"Night Magic 1984 is a Canadian musical film directed by Lewis Furey. The film tells the story of a young musician named Night Magic, who is struggling to find success in the music industry. He becomes entangled in a love triangle with two women, the beautiful Eve and the mysterious Delphine. As Night Magic navigates his way through the music scene, he discovers the power of his own creativity and the magic that can be found in the night. One of the standout features of Night Magic 1984 is its unique blend of live-action and animation. The film seamlessly transitions between the two mediums, creating a world that is both fantastical and grounded in reality.
Night Magic was originally entitled The Hall.I think it was Robert Lantos the producer of the film who gave it the name Night Magic. The Hall a classic Cohenism was too prosaic for Mr. Lantos. He went on to become along with Garth Drabinski Canada’s most successful producer and yet when I asked him years later how it felt to have succeeded he told me he felt like a loser. “Why?” I asked?
We had a nothing budget and Robert Lantos who had produced the movie ran out of money so we the principal players threw some of our salaries back in. And like the Spurs after Game 1 this year with Tony Parker saying it felt like a European gym and Tim Duncan saying it was like the Virgin Islands where he grew up Bird said after the game he was used to this.
The film seamlessly transitions between the two mediums, creating a world that is both fantastical and grounded in reality. The animation sequences, created by renowned animator Richard Williams, bring Night Magic's imagination to life and add a whimsical element to the story. The film also includes a stellar soundtrack, composed by Furey himself.
When the Finals got hot before: Game 5, 1984, Bird vs. Magic in “heat game”
BOSTON - JUNE 8: Larry Bird #33 of the Boston Celtics passes against Magic Johnson #32 of the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Five of the 1984 NBA Finals played on June 8, 1984 at Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Boston defeated Los Angeles 121-103. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1984 NBAE (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO — It was hot, temperatures above 90 degrees, in the AT&T Center for Game 1 of the 2014 NBA Finals. LeBron James cramped up , the Heat players wilted and San Antonio went on a 26-9 run to end the game and win Game 1 .
It was wild — but it was not unprecedented.
Thirty years ago almost to the day, June 8, 1984, the Boston Celtics beat the Los Angeles Lakers in what became known as “the heat game.” It was reportedly 97 degrees in the old Boston Garden— a building that didn’t have air conditioning in it (why would you need that in an arena also used for hockey?). Boston was suffering through a heat wave and that made the building sweltering, more so that what the Heat and Spurs faced Thursday night.
The enduring image of 2014’s Game 1 is LeBron James being carried off the court with cramps. The enduring image out of 1984 comes at the 3:44 mark of the video above: a 37-year-old Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with the oxygen mask over his face, sucking in air as he tries to get rested and back on the court.
“I suggest,” Abdul-Jabbar said after the game ( via NBA.com ), “that you go to a local steam bath, do 100 pushups with all your clothes on, then try to run back and forth for 48 minutes. The game was in slow motion. It was like we were running in mud.”
It was so hot referee Hugh Evans had to stop at halftime due to dehydration, reported Bob Ryan of the Boston Globe .
The 1984 NBA Finals was the one everyone had been waiting for, finally Magic Johnson and Larry Bird were going to square off on the NBA’s biggest stage (it was David Stern’s first Finals as commissioner, he certainly lucked into a lot of things early in his tenure). The series didn’t disappoint, going seven games (with Bird and the Celtics ultimately prevailing, the first salvo in the great rivalry of the 1980s).
Bird owned Game 5 — 34 points on 15-of-20 shooting, plus grabbing 17 boards. And like the Spurs after Game 1 this year (with Tony Parker saying it felt like a European gym and Tim Duncan saying it was like the Virgin Islands where he grew up) Bird said after the game he was used to this.
“I play in this stuff all the time back home. It’s like this all summer.”
(As a side note pointed out by my boss Rick Cordella , maybe the most classic part of the above video is near the end, at the 6:15 mark, when a guy just lights up a cigarette in the building as the fans celebrate, Mad Men style. That was just a different era.)
Stuff happens in an NBA Finals. Unexpected stuff. What matters is who adapts, who adjusts, who just finds a way to play through that and win.
In 1984 that was Larry Bird and the Celtics.
Thirty years later round one goes to the Spurs.
Article By Nick Mancuso
The songs are a mix of rock, pop, and jazz, and they perfectly capture the spirit of the 1980s music scene. The musical performances are energetic and captivating, adding another layer of magic to the film. Night Magic 1984 is not just a light-hearted musical; it also touches on deeper themes such as the pursuit of artistic success and the complexities of love. Night Magic's journey resonates with anyone who has ever struggled to find their place in the world or grappled with their own creative ambitions. Overall, Night Magic 1984 is a visually stunning and emotionally engaging film that showcases the magic of music and the power of one's own imagination. It transports viewers to a world where anything is possible, and reminds us that sometimes, the most incredible things happen when the sun goes down.".
Reviews for "Reviving the Night Magic of 1984: Relive the Wonder"
- John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Night Magic 1984". The plot was confusing and hard to follow, and the characters lacked depth. The magical elements felt forced and didn't add anything meaningful to the story. Overall, I found it hard to connect with the book and it didn't live up to my expectations.
- Sarah - 1 star - "Night Magic 1984" was a complete letdown for me. The writing style was disjointed and hard to comprehend, making it difficult to stay engaged with the story. The world-building fell flat and I couldn't fully visualize the settings or understand the rules of the magical system. I struggled to finish the book and wouldn't recommend it to others.
- Michael - 2 stars - I found "Night Magic 1984" to be underwhelming. The pacing was slow and there were long stretches where nothing much happened. The characters felt one-dimensional and I couldn't invest in their stories. The concept had potential, but it fell short in execution. Overall, I was disappointed and felt like I wasted my time reading this book.
- Emily - 2 stars - Unfortunately, "Night Magic 1984" didn't captivate me at all. The writing was convoluted and hard to decipher, making it a struggle to understand what was happening in the story. The plot lacked coherence and the resolution felt rushed and unsatisfying. I was left feeling unsatisfied with this book and wouldn't recommend it to others.