Struggling magician Corky Withers (Anthony Hopkins) develops a ventriloquist act involving a foulmouthed dummy called Fats (who looks like an even creepier version of Hopkins), after which his career finally starts to takes off. Unfortunately, Corky's fragile mind cannot handle the strain of two personalities, and begins to crack, turning him into a dangerous psychopath who believes that his dummy is alive.Scary dolls are a staple of the horror genre, but are rarely enough to carry a whole film. It's a good job, then, that Magic has plenty else going for it, not least a smart screenplay by best-selling writer William Goldman (adapted from his 1976 novel), excellent direction from future Oscar winner Richard Attenborough, and a great cast. Anthony Hopkins (another future Academy Award winner) is thoroughly convincing the mentally unstable conjurer Corky, the star mastering the art of throwing his voice and card tricks for the part, and he is given able support by the brilliant Burgess Meredith as concerned agent Ben, and from the beautiful Ann Margaret as love interest Peg.The film isn't so much scary as it is unsettling, and might disappoint some horror fans looking for jump scares or gory spectacle, but as a study in madness, it does very well indeed. 7.5 out of 10, rounded up to 8 for IMDb.

I remember many years ago seeing bits and parts of this old horror film from the late 1970's on TV and being young I just remember finding the dummy creepy as a kid. Finally after many years watched "Magic" and I must say it's a different type of horror film still the plot entertains and for it's time when made provided a good fright. Starring an all star cast Anthony Hopkins is Corky a dried up weathered past his prime magician who's shy and in need of a comeback. All of a sudden hope is found when veteran agent Ben Greene(the top notch Burgess Meredith)offers him a contract to perform on TV. However Corky fears a physical and pulls from the offer instead success is found in an uncommon way he finds luck as a ventriloquist in the form of "Fats" a dummy who's outspoken and foul mouthed. Then it's on a getaway to a resort in upstate New York and it's here Corky's past meets up with him as an old flame now married lady named Peg Ann Snow(the still hot Ann Margret)runs the run down resort.After love making between Corky and Peg enter Fats it's like a love triangle as this has the business in danger. The film then takes a violent spin of blood and drama it kind drags you with suspense as the madness just drives Corky crazy. Overall dark little film that's enjoyable with an all star cast making it watchable.

Magic is directed by Richard Attenborough, has a screenplay by William Goldman based on his novel and stars Anthony Hopkins, Burgess Meredith and Ann-Margaret.Anthony Hopkins gives one of the greatest performances of his career as the troubled ventriloquist who descends deeper and deeper into madness. Hopkins actually learnt ventriloquism for this role and is very good at it.Corky(Anthony Hopkins)is a struggling magician who hits the big time when he creates an act with a dummy called Fats. The act makes Corky a star but soon Fats is taking over Corky's life and he loses his grip on reality. It's a chilling film and that dummy sure is freaky.Burgess Meredith is superb as Corky's agent Ben Greene. Meredith is especially brilliant in a scene where he walks in on Corky having an argument with Fats as if he were real. He asks Corky to go five minutes without speaking as Fats, it's a tense and painful scene to watch. You can see how concerned Greene is for Corky's mental health and also how freaked out he is by the things Fats says. Hopkins excels in that scene as it becomes more and more obvious that he most likely will not be able to last the five minutes.Ann- Margaret is very good as Peggy the love of Corky's life. Fans of the TV series MASH will be delighted to see David Ogden Stiers appear as a man from a TV network who Greene asks to watch Corky's act.Magic is a great horror film from Richard Attenborough. Hopkins makes Corky a very pitiable character who becomes trapped in the nightmare that is his own mind.

A successful ventriloquist - dependent upon his dummy's advice and whims - can't go to the next level of fame - TV - until he's checked out by a doctor. Instead of following his agent's advice to see a doctor, the ventriloquist heads for a remote Catskills lodge in hopes that the girl he held a torch for in high school is still available. When the agent comes a calling at the lodge, he tells the ventriloquist he can forgo seeing a doctor only if he can sit for 5 minutes without making his dummy talk. Anthony Hopkins is brilliant as Corky, the insecure, vulnerable ventriloquist who suffers from excruciating headaches and uncontrollable bouts of transferring his thoughts and feelings into his dummy's mouth. Because of Hopkins' emotional performance, we actually believe Fats (the wooden imp with the big head) is controlling Corky's every move - good and bad.Ann-Margret is warm, tender, and touching as Corky's high school sweetheart Peggy Ann Snow. Her belief in Corky - and her love for the adorable Fats - is poignant. At the same time you want to shout at the screen and say, "What the hell are you doing? The guy is nuts!!!"Burgess Meredith is Ben Greene, Corky's cigar-smoking agent who hounds Corky about seeing a doctor. And Ed Lauter plays Duke, Peggy Ann's jealous husband who gets caught between Corky's and Peggy Ann's rekindled love for one another.Corky and Fats have many heavy conversations with one another. The best being one of the last:"It was never me. Always us." - Corky "Schmuck. Us was you." - Fats"What?" - Corky "It was you all the time." - FatsI saw Magic in NYC when it first came out in 1978. That being said, the movie is better viewed on the big screen for a number of reasons. The most important- so you can better notice and experience the dummy's different faces/expressions during certain crucial scenes and because psychological thrillers are just more affective on large screens. However, don't pass this film over just because you can't sit in a Ziegfeld-sized theatre.