Riding hot on the heels of Warner's smash 3D studio 1953 horror film, HOUSE OF WAX, 1954's THE MAD MAGICIAN borrows that films star (the soon to be iconic Vincent Price) and basically trots out the same "revenge of the wronged artist" narrative but without the color—and budget.
Which is not to say THE MAD MAGICIAN is a lesser film, it is not. Price is magnificent as the (rightfully!) mad magician Gallico The Great who goes after the crooks and blowhards that wronged him, delivering wildly grand guignol comeuppance in spectacular 3D. Indeed, the 3D in THE MAD MAGICIAN was and is beautiful, even better because it is a black and white picture presented in anaglyph, red and blue 3D. Anaglyph 3D works better on black and white because the lack of color keeps the eye firmly trained on the illusion at hand.
THE MAD MAGICIAN was the first 3D theatrical feature to be shown on television and was trotted out for decades on a myriad of small screen 3D Festivals. Columbia recently re-released the fine picture, which also stars Eva Gabor and CHAMBER OF HORRORS (itself a HOUSE OF WAX rip) star Patrick O'Neal, on DVD in an anamorphic, pristine version. Sadly that version is presented in flat, 2D....
But why not stick on your FANGOVISION 3D glasses (found in the pages of the new FANGORIA #316) and enjoy this vintage analglyph 3D clip from THE MAD MAGICIAN right here, right now?
To order your own copy of FANGORIA #316—which is partially rendered in neat-o retro red/blue 3D—head here.
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