BS: The Magic Christian, anyone seen it??

Subject: The Magic Christian, anyone seen it??
From: Roger in Sheffield
Date: 03 Feb 01 - 12:11 PM

About twenty years ago I saw this film and the other day I mentioned it to someone at work who is a real film buff, he had never heard of it. Can anyone tell me what it is like?
I saw it when I was about fifteen and it was so weird that I liked it, I am just wondering if I saw it again would I be disappointed?....in other words should I buy the Video?
Who were badfinger anyway???
Just found out I can get a copy on laser disc via the net – I didn't know that Laser Disc was still around
Now I cannot rid my brain of 'If you want it here it is come and get it..' and the highly camp 'Black and White…'

Roger

Subject: RE: BS: The Magic Christian, anyone seen it??
From: Alice
Date: 03 Feb 01 - 12:15 PM

I read the book. When I saw the tv series Survivor, I was reminded of The Magic Christian - all the people wallowing in manure just to get money.

Subject: RE: BS: The Magic Christian, anyone seen it??
From: Roger in Sheffield
Date: 03 Feb 01 - 12:27 PM

Thanks alice, who was the author?

Subject: RE: BS: The Magic Christian, anyone seen it??
From: rangeroger
Date: 03 Feb 01 - 12:32 PM

I saw it also and was thinking of it myself the other day. If I could find a copy of the video, it will be addd to my collection.

rr

Subject: RE: BS: The Magic Christian, anyone seen it??
From: Sorcha
Date: 03 Feb 01 - 12:36 PM

Terry Southern wrote the book. You can read reviews etc. here.

Subject: RE: BS: The Magic Christian, anyone seen it??
From: Metchosin
Date: 03 Feb 01 - 12:37 PM

Great movie! It starred Ringo Starr and Peter Sellers. Basically it was about a rich business tycoon, Guy Grand, with no heirs, who adopts a down and outer (Ringo) found in a park. It is a story of people's greed at all levels and what they are prepared to do to fulfill their desires. Very funny and biting.

Subject: RE: BS: The Magic Christian, anyone seen it??
From: Metchosin
Date: 03 Feb 01 - 12:43 PM

Badfinger

Subject: RE: BS: The Magic Christian, anyone seen it??
From: CarolC
Date: 03 Feb 01 - 01:01 PM

Read the book. The movie doesn't even come close.

Subject: RE: BS: The Magic Christian, anyone seen it??
From: SeanM
Date: 03 Feb 01 - 01:07 PM

Don't knock the movie, though. It's a truly surreal experience.

Highly recommended for viewing at least once. I own a copy, and it was worth it for me.

M

Subject: RE: BS: The Magic Christian, anyone seen it??
From: Matt_R
Date: 03 Feb 01 - 01:19 PM

My printmaking teacher used to retell excerpts from this movie. He thought it was hilarious! I've never seen it though...it sounded pretty funny.

Subject: RE: BS: The Magic Christian, anyone seen it??
From: sophocleese
Date: 03 Feb 01 - 01:21 PM

It was ages ago that I saw it. It was funny but I can't remember much about it.

Subject: RE: BS: The Magic Christian, anyone seen it??
From: SeanM
Date: 03 Feb 01 - 01:29 PM

It's almost worth seeing just for the odd cameos... Raquel Welch... Roman Polanski... Sir Richard Attenborough... plus Graham Chapman and John Cleese.

It's actually a very cynical story, told in a very silly manner. While I won't slight the book at all, I will say that both are worth taking in.

M

Subject: RE: BS: The Magic Christian, anyone seen it??
From: Roger in Sheffield
Date: 03 Feb 01 - 01:29 PM

Sorcha you really are a human search engine !
I looked myself but didn't find that one

So now I have to get the book and the video !!!

Roger

Subject: RE: BS: The Magic Christian, anyone seen it??
From: SeanM
Date: 03 Feb 01 - 01:31 PM

If you go through the link on the mudcat home page to Amazon, they not only have both, but Max'll get a kickback.

M

Subject: RE: BS: The Magic Christian, anyone seen it??
From: Gary T
Date: 03 Feb 01 - 02:53 PM

This movie is one of the cleverest comedies I've ever seen. It skewers various petty attitudes with understated relish. Sellers and Starr carry it off well.

