BLACK MAGIC
US, 1949, 105 minutes, Black and white.
Orson Welles, Nancy Guild, Akim Tamiroff, Valentina Cortese, Margot Grahame, Charles Coldner, Frank Latimore.
Directed by Gregory Ratoff.
Black Magic is one of several productions of several productions of Alexander Dumas stories by producer Edward Small. He had made, successfully, The Man in the Iron Mask in 1939 and The Corsican Brothers in 1941. His post-war film were not of the calibre of the earlier films.
This is an Orson Welles vehicle. Welles (at this time making such films as The Lady From Shanghai and The Black Rose and The Prince of Foxes) is said also to have assisted Gregory Ratoff in the direction. There are echoes of the use of black and white photography, light and darkness and shadows as well as close-ups and poses of Welles reminiscent of his work in Citizen Kane and his other films. However, the film is an Americanised Dumas adventure - even introducing Dumas father and son at the opening with consequent voice-over. (Raymond Burr unbelievable as the Dumas son.) Welles enjoys himself as the famous charlatan - hypnotist Cagliostro.
The plot involved him in a plan to substitute a girl for Marie Antoinette for Madame Du Barry. There is an atmosphere of 18th century France (even though locations were filmed in Italy). There is a good cast but the momentum of the film comes from its high-flown story and from Welles' performance.
1. An enjoyable period story? melodramatic and flamboyant history? A version of Alexander Dumas' story?
2. Production qualities: Italian location photography for France? Black and white photography? The Orson Welles touches with the emphasis on light and darkness, brightness and shadow? The portrayal of Cagliostro and the way he was filmed? The romantic musical score? Pageantry and spectacle? Action adventure - '40s style?
3. The introduction to the Dumas - father and son and their discussion about their novels? Telling the story to one another? The voice-over and the commentary on the action and motivation?
4. The focus on Josef and his parents and their trial, execution? The focus on his eyes? His effect on people - healing? The hostility towards the Duke of Montaigne?
5. Josef's subsequent career? His belonging to the troupe and their moving around the carnivals? His hypnotic power and the focus on his eyes? His relationship with the group? His future with them?
6. The encounter with Mesmer and the discussion about healing and hypnosis? Mesmer helping him? The healing power and the cure of the wealthy man? Josef taking the money and going on his career? His success and wealth? His assistants going with him? The devotion of the girl and her love for him?
7. The encounter with Lorenza? Under the power of the Duke of Montaigne? His hypnotising her and discovering the plot about Marie Antoinette? His controlling of her, jealousy, stopping Gilbert from marrying her? His becoming a celebrity? His involvement in the plot and Madame Dubarry? The expose? The court case and his madness? Mesmer hypnotising him and the truth being revealed? Gilbert fighting him on the rooftops? A flamboyant career and a flamboyant end - with the Orson Welles style?
8. The character of Lorenza? The initial encounter and her charm, Gilbert and his attachment? Her being mesmerised? The plot? Her moving in and out of trance? The response to Gilbert? The response to Cagliostro? The marriage? The trial? His death and her freedom? Nancy Guild's skill as Lorenza and as Marie Antoinette?
9. The hostility towards Marie Antoinette? Her place in the court? Her husband? Louis XV and the influence of Madame Du Barry? Court intrigues and exposes? The death of Louis XV and the crisis? Audience enjoyment of this kind of historical romance?
10. The court sequence and Cagliostro’s self defence? Mesmer defeating him - his skill in hypnotising him by avoiding his eyes and using the jewels? Cagliostro and the truth? His downfall?
11. The perennial popularity of this kind of historical adventure?
