''Night Magic'' is a 1985 Canadian-French
musical film written by
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen (September 21, 1934November 7, 2016) was a Canadian singer-songwriter, poet and novelist. His work explored religion, politics, isolation, depression, sexuality, loss, death, and romantic relationships. He was inducted in ...
and
Lewis Furey and directed by Furey. The film stars
Nick Mancuso as Michael, a down on his luck musician whose fantasies begin to come true after he meets an angel (Judy, played by
Carole Laure).
["Angel Eyes heads for Cannes". '' The Globe and Mail'', March 23, 1985.] The film's supporting cast includes
Stéphane Audran,
Jean Carmet,
Frank Augustyn,
Louis Robitaille,
Anik Bissonnette,
Nanette Workman and
Barbara Eve Harris.
[ Jay Scott, "'Ooh, that is wonderful, yes!'". '' The Globe and Mail'', May 17, 1985.]
The film was originally slated for release as ''Angel Eyes'',
but reverted to its original working title ''Night Magic'' by the time of its premiere at the
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes Festival (; french: link=no, Festival de Cannes), until 2003 called the International Film Festival (') and known in English as the Cannes Film Festival, is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films ...
on May 17, 1985.
[
Most of the score is in Spenserian stanzas.][The Montreal Gazette, July 19 1986 ''Night Magic creators take on just too much of a challenge.'' Bruce Bailey]
/ref>
Plot
Michael is an unsuccessful musician and playwright, leading a troupe. One night he is visited by three "angels" who offer him three wishes. He chooses as his first wish the ability to express himself perfectly in his art, and as his second, to choose a lover, draw her to him, send her away, and bring her back again.
His first wish brings him great success as an artist, but for his second wish he chooses one of the angels (Judy). She gives up her angelic form to become human and join him. They have a child together, but as in his wish, he rejects her, and their house is burned by the other two angels.
As his final wish, he asks to be assassinated. Judy refuses to participate, and goes to find him, but just as she reaches him, the other two angels assassinate him. Time stops while, in the only daylight scene of the film, the couple walk through the city together, but then return to his dying body.
Cast
* Carole Laure as Judy
* Nick Mancuso as Michael
* Stephane Audran Stephane may refer to:
* Stéphane, a French given name
* Stephane (Ancient Greece), a vestment in ancient Greece
* Stephane (Paphlagonia)
Stephane ( grc, Στεφάνη) was a small port town on the coast of ancient Paphlagonia, according to Arri ...
as Janice
* Jean Carmet as Sam
* Lyne Tremblay as Stardust
* Danielle Godin as Moonbeam
* Barbara Eve Harris as Doubt
* Kathryn Greenaway as Pinky
* Michelle Stennett as Michelle
* Frank Augustyn as Frank
* Louis Robitaille as Louis
* Jean-Marc Lebeau as Jean-Marc
* Jean-Hugues Rochette as Jean-Hugues
* Carlyle Miller as Louis (voice) / The Saxophonist
* Jean-Marie Benoit as The Guitarist
* Don Alias
Charles "Don" Alias (December 25, 1939 in New York City – March 28, 2006 in New York City) was an American jazz percussionist.
Alias was best known for playing congas and other hand drums. He was, however, a capable drum kit performer: for ...
as The Drummer
* Margarita Stoker as Walkyrie
* Micheline Giard as Walkyrie
* Yolande Huraruk as Walkyrie
* Joan Henney as Walkyrie
* Nathalie Buisson as Miss Shy
* Brigitte Valette as Miss Strong
* France Deslauriers as Miss Beauty
* Aidan Devine
Aidan Devine is an English–Canadian film actor. He was born in England and immigrated with his family to Canada at the age of 15. He studied at Dawson College's Dome Theatre in Montreal, Quebec and began his acting career in Montreal. He ...
as The Beggar
* Lewis Furey as Michael (voice)
* Karen Young as Doubt (voice)
* Erin Dickens as Purple Angel (voice)
* Estelle Ste-Croix as Caramel Angel (voice)
* Nanette Workman as Pinky (voice)
* Linda Niles as Michelle (voice)
* James Zeller as Frank (voice)
* Alan Gerber as Jean-Hugues (voice)
* Hugh Ball as Jean-Marc (voice)
* Zender Ary as The Beggar (voice)
* Charles Linton as Walkyrie (voice)
* Gaetan Essiambre as Walkyrie (voice)
* Shari Saunders as Walkyrie (voice)
* Alison Darcy as Cannibal Kid (uncredited)
* Jessamyn Hope as Cannibal Kid (uncredited)
* Robert Mofford as Leper (uncredited)
Songs
Some of Cohen's lyrics recur in his later work, for example, ''Hunter's Lullaby'' appeared with almost identical lyrics on the album Various Positions
''Various Positions'' is the seventh studio album by Leonard Cohen, released in December 1984 (and February 1985). It marked not only his turn to the modern sound and use of synthesizers (particularly on the opening track), but also, after the h ...
, and the lyrics of the song ''The Bells'' form a large part of the song "Anthem" from The Future
The future is the time after the past and present. Its arrival is considered inevitable due to the existence of time and the laws of physics. Due to the apparent nature of reality and the unavoidability of the future, everything that currently ...
.
Awards
The film garnered four Genie Award
The Genie Awards were given out annually by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television to recognize the best of Canadian cinema from 1980–2012. They succeeded the Canadian Film Awards (1949–1978; also known as the "Etrog Awards," for sc ...
nominations at the 7th Genie Awards:
*Best Art Direction
The Academy Award for Best Production Design recognizes achievement for art direction in film. The category's original name was Best Art Direction, but was changed to its current name in 2012 for the 85th Academy Awards. This change resulted fro ...
(François Séguin
François Séguin is a Canadian production designer, art director and set decorator.
Recognition
* 1986 Genie Award for Best Achievement in Art Direction - ''Night Magic'' - Nominated
* 1987 Genie Award for Best Achievement in Art Direction/ ...
)
* Best Original Score (Furey)
* Best Original Song: "Angel Eyes"
*Best Original Song: "Fire"
It won the Best Original Song award for "Angel Eyes".["Cousin strikes Genie gold; Comedy-drama triumphs in film awards' top categories". '']Montreal Gazette
The ''Montreal Gazette'', formerly titled ''The Gazette'', is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Three other daily English-language newspapers shuttered at various times during the second half of th ...
'', March 21, 1986.
References
External links
*
{{Leonard Cohen
1985 films
Canadian musical films
1985 multilingual films
Leonard Cohen
French musical films
Films directed by Lewis Furey
1980s musical films
Canadian multilingual films
French multilingual films
1980s Canadian films
1980s French films