Magic at the movies

During wartime, cinema remained an extremely popular pastime. In Britain alone, between 25 and 30 million cinema tickets were sold each week. Movies provided war-weary audiences an escape from the turbulence and sacrifice of war, while also providing an opportunity for nations to boost morale, through government-funded propaganda films. The epic American film Gone With The Wind (1940) was the smash hit of the war, but British films such as In Which We Serve (1942) and Millions Like Us (1943) were also highly successful.  

Magic-related plots, scenes, or magician characters were a steady feature in films released during World War Two. Here's a selection:

The Magician's Daughter (1938). Playing in British cinemas in the summer of 1939, as war was breaking out across Europe, The Magician's Daughter is a 'movie short' made by MGM Pictures.  Billed as a "miniature musical" the title character falls in love with a magazine reporter. When the magazine publishes a story that exposes her father's methods, she dumps the reporter. He now must convince her that he had nothing to do with the magazine's exposé.

The Magician's Daughter, an MGM-miniature musical (1938)

Dark Magic (1939). In another MGM 'movie short', Robert Benchley appears as Joseph A. Doakes. Doakes buys a box of magic tricks for his son. But, for some unknown reason, the tricks worked better in the store than they do at home. When performing the final trick, Doakes makes himself disappear. The magic demonstrator, 'Mr. Calypso', was played by real-life magician John Scarne. During World War Two, Scarne was employed by the U.S. Government to teach servicemen how not to fall foul of tricksters when playing cards and gambling.

Dark Magic, a comedy short (1939)

The Wizard of Oz (1939). Widely regarded as one of the greatest films of all time, The Wizard of Oz was a musical fantasy film. It is believed that author L. Frank Baum based the character of the Wizard on Harry Kellar, who was the America’s leading magician when Baum’s book was written. At the time, the film made a particular impact because it was shown in Technicolour, while black-and-white movies were the norm. The film premiered in August 1939, just three weeks before war broke out in Europe.

The Wizard of Oz movie poster (1939)

Shipyard Sally (1939). A British musical comedy, Shipyard Sally features Gracie Fields as a failed music hall performer who takes over a pub near a shipyard, then leads a campaign to save the shipyard after the government threatens to close it There are several card sharping scenes and a comic segment where Fields' character rents a magician's outfit (packed with tricks) from a theatrical tailor. Magician, author and magic dealer, Will Goldston, worked as magical consultant on the film and provided magic props for the production.

Shipyard Sally lobby card (1939)

A Window in London (1939). A man mistakes a magician rehearsing one of his tricks for murder, but further misunderstandings soon lead to the real thing. A British crime thriller, A Window in London stars Paul Lukas as Zoltini, the fictional magician. It was re-released in America as Lady in Distress in 1942. Famous British magician, Jasper Maskelyne, was technical adviser for the film's magic scenes.

Paul Lukas as The Great Zoltini in A Window in London (1939)

Eternally Yours (1939). An American comedy drama film, Eternally Yours stars David Niven and Lorette Young. Niven plays Tony, aka The Great Arturo. Two actual magicians also appeared in the movie, Paul LePaul as a butler and Fred Keating as a nightclub emcee. Will Goldston and Paul Le Paul both worked as magical consultants on the film. In Genii - The Conjuror's Magazine, editor Bill Larsen, although very much against exposure, sticks up for the movie as being a big boost for magic and magicians.

 

Eternally Yours movie poster (1939)

Miracles for Sale (1939). The film is based on Death from a Top Hat, a locked-room mystery novel by well-known mystery writer (and magician) Clayton Rawson. It was the first to feature his series detective The Great Merlini, although in this movie Michael Morgan (played by Robert Young), is known as The Amazing Morgan. The opening scene features a 'sawing a woman in half' trick, where a machine gun is used instead of a saw!

Miracles for Sale movie poster (1939)

Mandrake the Magician (1939). Based on the syndicated newspaper comic strip by Lee Falk, Mandrake the Magician was a 12-part serial. Warren Hull played the title role. Mandrake is regarded as one of the first, if not the first, comic book superhero. His magical powers enabled him to combat gangsters and villains.

Mandrake the Magician promotional poster (1939)

Fantasia (1940). A compilation film of seven Disney animated shorts, Fantasia includes The Sorcerer’s Apprentice featuring Mickey Mouse. It was the first commercial film shown in stereophonic sound. Production delays, cost overruns and distribution challenges due to the war, impacted on the film's success. But, when adjusted for inflation, Fantasia is the 24th highest grossing film of all time in the North American market.

Movie still of Mickey Mouse in The Sorcerer's Apprentice in Disney's Fantasia (1940)

Let George Do It (1940). A British black-and-white comedy musical war film, Let George Do It starred the hugely popular English actor, singer-songwriter and comedian, George Formby. The film gave a strong boost to early-war British morale, as it featured the hapless Ukulele player as an unwitting British intelligence agent, who foils a plot by German spies. There was even a scene where Formby punches Hitler. The film, "one of the best constructed and most consistently amusing of the George Formby comedies" (BFI). It was released in the U.S.A. as To Hell With Hitler. Like Shipyard Sally, Will Goldston provided magical advice and comedy props to the production, used in the customs shed scene.

Let George Do It movie poster (1940)

In the Nick of Time (1940). This was an Australian-made movie, starring George Wallace as Joe Blake. Blake was a stagehand in a vaudeville theatre headlined by Mysto the Magician (played by Alec Kellaway). Originally released as Let George Do It in Australia in 1938, it was retitled as In the Nick of Time for its UK release, to avoid confusion with George Formby's film.

