Once upon a time, in a small village, there was a tradition of celebrating Christmas by decorating a magnificent tree in the center of the town square. The tree was carefully chosen by the villagers each year and brought to the square where everyone would gather and adorn it with twinkling lights and colorful ornaments. However, one particular year, something extraordinary happened. The villagers discovered a small magical seed hidden beneath the snow near the square. Intrigued by its shimmering glow, they decided to plant it and see what would happen. To their astonishment, the seed sprouted immediately, and within moments, a magnificent Christmas tree emerged from the ground.
Ben (the agent) tracks Corky down and arrives at the resort in his Rolls Royce car. He detects his client has lost control, hearing Corky’s voice and his dummy’s voices shout and argue with each other. Ben insists that Corky returns to Manhattan to get support for his poor mental health, which has deteriorated.
Uncanny from the very start, wherein the misdirection is that it never is not what it is and what it is doing all along even as it encourages us to forget a little here a little there, puts off our attention so that maybe we don t notice the lengthening shadows until night has really fallen and we can t find our way back to a place that never really was and we knew that all along but we forgot just a little here or there or forgot to pay attention but that isn t true because we wanted to even though we knew better and what does that always get us in the end. With Richard Attenborough on directorial duties, writer William Goldman adapting his own novel, and a cast as stacked as this boasting the enormous skills of Hopkins, Burgess Meredith and Ann Margret , this film holds all the cards.
To their astonishment, the seed sprouted immediately, and within moments, a magnificent Christmas tree emerged from the ground. It was like no tree they had ever seen before. Its branches were vibrant and filled with a magical aura that captivated all who saw it.
Magic (1978) - Anthony Hopkins shines in this ventriloquist dummy horror, directed by Richard Attenborough
It’s a kind of magic… the kind where Sir Anthony Hopkins and his ventriloquist dummy are embroiled in a tale of love and death. 1978’s Magic is a must-see member of the scary dummy subgenre, which is no surprise given the talent involved. With Richard Attenborough on directorial duties, writer William Goldman adapting his own novel, and a cast as stacked as this (boasting the enormous skills of Hopkins, Burgess Meredith and Ann Margret), this film holds all the cards.
A shy introverted magician named Corky (played by Hopkins) is struggling with his very low level act. Poor performances bruise an already fractured sense of self-confidence. However, when Corky decides to spice up his tricks with the added help of a squeaky-voiced, foul-mouthed dummy named Fats, the nervous man finds himself hurtling towards stardom at a rate he is not at all comfortable with. His agent (Burgess Meredith) brings him the promise of a pilot special, but with that comes the threat of a routine medical exam. Corky fundamentally refuses the medical checks, on the basis of a vague ‘principle’, the cracks in his fragile demeanour bursting through. He goes off the grid to his hometown and decides to check in on his old crush (Ann Margret). Wouldn’t you know it, a romantic connection hovers between them, but the dummy doesn’t take too kindly to Corky’s new favourite person.
Attenborough and Goldman are experts at their craft and know how to bring a story to life. An early scene sees Corky relaying the events of his first solo performance to his dying mentor. He happily tells the old man how well it went; every move and trick delivered as intended, every reaction from the audience genuine and engaged. Frequent cutaways reveal the hollow truth however. Corky’s act was a bigger bomb than Hiroshima. Starting the movie in this fashion establishes the themes of truths and lies, what is real and what is not. A running question throughout the film is whether Fats is alive, or if Corky has just taken a terrible dive off the deep end of mental health. Many find the concept of strange dummies naturally scary, but the filmmakers do a sublime job of making Fats both an amusing entertainer and an uncanny source of unease. The sex scene is a memorable example; What begins as your standard orchestra-accompanied Hollywood-style love scene, suddenly takes a dark turn, with cuts to Fats in the next room seemingly stewing in aggressive envy, as the sweeping score is tainted with discordant instrumentation.
On top of this, the cast is as phenomenal as expected. Ann Margret absolutely sells the notion of a trapped housewife whose giddy side has just been waiting and waiting to break free, with childhood friend Corky sparking the fuse. Burgess Meredith is a joy to watch as the smooth confident show business agent. But what could be a role that remains as parody or stereotype (and was indeed fashioned off of Golden Age talent agent Swifty Lazar), is given an emotional underside as the character realises the extent of Corky’s troubles. Meredith takes it slowly and softly, as you scream at Corky to accept his help. And of course, Hopkins is sensational; there is no doubt that the man could be very unhinged, one minute enjoying a very believable chemistry with the love interest, the next revealing a terrifying withheld rage, one minute delivering some humorous monologues, the next slipping into a sad portrait of a soul that is beyond redemption.
