Product Details

• Actors: Chris Lindsay-Abaire, Jeffrey Binder
• Directors: Chris Lindsay-Abaire
• Format: Color, Letterboxed, Widescreen, NTSC
• Number of tapes: 1
• VHS Release Date: March 1, 2000
• Run Time: 20 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• ASIN: 0967946808
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #634,578 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

From the Director

The King of the Magicians is the story of a return to a first love. Porter's earliest career memories are based on writer/director Paul Malmont's own experiences as a young performer. Pulp magazines from the '30s inspired the waterfront look and lurid, saturated colors. Chinese and Egyptian art flourishes, prominent in the heyday of stage magic from the turn of the century to the '20s, enhance the bar. Many characters in the film are tributes to famous magicians, from Harry Houdini to Siegfried and Roy. These are the performers from past eras, whose achievements form the foundation of Porter's post-modern art. In acknowledging those who have come before him, he is allowing himself to be judged by them.

The King of the Magicians was written to mourn what the author assumed was a fading, fringe artform - only to discover that the opposite is true. What the film really celebrates is an artform in renaissance, with more magicians creating more imaginative illusions to greater and more appreciative audiences than ever before. Finally, the illusion of a magic trick has the same effect on an audience as the illusion of film: it creates another reality where different rules can apply.

Product Description

The King of the Magicians will have its American debut at the 2000 Los Angeles Independent Film Festival and was the winner of a commendation at the 1999 Festival of Fantastic Films in Manchester, UK.

The King of the Magicians was written in August of 1998 and was filmed in Hoboken and New York City in February and April of 1999.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous, April 20, 2000

By 

A Customer - See all my reviews

This review is from: The King of the Magicians [VHS] (VHS Tape)

The King of Magicians is a beautifully filmed tribute to the art of magic; a bittersweet story of a magician recounting his career and the tale of his lost assistant.

The style of story telling in this film is uncommon - awash in mystery and bordering on coquettish in presentation. The story line is unique and bold.

The film also contains a few homages that will keep you reaching for the rewind button.

Not lacking for discreet comedy, there's a wonderful scene where a tale is told via a charade of magic tricks.

Wonderful!