A NIGHT AT THE MAGIC CASTLE

My official big box ex-rental VHS videocassette of A Night at the Magic Castle (© Icek Teenbaum/Genesis Entertainment/CBS Distribution/Castle Home Video – reproduced here on a strictly non-commercial Fair Use basis for educational/review purposes only)

On 13 May 2020, I posted on my Facebook timeline a link to a fascinating article by Atlas Obscura concerning the Magic Castle. Hitherto unknown to me, this is an exclusive hotel and nightclub for magicians, based in the Hollywood region of Los Angeles, in California, USA, and also serving as the clubhouse for the Academy of Magical Arts, containing an extensive research library of books on magic, plus a small magic-themed museum. Moreover, back in 1988 it was the real-life setting for a nowadays-obscure children's fantasy movie entitled A Night at the Magic Castle.

Directed by Icek Teenbaum, and based upon a story written by him and Roger Stone (Stone also wrote the screenplay), this movie does not appear to have ever been released on DVD in the UK or USA. Happily, however, I was lucky enough to obtain it earlier this year in its official ex-rental big box VHS videocassette format, which includes a beautiful shimmering tinfoil-effect front cover that instantly sparked vivid recollections of seeing it 30-odd years ago in video rental shops, but I never actually rented it out to watch. So on 10 June 2020, I made up for much lost time, by duly watching my own lately-purchased videocassette.

A Night at the Magic Castle is definitely aimed at children, with its "curses, foiled again"-type pantomime villain of an evil conjuror named Blackstar (played by Blackie Dammett) and his hapless but harmless, not-really-wicked-at-all assistant aptly named Twit, or Reggie to his friends (John Franklin), plus in the goodie roles a child named Max Finch (Matt Shakman), the friendly ghost of real-life magician/escapologist Harry Houdini (Arte Johnson), and his invisible female assistant Irma (Sally Julian). Nevertheless, it was still enjoyable and, in particular, it afforded all manner of fascinating interior shots of the Magic Castle, which would otherwise not be readily seen by non-members.

The very exotic exterior of The Magic Castle Hotel and Club in Hollywood, Los Angeles, in California, USA, where this movie was filmed (public domain)

The movie's story sees Max being told by his parents to give up his imaginary friend Ruggles (Carl Steven), on what is not only Hallowe'en but also the eve of Max's 8th birthday. Later that same fateful evening, however, Max is whisked off to the Magic Castle by Houdini's ghost for a night of adventure, thrills, spills, and – obviously – magic, before waking up back home in bed the following morning, on his birthday. Naturally, Max assumes that last night's hair-raising happenings were all just a fantastical dream, until, during his birthday party later that day, a magic show is unveiled by his parents as a birthday surprise for him – and guess who is the friendly magician with a female assistant named Irma and a hapless but harmless sub-assistant?? Interestingly, just as in such famous movies and stage productions as The Wizard of Oz and Peter Pan, some of the actors and actresses play dual roles – a character in Max's real world, and also a different but generally comparable character in his Magic Castle visit.

No famous film stars appear in it, but A Night at the Magic Castle is all good fun and very charming. So it seems most surprising to me that, as noted earlier, this very family-friendly movie has never been released on DVD for the UK or USA markets. Having said that, I have lately seen a Dutch DVD release of the original English-language movie, but with Dutch text on its cover – the front of which sports an all-new matt illustration, not the spectacular shimmering version famously gracing the VHS videocassette, sadly.

Happily, at least at the time of my posting this review today on Shuker In MovieLand, the entire movie can be viewed here free of charge on YouTube. So, catch it while you can, and prepared to be spellbound!

And to view a complete listing of all of my Shuker In MovieLand blog's other film reviews and articles (each one instantly accessible via a direct clickable link), please click HERE!

The full cover of my official big box ex-rental VHS videocassette of A Night at the Magic Castle (© Icek Teenbaum/Genesis Entertainment/CBS Distribution/Castle Home Video – reproduced here on a strictly non-commercial Fair Use basis for educational/review purposes only)