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Black Magic (1949 film)

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Black Magic
Theatrical release poster
Directed byGregory Ratoff
Orson Welles (uncredited)
Screenplay byCharles Bennett
Richard Schayer
Based onMémoires d'un médecin: Joseph Balsamo
1846-8 novel
by Alexandre Dumas
Produced byGregory Ratoff
Dario Sabatello
Edward Small
StarringOrson Welles
Nancy Guild
Akim Tamiroff
CinematographyUbaldo Arata
Anchise Brizzi
Edited byFred R. Feitshans Jr.
James C. McKay
Music byPaul Sawtell
Production
company
Edward Small Productions
Distributed byUnited Artists
Release date
  • August 17, 1949 (1949-08-17)
Running time
105 minutes
CountriesUnited States
Italy
LanguageEnglish
BudgetITL 250 million[1] ($1.5 million[2])

Black Magic is a 1949 Italian–American adventure drama film directed by Gregory Ratoff and starring Orson Welles, Nancy Guild and Akim Tamiroff. Set in the 18th century, it chronicles the life of Joseph Balsamo, an illusionist and charlatan who also went by the alias of Count Cagliostro. It is an adaptation of Alexandre Dumas' 1848 novel Joseph Balsamo.

Plot

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Alexandre Dumas, Sr. tells his son Alexandre Dumas, Jr. the story of Joseph Balsamo, also known as Cagliostro. Through flashbacks, we learn that Balsamo was a French gypsy boy who endured much hardship. He was tortured under the command of Viscount de Montaigne and his parents were ordered to hang. He was rescued by some gypsies led by Gitano and swears revenge on de Montaigne.

Some years later, he learns the secrets of hypnosis from Dr. Mesmer (Charles Goldner). Ignoring the doctor's advice that he use his powers for healing, he exploits his new talent to the full, gaining wealth and prestige. After changing his name to Count Cagliostro, he becomes famous throughout Europe. Things begin to go downhill when he enters a plot to substitute a young girl called Lorenza for Queen Marie Antoinette along with gypsies Gitano and Zoraida. The plot is organized by de Montaigne in association with Madame du Barry. They plan for Lorenza to impersonate the Queen and buy a frivolous necklace.

Zoraida becomes jealous of Lorenza, who has fallen under Cagliostro's power, forgetting her true love, Gilbert. Gilbert runs away with Lorenza. Cagliostro recaptures her and marries her, hypnotised. King Louis XV dies and Marie Antoinette becomes queen. She orders Cagliostro to leave the country. Cagliostro gets Lorenza to impersonate the Queen and pretend to be in love with de Montaigne. He buys the necklace and the Queen's reputation is damaged (echoing the real-life Affair of the Diamond Necklace).

Zoraida brings Lorenza to Marie Antoinette and reveals Cagliostro's plot. Lorenza agrees to testify against Cagliostro, but at the trial, Cagliostro hypnotizes her into stating that she knows nothing. Cagliostro hypnotizes Gilbert into testifying against the queen. However, Dr. Mesmer then uses the necklace to hypnotize Cagliostro into confessing. Cagliostro awakens from his trance and escapes with the hypnotized Lorenza. Gilbert pursues them and kills Cagliostro in a sword fight.

Cast

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Production

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Origins

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The movie was originally known as Cagliostro. Producer Edward Small went through a number of directors and stars in trying to get this film off the ground, starting in 1943.[3] Charles Boyer was to star with Akim Tamiroff, and Irving Pichel directing, then in early 1944 J. Carrol Naish was reported to play Alexandre Dumas, Sr. Later that year, George Sanders was announced as the star with Douglas Sirk directing.[4] Louis Hayward was also at one stage announced to star.[5] In 1943, Hedda Hopper suggested Orson Welles should play the lead role.[6] Writer Charles Bennett mentioned that José Ferrer was also approached play the lead, but he demanded a three-picture contract from Small who refused.[citation needed]

European project and merger

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Shortly after World War II, another Cagliostro surfaced in Europe. French producer Henry de Saint-Girons announced his version in April 1946, to be directed in color by Robert Péguy from a script by Pierre Maury. But the modest production, to be filmed at the small Château de Vieux Moulin in Nièvre, was quickly abandoned due to logistical problems (see The Marriage of Ramuntcho).[7] André Paulvé of the better-heeled DisCina relaunched the idea a few months later, based on a new script by André-Paul Antoine.[8][9] Mid-April 1947, he announced from New York that he had secured an agreement to proceed with the film, to be directed by Francesco De Robertis in partnership with his usual Italian partners Scalera.[10][11] Filming was due to start in the summer of that year, and a French lead was deemed a possibility but not a sure bet.[12]

