Say what? There's a film of The Magus? I sometimes think I have the oddest gaps in otherwise encyclopedic knowledge in the human race.
So where to find a video or DVD -- with no links in the purchasing information and web searches yielding no results?
Is The Magus (Guy Green, Director; John Fowles,screenplay; Anthony Quinn, Michael Caine, Candice Bergen) available to purchase?
shareGood luck. I saw the film twice on original release in a theater in Isla Vista (near UCSB)in the late 1960's. The book is one of my all-time favorites.
I started looking for the film (in ANY medium) some years ago. The only lead I got was that it was shown on late-night television in Australia many years ago.
Otherwise, everything I've been able to dig up about it indicates that it is simply NOT available anywhere. There are numerous rumors as to why that appears to be the case.
From what I remember, the film (in my humble opinion) wasn't the all-time stinker that many critics made it out to be. Interestingly, it is one of Fowles' most criticized books ... and possibly his biggest money-maker - go figure! I haven't found a reference to it in Candice Bergen's biography.
There must be some significant reason for it's disppearance since I'm sure there's still some money to be made on the potential video / DVD sales.
I would still VERY much like to see it again.
Cheers,
Howard Hawkes,
San Diego, CA
Hi there,
I have just finished reading the book, which was absolutely mesmerising. I appreciate the reviews, but have to see the film, just out of curiosity.
I just found two copies on Ebay and have just purchase one. I am in the UK, but both copies were in the US and shipped worldwide. My copy just cost me 10 GBP including postage and packaging.
Hope this helps!
Hayles
Greetings from Los Angeles, Hayles, thank you for posting. Let us know what you think after viewing.
shareJust want to report that I got the Magus DVD from the seller on Ebay and was really disappointed - not by the film as I have not watched it, but from the fact that it was a pirate copy!
Sorry for the recommendation folks - it looks like it is still near on impossible to get a legitimate copy of this film.
Hayley
For what it may be worth, Magus Books of Sacramento CA [http://www.fowlesbooks.com/john.htm], which sells Fowles' books and related items, comments "The Magus has never been released on video in the U.S., but copies produced elsewhere are beginning to turn up. It is rarely if ever shown on late-night television or cable.
To purchase a copy of The Magus on video, go to the John Fowles First Editions & More page and click on 'movie adaptations.'"
And at that page it offers for sale "The Magus. 20th Century Fox (1968). Starring Michael Caine, Anthony Quinn and Candice Bergen. Directed by Guy Green, from a screenplay by John Fowles (who has a brief cameo in the movie). Never released on video in the U.S., but copies have started appearing overseas. $50.00."
This is a copy of the text I just posted on the B. Nash board. It's not much help ... although I just noticed a comment from another poster about how much he hated the film, so somebody's seeing it somewhere (apparently in the early hours).
Good luck. I saw the film twice on original release in a theater in Isla Vista (near UCSB)in the late 1960's. The book is one of my all-time favorites.
I started looking for the film (in ANY medium) some years ago. The only lead I got was that it was shown on late-night television in Australia many years ago.
Otherwise, everything I've been able to dig up about it indicates that it is simply NOT available anywhere. There are numerous rumors as to why that appears to be the case.
From what I remember, the film (in my humble opinion) wasn't the all-time stinker that many critics made it out to be. Interestingly, it is one of Fowles' most criticized books ... and possibly his biggest money-maker - go figure! I haven't found a reference to it in Candice Bergen's biography.
There must be some significant reason for it's disppearance since I'm sure there's still some money to be made on the potential video / DVD sales.
I would still VERY much like to see it again.
Cheers,
Howard Hawkes,
San Diego, CA
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[deleted]
I have been looking for a copy of this film The Magus for decades. I saw it in 1968 and it blew my mind. The film is even better than the book, and I can only assume that there is some mystery to why is has not been released. Maybe Candace Bergen bought it up and disappeared it??? Or who knows?
I would love to get a copy, but the $50. price mentioned in this list is a bit steep.
Don't let any body fool you--it was a great movie, and very powerfu and mysterious.
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If you read that page again, it becomes clear that the $50 is for a documentary about Fowles trip to Greece that inspired the novel.
shareThere's a guy in New York selling DVDs of the film on eBay regularly. I've also seen copies from sellers in the UK and Europe.
As far as I can tell it's a transfer from video, as there's a disclaimer about it not exactly being DVD quality.
I've also seen a number of VHS editions on eBay described as 'very rare'. I'm not sure whether these are official releases either, or just some enterprising souls turning them out as a cottage industry from the DVD or another source.
Personally, I don't have a problem with piracy - particularly in this case, as it seems unlikely that an official release is ever going to see the light of day - so I'd appeal to anyone who has bought one of the dubious DVDs to seed a torrent on the web via BitComet or Azureus, so all of us who've given up on ever seeing it on TV can finally see it and theorise as to why, exactly, this film seems to be being suppressed by someone with some sway over such matters.
I, too, would like to have a copy of this on DVD. I remember seeing it on late night TV once many, many years ago and have never seen it listed in the TV movie listings since. Just bumping this thread to see if anyone had any further news or informantion....?
shareR1 release set for October 17th.
http://www.dvdactive.com/news/releases/michael-caine-collection-the.html
i'm on the magus band wagon too. Im nearly finished reading the book, and to my way of thinking, it shouldn't be supressed primarily because Anthony Quin and Michael Caine's acting work is too significant. It will be available in widespread distribution soon enough I guarantee. I live in hope.
"We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time."
-T.S Elliot
watch it on youtube in full
the magus part 1
the magus part 2
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