Let George Do It (1938) movie poster. Later released as In the Nick of Time (1940)

Thief of Bagdad (1940). A remake of a 1924 movie, the Thief of Bagdad has an Alladin-esque plot, with an evil magician, a genii, three wishes and a magic carpet. A British fantasy film, its production was completed in the U.S.A. due to the outbreak of World War Two. The technicolour film won several Academy Awards and was praised as "on a level with The Wizard of Oz" by Roger Ebert.

The Thief of Bagdad (1940)

Hellzapoppin (1941). This musical romance comedy was loosely based on a stage musical of the same name. The stage show consisted of vaudeville acts and musical numbers, which the comedy pair Olsen and Johnson would improvise around and comment on. It ran on Broadway for three years (1938-1941) and was the longest running Broadway musical at the time. The original show featured Theo Hardeen (Houdini's brother) as one of the star acts. But, the film didn't follow the set-up of the musical and only Olsen and Johnson, with one other act, appeared in the movie. However, there was a stage magician in the film version, played by Hugh Herbert. He appears as a magician / nutty detective in a running gag throughout Hellzapoppin, with Universal's special effects team allowing him to make Olsen and Johnson disappear and appear 'by magic'.

Hellzapoppin film poster (1941)

(Source; Universal Pictures)

A Haunting We Will Go (1942). A feature film for comedy legends, Laurel and Hardy, A Haunting We Will Go also starred Dante the Magician. At the time Dante (Harry August Jansen) was the leading magician and illusionist of the day, known throughout the world. After a mix-up, Stan and Ollie end up as Dante's on-stage assistants. Chaos ensues. 

Movie still from A Haunting We Will Go (1942) starring Laurel and Hardy, with Dante

Case of the Missing Hare (1942). In a cartoon short made by Warner Bros, Bugs Bunny gets into a disagreement with magician Ala Bahma. This results in a series of escapades where Bugs Bunny exacts his revenge on Ala Bahma as the magician attempts to perform his show.

Still from the Warner Bros. cartoon short, Case of the Missing Hare (1942)

This Gun for Hire (1942). Based on the 1936 novel, A Gun for Sale by Graham Greene, This Gun for Hire is an American film noire crime film. The central character Ellen Graham, played by Veronica Lake, is a nightclub singer and stage magician. Set in wartime San Franciso, Ellen Graham is enlisted by her police detective boyfriend to spy on her employer. The film was well received at the time and subsequently adapted as a radio play and remade as a TV movie.

This Gun for Hire (1942) poster

This Is the Army (1943). An American musical comedy, This Is The Army, is an adaptation of Irving Berlin's wartime stage musical with the same name. The stage show and film were designed to boost morale in the U.S. Both included soldiers of the U.S. Army who were actors and performers in civilian life. These included Ronald Reagan (who became the 40th President of the United States). A magic skit in the film (and show) was performed by John 'Jack' Mendes (known as Prince Mendes). Magicians Howard Brooks and Larry Weeks also appeared, but in non-magic roles.

Movie still featuring magician Prince Mendes, befogging a junior officer in This Is the Army (1943)

Follow the Boys (1944). An American musical film designed as a morale booster to entertain U.S. troops overseas and civilians at home. The plot follows a vaudeville performer who tries to enlist in the U.S. military but fails the medical examination. Instead, he organises the Hollywood Victory Committee which coordinate the efforts of motion picture, theatrical and radio personalities to help the war effort. The all-star cast features Orson Welles performing a magic show, assisted by Marlene Dietrich. Also known as Three Cheers for the Boys. 

Promotional poster for Follow the Boys (1944)

An excerpt of Orson Welles performing magic in Follow the Boys (1944)

Black Magic (1944). A mystery thriller, Black Magic stars Sidney Toler in his third outing as Charlie Chan. The plot revolves around a murder, which happened during a mock seance. Chan is called in to investigate amidst numerous ghosts conjured up by a strange variety of spiritualists and occultists. It was retitled Meeting at Midnight for television.

Movie poster for Black Magic (1944)

Counter-Attack (1945). A psychological thriller, Counter-Attack is set in 1942, when both Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union are gathering forces and supplies in one sector of the Eastern Front for a major attack. Two Russian paratroopers are trapped in a collapsed building with seven enemy German prisoners-of-war. The plot revolves around these nine characters waiting for help to arrive, while the Russians interrogate the Germans for information on the attack plans. One of the prisoners (played by actor Philip Van Zandt) is a former magician. The film (released a fortnight before V.E. Day) is based on a 1943 play of the same name.

Counter-Attack film poster (1945)

The Strange Mr. Gregory (1945). A famous magician, Mr. Gregory, is visited back stage one night by an amateur magician and his wife. Immediately smitten with Ellen Randall, Gregory plots to win her over. His plot involves suspended animation, hypnotism, murder and false identity. After Ellen's husband is convicted of manslaughter, she falls under Gregory's spell; luckily one of Ellen's friends suspects what is happening and takes steps to thwart Gregory's plans.

The Strange Mr. Gregory film poster (1945)

Related article: "A magician is an actor playing the part of a magician", a blog about magicians-turned-actors who appeared in movies made during World War Two. Including James Stewart, Cary Grant and Orson Welles and Jack Gwynne. Blog link