In the same month, Greg Ratoff revealed that he had signed on to helm Small's version, also slated to film in the summer. At the time, some location work in Balsamo's former French dwellings was considered. Ratoff also said that he hoped to hire Paul Henreid or James Mason, although Mason apparently did not wish to return to Europe at that time.[13] By June, Small had set his sights on filming in Mexico, however the country proved more expensive than expected.[14][15] The American producer thus announced the relocation of his production to Scalera Studios, effectively taking over the concurrent project planned there.[16]

Ratoff flew straight from Mexico to Rome mid-July to oversee the relocation.[17] Small estimated he could save as much as 40 percent on the $3 million the film would have cost in Hollywood.[18] While he could use American assets that had been frozen by the Italians during World War II, the bulk of his savings came from the cheaper workforce. Each of the thousand wigs ordered by production cost 20 percent of their American equivalent, while dresses that would run between $3000 and $5000 there were procured for $700 each. Local extras received $3 to $4 per day, whereas their Los Angeles counterparts would command $11 to $16.[15][18]

Final casting and filming

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Orson Welles only signed on in September 1947.[19] The star said that Small approached him "very cleverly with the role of Cagliostro. He waited 'til I had reread the Dumas novels and become so 'hypnotized' by the scoundrel that I felt I had to play him. Then Small announced casually, 'Gregory Ratoff is going to direct'. That cinched it. Gregory is a great friend, and more fun to work with than anybody I know."[20] Like director Ratoff, supporting actors Frank Latimore and Nancy Guild were on loan from Twentieth Century-Fox.[21][22]

Principal photography mainly took place at Scalera's Rome studios from early October 1947 to late January 1948.[21] Another perk offered by Italy was the authentic locations that could be woven into the film, such as the Royal Palace of Caserta, the Villa d'Este gardens and the Santi Nereo e Achilleo church.[18][22] However, Small was afraid to fly over the Atlantic ocean and did not personally oversee the shoot.[23] According to Bennett, Ratoff and Welles took advantage of this to alter his script.[23] Welles allegedly also directed several scenes in the film.[14] When the footage came back from Italy, it was deemed unreleasable and Bennett was summoned to write new scenes, which he directed himself at United Artists over four nights. When he approached Welles for the reshoots, the latter proved surprisingly cooperative, promising: "Charles, I'm a very good soldier. I will do what I'm told!".[23]

Release

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United Artists were so enthusiastic about the film they agreed to distribute the film for 25 percent of the profits as opposed to their usual fee of 27.5 percent.[24] The studio commissioned a $250,000 advertising campaign from agency Monroe, Greenthal and Company.[25] As part of the campaign, they sent four hynotists on tour to promote the film and hypnotize journalists as well as hosting stunts featuring someone being buried alive as featured in the film.[26] Black Magic opened in the U.S. on August 17, 1949, in a large release covering 400 key cities.[14][25][26]

Reception

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The film received mixed reviews.[27][28] With its wide release, the film opened at number one at the U.S. box office.[29]

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The 1995 novel Dissolvenza al nero (lit. 'Fade to Black') by Italian writer Davide Ferrario has Welles involved in a murder mystery while in Rome for the production of Black Magic. It was adapted into the 2006 film Fade to Black, with Danny Huston playing Welles.

In issue 62 of Superman from January–February 1950, Welles discovers a Martian invasion (reminiscent of his famous War of the Worlds broadcast) during the filming of Black Magic, and teams with the titular superhero to thwart it.[30]

