The Magician

The Magician is a 1958 Swedish drama directed by Ingmar Bergman, who also wrote the screenplay. Set in the mid-nineteenth century, it follows a travelling magician named Albert Emanuel Vogler and his troupe as they arrive in a small Swedish town. Their performances draw the attention of local officials and a sceptical medical officer, Dr. Vergerus, who is determined to expose the group as frauds. The encounters that follow test the line between performance, belief and deception.

Max von Sydow plays Vogler, with Ingrid Thulin as his wife and assistant Manda, Gunnar Björnstrand as Dr. Vergerus, Naima Wifstrand as Granny Vogler, Bengt Ekerot and Bibi Andersson among the credited cast of twenty. Allan Ekelund produced the film for SF Studios, and it runs 102 minutes.

It was released in December 1958, the seventh of the twenty-four films Bergman directed in chronological order, between Rabies and The Venetian. On TMDB it holds a rating of 7.3 from 251 votes, which indicates a solidly positive response from those who have rated it.