The Magician
Release Date
1959
Film Synopsis
A traveling magician and his assistants are persecuted by authorities in Sweden of the 19th century. Their capture, however, didn't bring victory to those in power.
Dr. Vogler (Max von Sydow) is a hypnotist, a magician and the leader of "Vogler's Magnetic Health Theater," a traveling performance troupe known for their apparently supernatural abilities. When Vogler's show arrives in Stockholm, the skeptical townspeople form a committee determined to disprove the supposedly magical abilities of the troupe. The locals, headed by a cruel medical official (Gunnar Björnstrand), fail to rationally explain Vogler's feats -- and events take a disturbing turn.
Photo credit: Janus Films
Past Programs
2023
Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain—the mysteries of magic
Gene Siskel Film Center, Chicago, IL