Subject: RE: BS: The Magic Christian, anyone seen it??
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Feb 01 - 04:16 PM

Somehow I doubt it'd seem as funny to me if I were to see it again now. But I hope so. It'd be worth it just for Yul Brynner's cameo,

Subject: RE: BS: The Magic Christian, anyone seen it??
From: Little Hawk
Date: 03 Feb 01 - 11:26 PM

Wonderful movie! Exposes the real reigning religion of contemporary society (worship of MONEY) in all its tawdry and ridiculous wonder. It's funny, biting, and sad.

People will do literally ANYTHING for enough of the stuff! That's why casinos are so popular. Why else would anyone build such an excresence on the landscape? That's why they make a corrupt show called "Survivor" and call it entertainment.

It was for this that countless Native people died at Wounded Knee and Sand Creek, and ten thousand other unnamed villages. Don't forget it, soldier boy. You served the Empire then, and you still serve it now. Just follow the money trail...

The pity of it is, the Native people themselves are now making big money off casinos in numerous places. Crazy Horse, like Jesus, would probably have wept to see it.

- Little Hawk

Subject: RE: BS: The Magic Christian, anyone seen it??
From: SINSULL
Date: 04 Feb 01 - 07:04 PM

My favorite scene: Sir Lawrence Olivier (???) stripping during a production of Hamlet and down to nothing with "this bare bodkin". The Magic Christian is a cruise ship set to be launched with only the rich and famous aboard. Scenes of Jackie Onassis et al boarding. It features a bare breasted Racquel Welch, whip in hand, beating other bare breasted maidens as they row the ship along. Hilarious stuff. Although I joined many audience members in gagging at the finale - staid British nannies jumping into a pool full of shit, blood, and god knows what in order to grab at the money Sellers tossed in. Another "classic" released at the same time: "Putney Swope". Anyone remember the guy who loses on the dating game and opens his trenchcoat to national television?

Subject: RE: BS: The Magic Christian, anyone seen it??
From: Trevor
Date: 05 Feb 01 - 08:14 AM

I remeber I took a new girlfriend to see it when it first came out. I loved it, she thought there was something wrong with me, and that was that!

Subject: RE: BS: The Magic Christian, anyone seen it??
From: annamill
Date: 05 Feb 01 - 12:39 PM

One of my very favorite movies and I highly recommend it.

Peter adopts Ringo because he is the only person that Peter can't buy. No matter what Peter offers, Ringo refuses to be bought. So Peter adopts him. The scene filmed way above their heads, while Peter follows Ringo all around trying to buy him is fantastic.

It was actually Laurence Harvey who stripped to Hamlet. He was wonderful. Yul Brenner as a transvestite is pretty funny too.

Here is a list of the whole cast.

Cast List

Peter Sellers ...Sir Guy Grand KG, KC, CBE Ringo Starr ...Youngman Grand ESQ. Isabel Jeans ...Dame Agnes Grand Caroline Blakiston ...Hon. Esther Grand Wilfrid Hyde-White ...Captain Reginald K. Klaus Richard Attenborough ...Oxford Coach Leonard Frey ...Laurence Faggot Laurence Harvey ...Hamlet Christopher Lee ...Ship's vampire Spike Milligan ...Traffic Warden 27 Roman Polanski ...Solitary Drinker Raquel Welch ...Priestess of the Whip Tom Boyle ...My Man Jeff Victor Maddern ...Hot dog vendor Terence Alexander ...Mad Major Peter Bayliss ...Pompous Toff Joan Benham ...Socialite in Sotheby's Patrick Cargill ...Auctioneer at Sotheby's John Cleese ...Mr. Dougdale, Director in Southeby's Clive Dunn ...Sommelier Fred Emney ...Fitzgibbon Kenneth Fortescue ...Snob in Sotheby's Patrick Holt ...Duke in Sotheby's David Hutcheson ...Lord Barry Hattie Jacques ...Ginger Horton Jeremy Lloyd ...Lord Hampton David Lodge ...Ship's Guide Ferdy Mayne ...Edouard of Chez Edouard Restaurant Dennis Price ...Winthrop Robert Raglan ...Maltravers Graham Stark ...Waiter at Chez Edouard Restaurant Peter Graves ...Lord at ship's bar Michael Aspel ...TV Commentator John Le Mesurier ...Sir John Michael Barratt ...TV Commentator Sean Barry-Weske ...John Lennon lookalike Guy Middleton ...Duke of Mantisbriar Peter Myers ...Lord Kilgallon John Snagge ...TV Commentator Leon Thau ...Engine Room Toff Frank Thornton ...Police Inspector Michael Trubshawe ...Sir Lionel Edward Underdown ...Prince Henry Alan Whicker ...TV Commentator Yul Brynner ...Transvestite cabaret singer Harry Carpenter ...TV Commentator Graham Chapman ...Oxford Crew Roland Culver ...Sir Herbert W. Barrington Dalby ...TV Commentator Freddie Earlle ...Sol Kimberley Chung ...Yoko Ono lookalike

