Dead of Night : Magic, That Other Vent. Dummy Movie

Magic, That Other Vent. Dummy Movie

The only other movie I can immediately think of that also featured a spooky ventriloquist doll was the 1978 movie MAGIC, which starred Anthony Hopkins. Does anybody else remember this movie too?

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Re: Magic, That Other Vent. Dummy Movie

An old work colleague of mine's father, Michael White, designed the dummy in Magic..there were several of them..each one looking more like Anthony Hopkins than the last.

Re: Magic, That Other Vent. Dummy Movie

I remember "Magic". dummy was very jealous of Ann Margaret. When I saw "DON", the first thing I thought of was "Magic".

Re: Magic, That Other Vent. Dummy Movie

I THINK the makers of "Magic" acknowledged their debt to DON.

I had a funny experience with "Magic." I'd never seen Anthony Hopkins before, and I knew the story was more or less based on the DON episode. I assumed it was going to be awful...what a surprise! It wasn't!

"Thus began our longest journey together." To Kill a Mockingbird

Re: Magic, That Other Vent. Dummy Movie

I think William Goldman was most definitely inspired by DON. What I like about it is that it's not really supernatural as much as it is psychological. The story unfolds in DON much as it does in MAGIC or, heck, even look at Norman Bates in PSYCHO. All three protagonists in each story suffer from the same ailment, all with the same tragic result.


"You wanna be worshipped? Go to India and moo."

Re: Magic, That Other Vent. Dummy Movie

Magic definitely seems influenced by DON.

Re: Magic, That Other Vent. Dummy Movie

MAGIC had a very creepy, minimalist TV ad, which I'm told was removed after parental complaints. You can find it on YouTube.

Re: Magic, That Other Vent. Dummy Movie

I read the book of magic when I was fourteen. It said on the cover 'now a major film starring Anthony Hopkins' Well, at the time I confused Hopkins for Perkins and figured he'd be great in the role (ie that's how I pictured the lead whilst reading).

Re: Magic, That Other Vent. Dummy Movie

Now that you mention it, Perkins would have been an interesting - and obvious - choice to play the ventriloquist. Wonder if he turned it down.

Re: Magic, That Other Vent. Dummy Movie

There is another called 'The Devil Doll' made in 1964. In it the dummy is also called Hugo. It is available on dvd.
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