The Magician (1958)

NR12/26/1958Drama1h 41m
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Overview

When 'Vogler's Magnetic Health Theater' comes to town, there's bound to be a spectacle. Reading reports of a variety of supernatural disturbances at Vogler's prior performances abroad, the leading townspeople (including the police chief and medical examiner) request that their troupe provide them a sample of their act, before allowing them public audiences. The scientific-minded disbelievers try to expose them as charlatans, but Vogler and his crew prove too clever for them.

Top Billed Cast

  1. Cast 1

    Max von Sydow

    Albert Emanuel Vogler

  2. Cast 1

    Ingrid Thulin

    Manda Vogler

  3. Cast 1

    Gunnar Björnstrand

    Dr. Vergerus / Minister of Health

  4. Cast 1

    Naima Wifstrand

    Granny Vogler

  5. Cast 1

    Bengt Ekerot

    Johan Spegel

  6. Cast 1

    Bibi Andersson

    Sara Lindqvist

  7. Cast 1

    Gertrud Fridh

    Ottilia

  8. Cast 1

    Lars Ekborg

    Simson

  9. Cast 1

    Toivo Pawlo

    Starbeck

I thought there was something of the slightly menacing John Carradine in Max Von Sydow's performance here, as the eponymous purveyor of bafflement. His troupe arrive in a forewarned small Swedish town that is full of scepticism about the wares and skills of the "Vogler" enterprise. MVS is the master magician, with his wife "Wanda" (Ingrid Thuler), his anti-wart tonic mixing aunt/grandmother (the scene-stealing Naira Wifstrand) and the enigmatic "Tubal" (Åke Fridell) all pulling their weight in this family business. The local police commissioner (Toivo Paulo) is deeply suspicious and demands th...