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Black Magic

Play trailer Poster for Black Magic Released Nov 8, 1949 1h 45m History Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 2 Reviews 67% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Joseph Balsamo (Orson Welles), a poor French gypsy with a tragic past, is taken under the wing of Dr. Mesmer (Charles Goldner), who teaches him the secrets of hypnosis. While Balsamo promises the doctor that he will use the power only to help others, he instead abuses his gift in order to steal money and forge himself a powerful reputation. Using his newfound wealth and power, he hatches a devious plan to replace French queen Marie Antoinette (Nancy Guild) with a young woman, Lorenza.

Critics Reviews

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Roger Moore Movie Nation There are many times we get the sense that a quote famously attributed to Welles is true, that he had more “fun” making this movie than any other he filmed. Rated: 2.5/4 Dec 6, 2023 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews It's hard to believe an Orson Welles movie could be so crass. Rated: C Jul 31, 2018 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Ted N Gripping, sprawling, intricate, preposterous. (Orson, of course, swaggers through it all with a strange accent unlike anybody else's.) Center plot: An innocent girl is hypnotized to to pose as Marie Antoinette and trigger the French revolution. The wild courtroom trial scene somehow gets to a sword fight on the roof. -- Theodor Holm Nelson Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/27/24 Full Review Audience Member Something is wrong here this title with this Director and Orson Wells was made in 1949 black and white not 2003 Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/03/23 Full Review Audience Member Piercing gypsy black magic in the vein of Orson Welles. Charismatic movie, which must have been a influence for Bergmans "The Magician". Starts off pretty intense, though some air lost during the deadly dance. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review s r I enjoyed this story about caliostro, the gypsy hypnotist who held the French monarchy in his hands. Welles was perfect for this one with his melodrama. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member based on alexander dumas classic year s/b 1949 not 2003! Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Black Magic

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Black Magic

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Movie Info

Synopsis Joseph Balsamo (Orson Welles), a poor French gypsy with a tragic past, is taken under the wing of Dr. Mesmer (Charles Goldner), who teaches him the secrets of hypnosis. While Balsamo promises the doctor that he will use the power only to help others, he instead abuses his gift in order to steal money and forge himself a powerful reputation. Using his newfound wealth and power, he hatches a devious plan to replace French queen Marie Antoinette (Nancy Guild) with a young woman, Lorenza.
Director
Gregory Ratoff, Orson Welles
Producer
Gregory Ratoff
Distributor
United Artists
Production Co
Edward Small Productions
Genre
History, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 8, 1949, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
May 22, 2017
Runtime
1h 45m
Sound Mix
Mono