‘Absolutely!!! The most sensational thrills you have seen in’
The Mad Magician is a 1954 horror film about an illusionist who becomes homicidal when his best kept magic secrets are stolen by his rival.
The movie was directed by John Brahm (The Undying Monster; The Lodger; Hangover Square) from a screenplay by Crane Wilbur (The Amazing Mr. X; The Bat; House of Wax).
The movie stars Vincent Price, Mary Murphy (The Outer Limits; Ghost Story aka Circle of Fear), Eva Gabor (Tales of Tomorrow), John Emery (Kronos; Boris Karloff’s Thriller), Donald Randolph (The Deadly Mantis).
Plot:
The late 1880s: Don Gallico (Vincent Price) is a magician, master of disguise, and inventor of stage-magic effects. aspiring to become a star magician under the stage name Gallico the Great.
Disguised as The Great Rinaldi, a headlining rival magician, Gallico performs a number of magic tricks successfully, building up to the reveal of his latest invention, the buzzsaw, an illusion that “severs” the head of the magician’s assistant Karen Lee (Mary Murphy). Before Gallico can perform the buzzsaw illusion, the curtains come down to stop the performance…
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“Despite some contrived Hollywood-style dialogue and music, director Brahm is still able to produce vigour and tension … More humour and gore would have been welcome but it’s still good for Price fans.” David Elroy Goldweber, Claws & Saucers book
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“… this remained an appreciated thriller in which Vincent Price hams it up … Not as good as House of Wax but still compelling.” John Stanley, Creature Features book
“The film devolves into a series of contrivances that echo the themes in House of Wax, but end up looking like one-reel prospectuses for any number of alternative versions.” Denis Meikle, Vincent Price: The Art of Fear
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“Though very much at home with the 1880s atmosphere, Brahms careful direction misses out on the necessary ghoulish zest.” The Aurum Film Encyclopedia: Horror book
Choice dialogue:
Don Gallico: “That’s his way. To say nothing and then stab you in the back!”
Ross Ormond: “You stupid fool. She’s always been a trollop. She double-crossed you from the first, just as she double-crossed me.”
Alice Prentiss: “I hope they hiss him off the stage!”
Cast and characters:
Vincent Price … Don Gallico/Gallico the Great
Mary Murphy … Karen Lee
Eva Gabor … Claire Ormond
John Emery … The Great Rinaldi
Donald Randolph … Ross Ormond
Lenita Lane … Alice Prentiss
Patrick O’Neal … Lt. Alan Bruce
Jay Novello … Frank Prentiss
Tech specs:
1h 12m (72 min)
Black and white
Trailer:
Free to watch online on YouTube:
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