The Magician

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The Magician

1958,

1h 42m,

Comedy/

Drama

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Watchlist

100%

13 Reviews

Tomatometer

85%

2,500+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

100%

Tomatometer

13 Reviews

85%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

Dr. Vogler is a hypnotist, a magician and the leader of "Vogler's Magnetic Health Theater," a traveling performance troupe known for their apparently supernatural abilities. When Vogler's show arrives in Stockholm, the skeptical townspeople form a committee determined to disprove the supposedly magical abilities of the troupe. The locals, headed by a cruel medical official, fail to rationally explain Vogler's feats -- and events take a disturbing turn.

John Monaghan

Detroit Free Press

Dec 7, 2007

3/4

The movie has elements of Gothic horror and philosophy, along with lusty, low comedy rolls.

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Don Druker

Chicago Reader

Jul 30, 2007

It is one of Bergman's most tightly structured and frightening films.

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Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

Oct 24, 2024

FIVE STARS

This lush film is a stone-cold classic by any measure. "The Magician" is a really fun movie to return to time and time again. There's just so much cinematic magic to savor.

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Penelope Gilliatt

Observer (UK)

Feb 20, 2024

If you can stand its cloudy sentiments the film is brilliantly directed, including an uncharacteristically funny love scene between two pastoral comics in what one takes to be the Swedish equivalent of Mummerset.

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Vernon Young

Film Quarterly

Jan 11, 2024

[The Magician], written by Bergman himself, is quite the richest of the Swedish director’s achievements -- which is not necessarily to call it the greatest.

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CJ Sheu

Review Film Review

Jul 1, 2020

It is, quite literally at times, a romp.

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Anakin W

Oct 29, 2017

Complex and masterly production of the famed director from Sweden. It can be a confusing movie which explores human beliefs and misconceptions. The word "truth" is used so many times that at some point you can't tell a lie from the truth; the characters fall under each other's influence so many times that you can't tell a magician from those who are being bewitched; the magic and science switch places so many times that you can't tell who believes in what and what the truth is. The two girls, Sanna and Sarah, is a striking example of such dubious attitudes: one is afraid of thunder but embraces the lust of man while the other totally dreads the lust being a believer but absolutely impenetrable to thunder. The film is beautifully constructed, the beginning is haunting as the carriage drives through the forest to the home of a police commissioner. The scene where Vogler puts into question Dr. Vergerus beliefs is particularly awesome.

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Ingmar Bergman

Director

Max von Sydow

Albert Emanuel Vogler

Ingrid Thulin

Manda Vogler

Gunnar Björnstrand

Dr. Vergerus

Naima Wifstrand

Granny Vogler

Bengt Ekerot

Johan Spegel

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Synopsis

Dr. Vogler is a hypnotist, a magician and the leader of "Vogler's Magnetic Health Theater," a traveling performance troupe known for their apparently supernatural abilities. When Vogler's show arrives in Stockholm, the skeptical townspeople form a committee determined to disprove the supposedly magical abilities of the troupe. The locals, headed by a cruel medical official, fail to rationally explain Vogler's feats -- and events take a disturbing turn.

Director: Ingmar Bergman
Producer: Carl-Henry Cagarp
Screenwriter: Ingmar Bergman
Production Co: Svensk Filmindustri
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: Swedish
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 30, 2015
Runtime: 1h 42m

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