The Magician of Lublin (1979)
Directed by Menahem Golan
Genres - Drama |
Sub-Genres - Showbiz Drama |
Release Date - Nov 9, 1979 (USA - Unknown), Nov 9, 1979 (USA) |
Run Time - 115 min. |
Countries - Germany, Israel |
MPAA Rating - R
Share on
Synopsis by Clarke Fountain
This expensive production attempts to bring Nobel Prize-winning author Isaac Bashevis Singer's subtle philosophical novel The Magician of Lublin to the screen. In the story, Yasha Mazur (Alan Arkin) is a perfectionistic turn-of-the-century Jewish stage magician, con-man and mystic, who is touring through eastern Europe, at the same time managing to progressively sabotage his own career. In nearly every town Yasha has a girlfriend, from the youthful Zeftel (Valerie Perrine), to the feisty Elizabeta (Shelly Winters). His harassed manager/impressario Wolsky (Lou Jacobi) arranges for him to have one more chance at theatrical success, which requires that he pull off the trick of a lifetime in a Warsaw theater. Reviewers, fans of Singer's works, and ordinary filmgoers all expressed disappointment in this beautifully filmed and ambitious movie, which was a box-office failure.
Characteristics
Themes
Keywords
career, con/scam, fame, Judaism, magic, self-discovery, trick