talkmagic.co.uk

The Effect

Come with a shiny disk called a DVD which when inserted into a DVD machine can give several hours plus of entertainment.

Cost

Approximately £22 from various sources

Difficulty
(1=easy to do, 2=No sleights, but not so easy, 3=Some sleights used,
4=Advanced sleights used, 5=Suitable for experienced magicians only)

1 = So easy that most children could use the DVD.

Review

I've never really seen that much of Copperfield to be honest but the clips that I have seen have all impressed me so much that I just knew that this title would be good.

The main body of the DVD is a print of his TV special, 15 years of Magic that has been shown on American TV and you'll pick this up at the end of the DVD when you watch the series of TV adverts that have been included to pad things out to the 120 minutes that runs up to the special features section.

I thought that the production of the DVD was very well done (produced by Copperfield himself) and it shows his eye for detail. It runs along with him being interviewed by ex-fiance Claudia Schiffer (who looks her usual stunning self) who asks about specific illusions then David adds comment before the illusion is shown. The illusions shown are:

The mystery of the Orient Express - a covered train carriage vanishes whilst surrounded by specs.

Fire of Passion - Escapology at it's best. Elevated upside down on a burning rope some ten stories high with a bed of spears below.

Graffiti Wall - A witty and amusing stage based prediction.

The Statue of Liberty disappears - as it says, has been shown over and over on TV.

Imploding building - Locked in a safe in a building that's about to be demolished. The re-appearance just looks so impossible.

Cocoon -

Airplane Vanish - Copperfield's first major vanish, how fashion has changed

Grandpa's Aces - Most people probably forget that Copperfield can do close up and this ace presentation is stunning. The colour changes are just perfection. Looks like some of the moves have been borrowed from Rune

Death Saw - a classic.

Barclay House - filmed from the stage of his Broadway show it's a very cleverly choreographed and entertaining set based around a classic séance..

Brazilian Water Levitation - a very clever levitation across a number of water jets.

Flying - simply stunning. I bought the DVD knowing this piece was included. It's a joy watching this over and over and you'll see how Copperfield has perfected the presentation down to the smallest detail to create this effect and you'll find no finer example of it being implemented.

Snow - some may have seen a variation of this presented by a number of B list celebs recently but Copperfield's presentation is far superior and a fitting end to the illusions

There are a couple of sections interwoven with the illusions where you can see snippets of Copperfield other illusions (see here http://www.talkmagic.co.uk/sutra62777.php#62777)and a section of close up magic. His IT work is simply stunning as are the vanishes and productions. Crazy Man's Handcuff's is included in the bit.

I haven't yet watched the special features but they include:

The making of Illusion
Theatrical trailer
15 interactive games and activities
Photo's
Storyboard
Film maker commentary
Deleted scenes

Overall

10/10 from me. Pure magical entertainment at it's very very best and just where the two hours went I don't know. Highly recommended and I haven't even watched ANY part of my other magic DVD presents yet.

I just can't fathem out how these major illusions are done and to be honest I don't want to know. It would just spoil things. I do have some suspicions though. I've watched the DVD three times already and have noticed that he always picks the same members of the audience to help. Maybe that's a clue?

I was going to ignore this completely but then I saw this line...

Grandpa's Aces - Most people probably forget that Copperfield can do close up and this ace presentation is stunning. The colour changes are just perfection. Looks like some of the moves have been borrowed from Rune

For starters, David does exceptionally little close-up in that he's not "that kind of magician"... he's an illusionist and because of that, actually avoids most situations in which he may have to do some hand magic in front of his peers.

The routine you are speaking of was taught to him by Paul Gertner...I was at Ceasar's Palace the first time he performed it live, sitting with Paul

You listed Cocoon but gave no description... memory serving me correctly, this is Davids vertical version of the Asrah... I may have that confused with a suspended vanish & transposition bit he did, however. I believe both came via John Pendragon into David's collection.

The Water Suspension was ORIGINALLY Doug Hennings'... David purchased performance rights from Kirby Vanbirch to do this bit.

I love your line on The Snow and "B-Rated Celebrities"... the ORIGINATOR to the Blizzard Effect as David presented it was Kevin James, who was the first to tie the method in with the classic Chinese Snow Storm effect, which Kevin likewise improved upon and was the first to present in barehanded faishon. The units used by David for this routine, came from the Vanbirch show, who used them for years at the Aladdin in Las Vegas as part of their "confettii" fall finale'.

One Last Point of Trivia... Do you know when & where David made his famous 747 Vanish?






ANSWER: For starters, Urban lore has imposed this bit onto the televised vanish of a private lear jet (much, much smaller). Secondly, the original stunt was done for live Radio on a show aired out of Burbank, California hosted by Mentalist Glenn Falkenstein. It was pure radio theater; no plane was ever involved, just a group of actors following a script.

BTW... the plane vanish was based on Harary's PERSPECTIVE (one of the first televised applications of said bit) and it was the second "major" vanish of David's... the first was his Farrari Asrah.

Not wishing to cast any aspersions on either the DVD or David himself I have to say that David Copperfield always seemed to be the greatest magician alive when I was young. Making lots of cool stuff disappear and doing crazy stunts like levitating over the Grand Canyon or being blown up in a derelict building, so I was quite excited to find this DVD and was somewhat giddy at the prospect of reliving some of my childhood memories of magic and being just as amazed now as I was then. Unfortunately this was not the case.

