Let's talk about fictional magicians!

[Green Skittle]

The latest in the popular Metal Gear Solid video games, "Guns of the Patriots" has a character that might interest some of you.

Drebin, an "arms launderer" who helps the main character along with his quest, also has a few tricks up his sleeve. So far in playing the game I've seen him do a neat little routine where he produces a grenade from under a hanky, then changes it into an apple. Later on he can be seen doing some killer coin rolls. He also has a little pet monkey who hangs out with him.

Anyway, it got me thinking about fictional magicians in movies, TV and books. What are your favourites? Any disasterous characters that made us all look a little silly?

[Jonathan Townsend]

How fictional do you want to get?

Harry Potter's world?

Older mythology like Merlin and back to the Persian stuff with Genii and back further to the ancient Greeks and even more ancient Chinese and their tales of the supernatural?

Creation myths? The Earth Godess and The Corn God?

No matter - Chthulu will awaken in His own time and the Elder Gods have learned not to disturb their elders.

[AJM]

How about British TV show from the 70's - Tarot: Ace of Wands - the everday story of a magician who helps a team of kids solve a crime/mystery on a weekly basis.

Tarot himself was played by Scottish actor Michael McKenzie - who is occasionally still seen on shows like Taggart and Still Game.

I believe a DVD box set is available for those who might be interested although I can't imagine it will have aged particularly well.

Cheers

Andrew

[AJM]

You could also include 'Catweazel' - another British show from the 70's.
This time, the everyday story of a useless medieval wizard, who is transported to the 1970's as a result of a spell gone wrong.
Starred Geoffrey Bayldon if I'm not mistaken.

[AJM]

How about the guy from Arrested Development?

Or Jonathan Creek?

Or...(enough fictional magicians already - Ed)

[JustinRYoung]

GOB Bluth gets the nod for sure. "They're ILLUSIONS Michael. Tricks are what whores do for money."

[Brandon Hall]

"...yeah, but where did the lighter fluid come from???"

[Jonathan Townsend]

Guess we're being nice to Bill Bixby?

Or the guys from The Prestige?

Kudos to the guy from The Illusionist :)

[Green Skittle]

I don't know how I forgot about GOB when I made this topic. AD is amongst my favourite shows ever. Love all the magic references, especially the Alliance of Magicians and the The Gothic Castle.

Just remembered a movie about the Cottingley Faeries, which if I recall had Harvey Keitel as Houdini in it.

[Magic Newswire]

Guess we're being nice to Bill Bixby?

Why are we "being nice to Bill Bixby?" Didn't he really live in an apartment above the Magic Castle while he solved crimes and performed magic? ;-)

[Tom Stone]

Favorites :
Granny Weatherwax in Terry Pratchett's books
Magnus Eisengrim in Robertson Davies' Depthford trilogy.
Max Maven
John Constantine in Alan Moore's Swamp Thing.

[Henley]

The Amazing Mumford.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCQ8TEKprjg

[Magic Newswire]

How about Zartara? 1938? DC's Action Comics #1 which was also the first appearance of Superman?

We came across an interesting article today that we blogged for fans of the genre at MNW

[John Smetana]

Then there's Merlini( created by Clayton Rawson) and Norgil( created by Walter Gibson(

[mai-ling]

The Great Kadinsky

Hands down, my favorite.
Both the character and film.
Richard Harris at his best!

[Pepka]

A (probably) little known piece of triva regarding the photo of the Gothic Castle in A.D. In the first episodes, the photo of the Alliance of Magicians, if you look closely, there is a guy in the back row, wavy blonde hair, glasses. It's none other than Jon Armstrong! I picked it out a month ago and emailed him to ask, and he confirmed.

Since "The Magician" has already been named, does anyone remember a similar show from the 80's called Blacke's Magic? Hal Linden and Harry Morgan starred as a father son duo who solved crimes using magic and con games. It lasted about 5 minutes.

[Magic Newswire]

I found a new (and old) one!

The Wizard of Gore.. Montag the Magnificent

First a 1970's horror film and now a new remake with Crispen Glover in the title role of an illusionist who stages dismemberments only to have the volunteers show up dead later with the same wounds. We've located some images and a trailer from the film: HERE

[George Olson]

How about Dick VanDyke's character on that Doctor/Detective show (brain cramp). His office set had some great magic pictures and posters. He did a few tricks over the course of the show.

GO

[Jonathan Townsend]

How about Harry Dresden from The Dresden Files TV show and books?

Or the villian played by Jack Cassidy on an episode of Columbo?

[mai-ling]

How about Dick VanDyke's character on that Doctor/Detective show (brain cramp). His office set had some great magic pictures and posters. He did a few tricks over the course of the show.

GO

Diagnosis Murder

[mai-ling]

Dad requested "Nightmare Alley" (1947)
with Tyrone Powell thru the library.

It's in, and I'm curious about it.

[Jonathan Townsend]

Dad requested "Nightmare Alley" (1947)
with Tyrone Powell thru the library.

It's in, and I'm curious about it.

Check out the book - it's also interesting.

[AJM]

I recall a recent episode of 'House' where a fictional magician was that week's 'patient with a mysterious ailment' - the unfortunate magus having taken ill while suspended in the water torture cell.

Some of the patient/doctor banter involved a few 'pick a card' interludes and, if memory serves, a card thru window effect.

Didn't recognise the guy playing the part - anyone know if he's a real magician? I can't recall the name but I'm sure he got a 'special guest' credit.

Cheers

Andrew

p.s. How about Marvel Comics' Doctor Strange?

[Jim Maloney]

Steve Valentine was on House on Nov. 20th of last year.

-Jim

[BrendanK]

Steve Valentine as featured in Magic magazine Dec 2007
(unless there are two episodes with magicians with unusual symptoms...
missed opening of episode so don't know about water cell...)

[mai-ling]

Steve Valentine as featured in Magic magazine Dec 2007
(unless there are two episodes with magicians with unusual symptoms...
missed opening of episode so don't know about water cell...)

That episode of Crossing Jordan was actually amusing.
But I don't think Steve was doing any magic and he wasn't
he playing a magician.

[Frank Yuen]

Steve Valentine was a regular on Crossing Jordan but the post was referring to his guest role on House this past season.

[Green Skittle]

Steve Carell's character in the 40 Year Old Virgin does a few magic tricks. Fitting?

Incidentally Carell's character in The Office recalls spending $80 of company money at a magic store to help him sell his business: "I put a cigarette through a freaking quarter.....and almost closed the deal!"

[AJM]

Thanks folks - yes I now recall name Steve Valentine as being the 'special guest' for that episode of House.

Cheers

Andrew