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While there aren't a lot of extras in this three-DVD boxed set, the Learning Channel's
Mysteries of Magic series does provide plenty of knowledge and entertainment in nearly three hours of footage and interviews. With modern magic luminaries such as Teller (yes, the silent half of Penn and Teller) providing the narrative,
Mysteries of Magic is, in a word, spellbinding.
The first disc, The Masters of Mystery, provides a history of the magical arts from the ancient Egyptians through modern Las Vegas performers. We learn the history of the perennial "Cups and Balls" illusion and see how ancient religious beliefs led to phenomenal illusion.
The Impossible Made Possible brings us on a journey from the days of early special effects in magic (light, shadow, incense) through the arrival of the motion picture. It is an intriguing glimpse into the magician's art of exploiting scientific principles and emerging technology in order to impress audiences.
Finally, Death-Defying Feats throws the spotlight on the dangerous illusions that have brought fame and fortune to many a magician. From Houdini's Water Torture Cell to the art (and pirating) of sawing a woman in half, we are amazed by the risks that these wizards and their assistants subject themselves to. Mysteries of Magic can be viewed in parts or as a whole, but it is always an enlightening experience. The series' greatest trick, however, is producing a thorough history of magic without giving away a single secret. --Zachary Lively
