MovieChat Forums > The Illusionist (2006) Discussion > How did Eisenheim make the sword stick t...

How did Eisenheim make the sword stick to the ground?

posted 16 years ago by lbra73-3
58 replies | jump to latest

Was this explained in the DVD commentary anyone know? Was it some sort of magnetic force under the stage?

It does not explain exactly how the trick was carried out but during the explanatory "recap" it shows Eisenheim modifying a piece of parquetry flooring prior to going to give his private performance. This clearly is meant to show that however the trick was performed, it was by something conceled in the floor of the stage.

"If our own government was responsible... ...would you realy want to know?"

[–] abs_is_back 10 years ago

The big thing that people seem to be arguing is that the QUALITY and REALISM of the tricks point toward them being CGI rather than the ways these illusions were performed in their time (and yes, they were all real tricks).

The answer is that we are so used to film effects, so used to CGI, that if the illusions were performed in their absolute original fashion, most of the movie audience would see through many of them. The audience of the 1880s would not have. The filmmakers enhanced the illusions so that we cannot explain them anymore than the audience of the 1880s could have explained them, so that we are just as flummoxed by the seeming reality as they were.

In other words, the film was trying to keep visual pace with the sophistication of its audience. So just relax and enjoy the illusion!

[–] dgross-3 10 years ago

It's nice to see that, at least in the latest incarnation of this thread, everyone _is_ capable of comprehending that yes, if it were via a magnet, that sword would be lying utterly flat on the floor. A few years ago, there were boneheads who naw-naw'd even that.

So I will simply go on to emphasize (as someone here already has, except they were talking about the ceiling) that any magnet strong enough to hold that sword to the floor would also haul the nails right outta yer boots, no problem. (And, just think: in that era, people's footwear actually had metal nails as part of their construction!)

I have not seen the movie recently enough to recall if the scene includes a slightly raised platform that would conceal the supposed magnet. Even if it did -- and ignoring the "That sword *is* going to lie flat!" problem -- for it to be turned on and off it would need to be an electromagnet. And so, it would be powered .... how?? "'Hem-'hem! Pay no attention to those big thick cables trailing away across the floor!" (To where, by the way? No electrical outlets yet, folksies.) So the platform would have to contain its own supply of batteries -- which would have weighed _tons_ for the strength needed for the supposed magnet. Because they would be lead-acid batteries. Ain't got no lithium batteries yet, sorry.

[–] ContessaDeMonteCristo 10 years ago

The same way he performed several of his tricks...he hypnotized many of his subjects including some of those in the audience. Remember he hypnitized Sophie when she put on the red cape. He told her to look into his eyes. He hypnotized the audience when he got them to stare at the sword and told them the story of how no one could pull it out of the stone. When it was time for the prince to finally pull it out Eisenheim broke the trance.

[–] at7000 8 years ago

Eisenheim held the original patent for "Crazy Glue." If you notice at time stamp 1:14:20 of the film, he discretely wipes some on the tip of the sword.