There were many options floated about to play the lead, from De Niro to Gene Wilder. Of all the choices, Jack Nicholson is the most intriguing to me. Certain scenes echo the domestic threat of Jack Torrance, and there’s no denying that a dummy inspired by Nicholson would be even more disturbing, with the most arched wooden eyebrows you’ve ever witnessed. Anyway, he turned it down because he didn’t want to wear a hairpiece. However, I think casting Hopkins was ultimately ideal. He can deliver the menace, yes, but here he manages some boyish qualities that greatly serve the nature of the character.
Magic inevitably makes me recall the famous dummy segment from Dead of Night and makes me wonder if it was an inspiration for Goldman and friends. The wheel of inspiration is ever turning, as Magic has been cited as key reference for R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps, specifically the evil dummy Slappy, which became perhaps the series’ most recognisable monster.
Check the film out, but if you have any dummies lying around your house, maybe a good idea to lock them away first.
There were many options floated about to play the lead, from De Niro to Gene Wilder. Of all the choices, Jack Nicholson is the most intriguing to me. Certain scenes echo the domestic threat of Jack Torrance, and there’s no denying that a dummy inspired by Nicholson would be even more disturbing, with the most arched wooden eyebrows you’ve ever witnessed. Anyway, he turned it down because he didn’t want to wear a hairpiece. However, I think casting Hopkins was ultimately ideal. He can deliver the menace, yes, but here he manages some boyish qualities that greatly serve the nature of the character.
The townspeople quickly realized that this was no ordinary tree – it had the power to grow and change shape according to the wishes of those around it. Each villager contributed their own idea of how they wanted the tree to look, and to their amazement, the tree transformed into a manifestation of their collective imagination. Children wished for candy canes and edible ornaments, and the tree obliged, producing branches filled with delectable treats. The elderly wished for memories and nostalgic decorations, and the tree began to display ornaments representative of their cherished times. The tree became a symbol of unity and joy, bringing the whole village together to celebrate the magic of Christmas. People from neighboring towns heard about the enchanted tree and came to see it for themselves, spreading tales of its magical abilities far and wide. As the years went by, the tree continued to grow and evolve, always adapting to the desires and dreams of those who looked upon it. It became a cherished tradition for the village and a source of wonder for visitors. No Christmas in the small town was complete without the magic growing Christmas tree at its center. Eventually, the magic growing Christmas tree became a legend that was passed down from generation to generation. Even when the original villagers were long gone, their descendants continued the tradition, planting the magical seed each year and witnessing the wondrous transformation of the tree. And so, the story of the magic growing Christmas tree lives on, reminding us all of the power of imagination, unity, and the enchantment that can be found during the holiday season..
Reviews for "The Magic of the Holiday Season: Start Anew with a Growing Xmas Tree"
1. Jane Doe - 1 star
The Magic Growing Xmas Tree was a huge disappointment. It claimed to be a magical and unique way to spruce up my holiday decorations, but it ended up being nothing more than a cheap, plastic tree that barely grew. The so-called "magic" was non-existent, and after following the instructions meticulously, the tree only grew a few centimeters. I was left with a sad, miniature tree that looked more like a decoration for a dollhouse than something suitable for my living room. Save your money and opt for a real, full-sized Christmas tree instead - you won't be disappointed like I was.
2. John Smith - 2 stars
I was excited to try out the Magic Growing Xmas Tree as the concept seemed fun and unique. However, the product fell short of my expectations. The tree did grow as promised, but the branches were flimsy and lacked the fullness that is characteristic of a Christmas tree. Additionally, the decorations that came with it were of poor quality and the adhesive used did not hold them in place. The overall effect was underwhelming, and I ended up investing in a traditional tree to salvage my holiday decorations. Don't waste your money on this gimmicky product.
3. Emily Johnson - 1 star
The Magic Growing Xmas Tree was a complete waste of money. I bought it thinking it would be a fun activity to do with my family during the holiday season, but it turned out to be a frustrating experience. The tree didn't grow evenly, and some branches remained stunted while others grew disproportionately. The plastic material used was also cheap and easily breakable. It was a disappointment for both adults and children alike, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for a festive and enjoyable Christmas tree experience.