo, for one).

• TV Spots
The DVD has the original TV spot for Magic, which — according to the publicity, anyway — only aired once. This is because so many parents called the network complaining they couldn't get their kids to go to sleep after they saw the commercial! It is indeed very creepy… it's just a close-up of Fats, reciting the tagline: Abracadabra, I sit on his knee. Presto, change-o, and now he's me! Hocus Pocus, we take her to bed. Magic is fun...we're dead.

There are also some theatrical trailers, which are surprisingly weak and extremely dated.

• Interviews with Actor Sir Anthony Hopkins and Cinematographer Victor J. Kemper
• Anthony Hopkins Radio Interview
• Ann-Margret Make-Up Test
• Radio Spots
• Photo Gallery

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Reviewed by Staci Layne Wilson