Magic

The 1978 American psychological horror drama directed by Richard Attenborough, with a screenplay by William Goldman based on his novel of the same name, tells the story of Charles "Corky" Withers (Anthony Hopkins), a failed magician who finds success as a ventriloquist with a dummy named Fats. However, his growing dependence on Fats raises concerns among those around him, particularly his agent Ben Greene (Burgess Meredith). Corky flees to his hometown in the Catskills, where he reconnects with his high school crush Peggy Ann Snow (Ann-Margret), who is in an unhappy marriage with Duke (Ed Lauter). Their romantic involvement sparks jealousy in both Duke and Fats. When Greene locates Corky and insists on a medical examination, Fats convinces Corky to kill him, leading to a series of tragic events. The film explores themes of split personality, madness, and the destructive power of repressed emotions. The score was composed by Jerry Goldsmith, and the cinematography was by Victor Kemper. The film was acclaimed for its performances, particularly Hopkins', and received nominations for BAFTA and Golden Globe awards.