The secret of magic is something that has fascinated humans for centuries. From ancient civilizations to modern times, magic has always held a special place in our collective imagination. But what is the secret behind the power and allure of magic? At its core, the secret of magic is the ability to create illusions and deceive the audience's senses. Magicians use various techniques such as misdirection, sleight of hand, and illusionary props to create the illusion of the impossible. They manipulate our perception and play with our expectations, making us believe that what we are witnessing is real, even though we know deep down that it cannot be. Another secret of magic lies in the element of surprise.
I came across this strange film when reading an André Bazin essay that attempts to explore "The Virtues and Limitations of Montage". Bazin uses this film as an example of montage in the children's film genre, noting it as a movie that, though it is impressively and meticulously designed, is faulted for its contrivance stemmed form the use of montage (editing). To understand what Bazin was talking about, I decided to watch this movie - the only version being in French. This is strangely amusing and a very surreal kind of fantasy through which Tourane creates the illusion of dogs, mice, birds and foxes living and interacting on a magical island. This is done through a very clear trick of…
Within the first three minutes of The Secret of Magic Island , a duck drives a truck, a dog pours a cocktail, and a family of bunnies wash up and make breakfast. The town after the wand has begun to work its dark magic is devastated, as if it had been hit by a tidal wave, and there s also a very well-done sequence where our heroes are escaping from the troll through a forest, as he casts fireballs at their vehicle.
Another secret of magic lies in the element of surprise. Magicians often rely on surprising their audience with unexpected and astonishing tricks. They use their skills and creativity to create moments of wonder and awe.
The Secret of Magic Island (1957)
There are some films for which any description is likely inadequate: “You have to see it,” is certainly a cheap cop-out for critical purposes, but I can’t think of many cases where it is more warranted than here. This is a short feature (clocking in a little under an hour), set in a small town populated entirely by animals. Not puppets. Not animation. Actual animals. If you can imagine a live-action version of Zootopia – fortunately, without the heavy-handed moralizing – you’d be in the right area. The animals here do everything from drive vehicles to playing billiards: I’ve no clue how much of this was accomplished, and the truth is, I probably don’t want to know. My guess is, glue appears likely to have been involved, and also that it couldn’t be made in a first-world country under modern standards for animal use in films.
The story concerns a magic wand belonging to a fairy (the original French title translates as “ A fairy… like no other “), which is being kept safe by the town’s feline music teacher, Maestro Ericson. But envious eyes are being cast at the wand and the power it contains by a black troll – actually a monkey. He disguises himself as a baker, and bribes one of Maestro Ericson’s pupils, a dog called Charlie, into giving up the tune which opens the wand’s case. Disaster befalls the town, and it’s up to Charlie, Maestro Ericson and a duckling called Per to make their way into the troll’s castle and recover the wand, before any more damage can occur [The version I saw was dubbed into Swedish, which should explain the thoroughly un-French names! I normally avoid dubbed films, but there’s no actual dialogue here – I probably don’t have to point that out! – and it’s all narrated, so the language doesn’t matter much]
There’s two sections to the film. The first half is mostly a “day in the life of” the town, depicting the various inhabitants as they go about their business, and succeeds in provoking the entire range of emotions from “Aw, isn’t that cute?” to “This is just wrong…” The former would be the kitten getting out of bed in the morning. The latter? Probably the fox giving a beauty treatment to a chicken, which mostly left me wondering how many chickens they went through over the course of production. Then the carnival comes to town, climaxing in a firework display – because we all know how much animals love fireworks! – and we move to the second phase, which depicts the troll’s theft of the wand, and the furry band of brothers’ efforts to get it back.
This probably more successful, because there’s an actual story there, and it also allows Tourane to showcase some genuinely impressive model work. The town after the wand has begun to work its dark magic is devastated, as if it had been hit by a tidal wave, and there’s also a very well-done sequence where our heroes are escaping from the troll through a forest, as he casts fireballs at their vehicle. It’s genuinely impressive, even close to 60 years later. The sets are great, and you may find yourself actually caring about the fate of Per, Charlie and Maestro Ericsson – even if the last-named is so laid-back as to be virtually horizontal, and when it comes to the final assault, “Ericsson decided to stay behind,” according to the narration. The ending makes more sense than some fantasy films I’ve seen, and the whole thing feels more than a little influenced by Jean Cocteau.