I've never read the book and perhaps it is much better, but it wouldn't have Harvey stripping and that is funny and proves the message of the movie. Anyone can be bought.

Love it! Annamill

Subject: RE: BS: The Magic Christian, anyone seen it??
From: SINSULL
Date: 05 Feb 01 - 12:50 PM

I have to ask - who were the two gorgeous body builder types who danced on board the ship in skimpy little thongs. One was black; one white. Another hilarious scene.

Subject: RE: BS: The Magic Christian, anyone seen it??
From: Roger in Sheffield
Date: 05 Feb 01 - 01:13 PM

OK Ok Ok
I will buy it !
Have been told its not available over here in the UK
Will I get clobbered with import duty if I buy it from the US and will it even play?

Roger

Subject: RE: BS: The Magic Christian, anyone seen it??
From: Roger in Sheffield
Date: 08 Feb 01 - 03:42 PM

TMC

Subject: RE: BS: The Magic Christian, anyone seen it??
From: Plume
Date: 08 Feb 01 - 08:56 PM

"Come and Get It" is actually a Paul McCartney song and a Beatles demo of this, virtually a note for note blueprint for the Badfinger version, appears on the Anthology 3 collection. Great song. I can't say I agree with those who remember the film as something of value. It stands in my memory as a particularly egregious example of sloppy, sophomoric sixties filmmaking. Performances largely phoned in, confusing script, badly directed, lit and shot, and edited with a meat cleaver. I'd advise sparing yourself an evening of cringing by skipping the video and going for the soundtrack instead.

Subject: RE: BS: The Magic Christian, anyone seen it??
From: Metchosin
Date: 08 Feb 01 - 09:21 PM

Plume check Badfinger link above

Subject: RE: BS: The Magic Christian, anyone seen it??
From: Jim the Bart
Date: 08 Feb 01 - 10:50 PM

Plume, you must have seen it straight. At the time it was released I would venture to say that not too many people did. Another movie in the same vein (definitely jugular) was "Candy". Both a little campy for millenium sensibilities.

Subject: RE: BS: The Magic Christian, anyone seen it??
From: Naemanson
Date: 08 Feb 01 - 11:00 PM

How wierd! Just yesterday I was telling my daughter about this movie and now I find a thread about it.

I saw it years ago and loved it. Many of the scenes have stuck with me. I would love to see it again.

I'm afraid I saw it as an accurate depiction of the cynicism of the wealthy. My opinion hasn't changed.

Subject: RE: BS: The Magic Christian, anyone seen it??
From: GUEST,Wavestar
Date: 09 Feb 01 - 05:46 PM

My parents found this movie in a shop, and I was shocked when they bought it. They never watch movies. More than that, they brought it home, sat the entire family down and insisted we watch it. They said it was part of my brother's and my education. I thought it was deeply bizzare, but I got the point. I also thought it was hysterical. It's hard not to. Ringo Starr doing the 'silent scream, tiny face' scene? I recommend it, if just for Raquel Welch's whipmistress.

And no Roger, it won't play if you order it from the US. Buy it here in th UK. It can be found, my friend mary has a copy.

-J