Somehow, somewhere between being inspired and awe struck by the sight of the Statue of Liberty disappearing and getting a bit older it had lost all of its "magic". What once had seemed impossible now seemed obvious and at times poorly produced dispersed with the use of what I can only describe as the most obvious stooge(s) in magical history. Also the slow realization that most, if not all of these effects were not created or even conceived by DC, that he was, in fact just a front man for the talents of many a magical thinker and builder.

But that is just my opinion of how I now view Copperfield, that is not to say that I still am in awe of him and what he has achieved over the last 25 years or so, and if I were in Las Vegas and could get tickets for his seemingly endlessly sold out show I would jump at the chance with both hands grasping like a wild man. It’s just that he is now just another magician; he is no longer something special or unique.

I still liked the DVD and it was quite interesting to see some of his “Unseen Forces” stage show, including a very short snippet of the classic Berglas table levitation. He is still a great entertainer and knows how to wow a crowd. Im not sure the DVD was worth £20, im pretty sure you could get it cheaper if you shopped around. All in all it’s well worth it if you are a fan of DC but not if you are just curious.

3/5

Wardy 2001. You sound so sad in parts of your posting and this produces the attitude of many amateur/semi pro magicians. Of course David Copperfield would have input and creative thought into what he performs. His reputation with the Public would see to that.How many of the Great Masters of Illusion do you know who actually conceive and build all their illusions? I can only think of Dante who actually built or repaired SOME of his own apparatus in his early years; as did my friend, Fred Van Buren who built EVERYTHING he used and now does the same for his son, Andrew Van Burten.Luckily, Fred was a Cabinet Maker by trade before he turned pro. You should see his Disembodied Princess built as a golden Mummy Case and it CAN BE performed surrounded, unlike any other model! How many of your apparatus effects have you built personally? In my case, over many years, very, very few.
You pick out just the Statue of Liberty Vanish as the reason for you losing your wondrous admiration. One of what we term 'Impossible Illusions' that TV Directors and producers seem to (wrongly) love.Of course, TO MAGICIANS, it's 'simple' but have you thought how many people were involved in the details the construction and technology needed? How many were involved in actually setting the feat up with the State authorities? How many involved in setting up the apparatus? How many were rehearsed and needed to carry out the performance?You have nearly lost your way; your ability to SIMPLY enjoy masterful magic.( I hope temporarily) The TV powers that be wanted spectacular effects. The General Public loved them.Remember Magicians applaud methods..The Lay Audience applaud presentations. We are not in this business or this Great Art for technology but as sheer magical Entertainers bringing mystery, imagination, wonder and sheer delight to other peoples' lives.
So you choose only one large item which has dispersed your Sense of Wonder nearly to the 4 Winds. What about the thrilling , sweat making emotion of Fires of Passion. When that one rope breaks and he is dangling by one other over those flames and spears must be one of the greatest pieces of theatical emotionlism ever. Do your or other magicians you know with double lifts, C & R rope, 6 card repeats and Square Circles produce the same effect on your audiences? Possibly the spoon bending you seem to like as does Banachek's Psych. Touches with mine!
Finally there is Flying which is, in my and others far more qualified, opinions, THE greatest piece of pure stage illusion EVER.It's uncluttered and truthful like a Great Actor's performance in a classical play.
Please regain your Sense of Wonder and start to just enjoy magic again. It takes quite a magican, almost a superman to present illusions properly and is not as easy as it sometimes looks. DC has what is lacked by the bulk of magicians....CHARISMA. & Personality. He has truly brought us all & The Magic Art into the 21st century and with Doug Henning paved the Way for those who followed.
Sometime I will print out Chung Ling Soo's advice to all magicans when discussing other magicians.
In the meantime please work out how you would vanish Buckingham Palace, the Dome or the Wheel. We might see you on the telly yet.
Best wishes,
Allen Tipton.

i sort of want to know how he made the statue of liberty of whatever disappear... and the airplane.

Don't we all?

The airplane clip looks dated now as I suppose some others do. I much preferred the railway carriage vanish.

If anyone can lend me an Intercity 125 carriage then I'll work on figuring it out

Well I am experiencing something all magicians are familiar with but i never thought it would come to this..being less impressed by a trick when you know how its done....copperfields flying;still the greatest theatrical magic marvel ive seen but wish i didnt stumble across the how on the web today
ps its not nasa magnetics and its not underwater

I'd rather NOT know how it's done - that way it will always remain magical to watch.

David's sleight of hand is so perfect! Oh how I envy him!

Athrun wrote:David's sleight of hand is so perfect! Oh how I envy him!

If you think he's "perfect" you really need to get out more Even David will tell you that his close-up and slight of hand stuff stinks.


As to "how did he do that?" I can tell you that every single one of the bits discussed in this list work off of principles every one here knows... the train car is just a twist on a classic levitation (as was the Ferrari vanish)... the Plane and Statute employ variations to Harary's PERSPECTIVE.

As Alan points out, very few stage performers actually build or have much to do with their equipment. Dante was a trained cabinet maker and worked as a prop manager with the Thurston show for years... kind of like Bill Smith when he worked for Blackstone except Dante moved forward as a showman rather than a builder because in those days there just wasn't any real money in the construction & retail end of such things. The U.S. had Abbotts, Thayer and Tannens, why would they need more?

Most of David's equipment was made by David Mendoza though John Gaughan and Owens had infrequent associations with him... to be kind about it, there was (remains) a lot of distrust towards David when it comes to new effects... just ask Kevin James.