"The Magic Christian" is a novel written by Terry Southern in 1959. The story revolves around the eccentric billionaire Sir Guy Grand and his adopted son, Youngman Grand. The main idea of the novel is the exploration of human greed and the corruption of society. Sir Guy Grand uses his vast wealth to carry out bizarre practical jokes on unsuspecting members of society, exposing their willingness to compromise their morals for money. The title "The Magic Christian" refers to the transformation of society when money is introduced as a catalyst. The novel satirizes the idea that money can buy anything and highlights the absurdity of human behavior when faced with the promise of financial gain.
Sometimes it verges on greatness but never crosses the threshold to become truly impactful. Just 90 minutes of Peter Sellers and Ringo Starr mucking about trolling the aristocracy; if that's what you want, you're in for a delightful treat. So non-sequential that I think all reels of this film could be played out of order, bar the first, and no one would be the wiser. Wish the twosome did more things together.
The quality of humor can be spotty, but when it hits it s like 100 my kind of shit big fan of strip Hamlet, Mr Universe dance, Priestess of the Whip pretty much everything that screams Graham Chapman. Most of this consists of many, many scenes of Peter Sellers who s an obscenely rich dude going around pranking people he goes around and offers random people he meets this suitcase s worth of cash if they ll do some kinda prank on either themselves or someone else while Ringo Starr who s a guy Sellers meets on the street and decides to invite along as his son stands there or sits in the car and watches impassively while people debase themselves for cash.
The novel satirizes the idea that money can buy anything and highlights the absurdity of human behavior when faced with the promise of financial gain. The novel was later adapted into a film in 1969, starring Peter Sellers and Ringo Starr. Overall, "The Magic Christian" serves as a critique of society's obsession with wealth and the lengths people will go to attain it.
The Magic Christian
Sir Guy Grand, the richest man in the world, adopts a homeless man, Youngman. Together, they set out to prove that anyone--and anything--can be bought.
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Alternative Titles
El cristiano mágico, Um Beatle no Paraíso, Чудотворец, Magic Christian, Si quieres ser millonario no malgastes el tiempo trabajando, A csodatévő, Le incredibili avventure del signor Grand col complesso del miliardo e il pallino della truffa, 매직 크리스찬, Волшебный христианин, 财神万岁
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12 Dec 1969
11 Feb 1970
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01 Jan 1985
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12 Dec 1969
- Theatrical 15
USA
11 Feb 1970
- Theatrical PG
01 Jan 1985
- Physical NR Republic Pictures Home Video #V2548 [𝐕𝐇𝐒📼] 𝟴𝟴 mínutєѕ
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Reviews for "The Magic Christian: An Exploration of the Absurd"
1. John - 2/5 - "I found "The Magic Christian" to be quite disappointing. While the premise of a wealthy man using his fortune to create absurd and comedic situations had potential, the execution fell flat for me. I didn't find most of the pranks or the characters' reactions to be funny or entertaining. The film relied too heavily on shock value and crude humor, which didn't appeal to my sense of humor. Overall, I couldn't connect with the film and it left me feeling unsatisfied."
2. Sarah - 3/5 - "I had high hopes for "The Magic Christian" as I'm a fan of both Peter Sellers and Ringo Starr, but unfortunately, the movie didn't live up to my expectations. The satirical humor and social commentary were present, but it often felt forced and heavy-handed. The pacing was inconsistent, and some scenes were unnecessarily long, making the film feel disjointed. While there were a few genuinely funny moments, they were overshadowed by the overall lackluster execution. Ultimately, "The Magic Christian" was an average film that missed the mark for me."
3. Emily - 2/5 - "I didn't find anything magical about "The Magic Christian". The film seemed to rely solely on shock value and outrageousness, which grew tiresome after a while. The plot lacked depth and substance, and the characters were one-dimensional caricatures. Despite the star-studded cast, the performances felt lackluster and uninspired. The film attempted to make a statement about the corrupting influence of money, but it came across as heavy-handed and superficial. Overall, "The Magic Christian" failed to engage me and left me feeling underwhelmed."