Yes, it’s clearly a complete gimmick of a movie, and in that way also reminded me of something like The Terror of Tiny Town, the 1938 Western performed entirely by little people, including not a few former Munchkins. This doesn’t necessarily make it a bad thing: some gimmicks stand the test of time better than others, and in a case like this, you’re dealing with something that is virtually unique, and is highly likely to remain that way. For, while there have been other films starring animals – Disney had a slew of them, such as The Incredible Journey – they’ve all been playing animals. You certainly can’t judge this by anything approaching normal critical standards: “I was unconvinced by the performance of the duckling, in the role of… a duckling.” You can only look at it as a technical accomplishment: does it create a universe allowing the viewer to suspend their disbelief and accept the batshit-crazy premise?
The answer there, is a qualified “Yes.” Some aspects don’t work, even outside some of the more… lethargic animals, shall we say. For instance, the sound effect for mailman’s Gustaf’s truck appears to consist of someone blowing a raspberry, which doesn’t do much to foster the illusion of magical realism. You can argue too, that the first half is little more than extended scene-setting; the black troll is mentioned in the opening voice-over, than barely shows up again for the next 30 minutes. However, there’s enough that does work, and the sheer originality of what you’re seeing kept me engrossed, simply to see what happens next. Plus, I should stress, this was watched on nothing more mind-altering than a glass (admittedly, a large) of Kona Longboard Lager. It may not be something Chris and I ever watch again, yet in an era of increasingly forgettable mainstream cinema, it’s also something we’re not likely to forget anytime soon.
So: you have to see it. And courtesy of the YouTubes, below you can do just that. Closed captions can be enabled, should you desire.
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The carnival is coming to town! Unfortunately, the Good Fairy's wand is stolen by the diabolical Black Troll. And he turns The Poet's girlfriend to stone! It's up to The Poet to brave the darkness at the edge of the forest and journey to the Troll's mountain lair to save the day! Also the Black Troll is a monkey and The Poet is a duck. FYI.
The element of surprise keeps the audience engaged and captivated, enchanting them with the mystery of the unknown. Furthermore, the secret of magic also lies in the power of the imagination. Magicians are masters of storytelling and showmanship. They create a narrative around their tricks, building suspense and anticipation. By tapping into our imagination, they transport us to a world of wonder and make us believe in the extraordinary. Lastly, the secret of magic is also found in the performer-audience connection. A skilled magician knows how to engage and connect with their audience on an emotional level. They create a sense of wonder, joy, and awe, leaving the audience with a lasting impression. This connection between the performer and the audience is what makes the magic experience truly special and memorable. In conclusion, the secret of magic lies in the ability to create illusions, surprise and astonish, harness the power of imagination, and establish a deep connection with the audience. It is this combination of skills, techniques, and showmanship that makes magic a timeless art form that continues to captivate and enchant audiences around the world..
Reviews for "The Magic of Connection: How Magicians Captivate Audiences"
1. Alison - 2/5 - I was really looking forward to reading "The Secret of Magic Island" based on the promising reviews, but I was ultimately disappointed. The plot felt convoluted and disjointed, making it hard for me to follow along. Additionally, I found the characters to be flat and lacking depth, which made it difficult for me to connect with them on any level. Overall, I found the book to be underwhelming and not worth the hype it received.
2. John - 1/5 - I couldn't even finish "The Secret of Magic Island" as it failed to capture my attention from the start. The writing felt forced and cliché, making it hard for me to engage with the story. Furthermore, the pacing was incredibly slow, and the lack of action made it tedious to read. I was extremely disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to others.
3. Jessica - 3/5 - While I didn't dislike "The Secret of Magic Island," I also didn't find it particularly memorable or captivating. The story had potential, but it wasn't executed in a way that kept me fully engaged. The characters lacked depth and felt predictable, and the plot twists were predictable and lacked any real impact. Overall, it was an average book that didn't leave a lasting impression on me.
4. David - 2/5 - "The Secret of Magic Island" had an interesting concept, but it failed to live up to its potential. The writing was mediocre, and the plot felt like it dragged on with unnecessary details that didn't contribute much to the overall story. Additionally, the characters were one-dimensional, and I struggled to connect with them or care about their outcomes. Overall, I found the book to be disappointing and not worth the time investment.
5. Emily - 2/5 - I was excited to read "The Secret of Magic Island," but unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations. The writing style was lackluster and lacked the descriptive language needed to fully immerse the reader in the story. The pacing was also off, with long stretches of boredom followed by hurried resolutions. I didn't find the characters compelling, and the ending felt rushed and unsatisfying. Overall, I found this book to be a letdown and wouldn't recommend it.