References

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  1. ^ "Variety (December 1947)". Variety. New York: Variety Publishing Company. December 1947 – via Internet Archive.
  2. ^ "Variety (November 1947)". Variety. New York: Variety Publishing Company. November 1947 – via Internet Archive.
  3. ^ Schallert, Edwin (June 14, 1943). "Drama and Film: Ann Blyth Adolescent Song Joust Contender College Professor Battling Illiterates; 'Cagliostro' Once Again Coming to Life". Los Angeles Times. p. 14.
  4. ^ Schallert, Edwin (Sep 1, 1944). "Andy Russell Touted as Mexico's Sinatra: Bing Crosby Will Fill Guest-Star Spot in Filmization of 'Duffy's Tavern'". Los Angeles Times. p. 10.
  5. ^ Fred Stanley (Feb 11, 1945). "Hollywood Hits Japs: East and West Old Londontown Varied Hollywood Activities One Down, More to Go Title Problem". New York Times. p. X1.
  6. ^ Hopper, Hedda (July 2, 1943). "Looking at Hollywood...". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 17.
  7. ^ L.O. (13 April 1946). "'Les Films de France' vont produire en couleurs 'Ramuntcho' et 'Cagliostro'". La Cinématographie française. No. 1152. Paris. p. 13.
  8. ^ "La Scène et l'écran". Populaire de Paris. January 4, 1937. p. 2.
  9. ^ "De la scène à l'écran". L'Aurore (in French). Paris. April 6, 1947. p. 2.
  10. ^ "On tourne". Presse française associée (supplément cinématographique) (in French). Paris. 21 April 1947. p. 2.
  11. ^ "Les Spectacles". Combat (in French). Paris. 17 April 1947. p. 2.
  12. ^ Leprohon, Pierre (20 May 1947). "Un Orson Welles italien : Francesco de Robertis". Cinémonde (in French). No. 668. Paris. p. 13.
  13. ^ Parsons, Louella O. (April 3, 1947) [April 2, 1947]. "Maria Montez requests brief part in the 'Exile'". San Francisco Examiner. International News Services. p. 17  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  14. ^ a b c "Black Magic (1949): History". AFI Catalogue of Feature Films. American Film Institute. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  15. ^ a b Brady, Thomas F. (September 6, 1947). "Burlesque Again to Be Made a Film; Fox Purchases Screen Rights to 1928 Play — Jessel Named to Produce New Version". New York Times. p. 11  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  16. ^ Dumont, Hervé (2009). "I.6.4. Giuseppe Balsamo alias le comte de Cagliostro". Encyclopédie du film d'Histoire (in French). Vol. 3 – L'Absolutisme. Lausanne: Dumont, Hervé.
  17. ^ "Gregory Ratoff to Rome". New York Herald Tribune (European Edition). Paris. July 18, 1947. p. 3.
  18. ^ a b c McGurn, Barrett (17 October 1947). "Hollywood Invades Italy". New York Herald Tribune (European Edition). Paris. p. 4.
  19. ^ Brady, Thomas F. (Sep 22, 1947). "Cagliostro's Lead to Orson Welles: Small Signs Actor for Film to Be Made in Italy With an American Cast". New York Times. p. 28.
  20. ^ Welles, Orson (Apr 17, 1949). "Out of a Trance". New York Times. p. X4.
  21. ^ a b Schallert, Edwin (Feb 8, 1948). "Europe Becomes Merely 'Location' to Hollywood". Los Angeles Times. p. D1.
  22. ^ a b "Historic 'Set': Poor Benefit by Use of Roman Church in Film" Rome. New York Times 16 Jan 1949: X4
  23. ^ a b c Birnbaum, Stuart (host) (2 March 1992). Charles Bennett (audio interview). ACTT History Project.
  24. ^ "Variety (March 1949)". Variety. New York, NY: Variety Publishing Company. March 1949 – via Internet Archive.
  25. ^ a b "UA will spend $250,000 advertising 'Magic'". Boxoffice. Vol. 55, no. 7. New York: Association Publications. 18 June 1949. p. 42. ISSN 0006-8527.
  26. ^ a b "Small Pulling Out All the Stops On 'Black Magic'; Real Test of Ballyhoo". Variety. New York, NY: Variety Publishing Company. August 17, 1949. p. 9 – via Internet Archive.
  27. ^ Pryor, Thomas M. (9 Nov 1949). "All Over Town". The New York Times. p. 37.
  28. ^ Scheuer, Philip K. (Aug 19, 1949). "Orson Welles Pulls Mass Hypnosis Act on Us All". Los Angeles Times. p. B5.
  29. ^ "National Boxoffice Survey". Variety. August 24, 1949. p. 3. Retrieved February 28, 2023 – via Internet Archive.
  30. ^ "'Superman' gave Orson Welles a shout out in 1942". wellesnet.com. 6 December 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
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