User reviews

This film needs to be re-mastered and re-released. I absolutely loved the performances by Griffin O'Neal, Raul Julia, and the late Joan Hackett - who died of Ovarian Cancer shortly after the film was originally released. A great family film for little kids, and us big kids too!

I enjoyed the score, and Griffen O'Neal is quite good. However, I wished there had been another scene with Gabriel Dell...felt like there was something missing...still this is a good movie that could have been better -

I just watched this on Talking Pictures channel in the UK - November 2021.

I'm in a quandary about it now as I don't feel like the film was properly finished. I almost wonder if section(s) of it were missing, either cut by the channel I just watched it on, or by the people that made the film, or maybe they cut it short in production. There were some narrative gaps which I had to fill in by guessing what had happened in between. The acting was all top notch, the score was great and individual scenes were excellent and effecting, but what and why the things that happen do happen is hard to follow, it felt like the middle third of the film was just plain missing. I did however recognise a redemption of the kid's father, and to some extent the mayor's son, who was clearly negatively mentally affected by his corrupt father. This is worth seeing and I would have given it more than a 6/10 if it had been better edited or felt properly finished.

When the movie came out, it pretty much disappeared right away, which is often the fate of small movies, simply because the studios don't bother to advertise them. As well, the film was "pegged" as a kid's movie, which is absurd. It's about kids; and kids could watch it with profit and get excited about it; but where kids see a film about a boy who succeeds ultimately in becoming an "escape artist," and using his talents to defeat the bad guys, adults see a whole different film, one that is about a profound emotional connection a boy has with his father who has died. And this side of the tale is made even more affecting by its only slowly being revealed as the film goes on.

One thing that may also have confounded audiences is that it's not a "talky" film. The young hero does things, he doesn't much talk about things, and that makes it a little hard to follow the motivations in places. But it is a lovingly crafted, beautifully put together, piece of work, one that is long long overdue for a release on DVD. The sequence of the young boy cracking the safe is fascinating, as is the dream sequence in the jail where he magically floats his father out of danger. Striking visuals, and a clear dramatic structure. Wonderful.

As of last year, I believe American Zoetrope held the rights to the title, and while it is on their list to release, they've had higher priorities (for example, Coppola's "One From the Heart," which is good, but suffers from Frederick Forrest's unfocused performance) so it may be quite a while before this marvelous film is released. Let's hope that

when it is released, Deschanel has some say in the process, i.e., we get at least a small documentary on what it's like to make your first film, we get an anamorphic transfer, and we get a reasonably high bit rate for the transfer.

If you can find this on VHS, that's not the best way to see it, but it'll do until the DVD comes along. Enjoy

This Francis Ford Coppola production directed by the great cinematographer Caleb Deschanel rambles here and there and is full of a lot of terrific scenes that ultimately add up to nothing.

Griffin O'Neal is fine in the title role --- he has the same naturalness that made his sister Tatum so appealing. However,like the movie, his character is pretty fuzzy...is he a grifter? a magician? an escape artist? Deschanel's direction is fine but it's not always clear what decade this takes place in...the clothes appear modern, but the characters and dialog have a very 1920s sensibility. O'Neal joins a vaudevillian magic act, but where is there a vaudevillian magic act to be found 1980s America?

The eclectic cast is first-rate: Raul Julia, Teri Garr, Joan Hackett, and Jackie Coogan have key roles and, in a rare film appearance, Desi Arnez plays the crooked mayor.

This is a truly wonderful movie experience. The magical score adds to the atmosphere perfectly. It is beautifully photographed by Stephen H Burum and perfectly directed by Caleb Deschanel. The central performance by Griffin O'Neil is very watchable as is a great support cast which includes Elizabeth Daly and the late great Raul Julia. This is THE movie that made me want to make movies. The haunting final shot combined with the beautiful music has stayed with me for years.

Danny Masters (Griffin O'Neal) is the son of an escape artist and wants to follow in his footsteps. When he grifts the wallet of the mayor's son, Stu (Raul Julia), he puts himself in the middle of something much larger.

Where this movie succeeded:

The magic tricks (if you like magic). Raul Julia, his character was interesting

Where this movie failed:

The lack of clarity of the plot. Even by the end it was unclear what Danny had done, why he had done it, and what its magnitude was. The only thing that was clear was that the mayor and his appointees were crooked. How crooked and what they were into is unclear.

It's a great kid's film, I saw it as an early teen and it really got me interested in magic. The main character gets away with so much because of his skills but it was all within the realms of plausibility if you've got a bit of bottle and enough books on magic and safe cracking etc. Griffin O'Neal is really expressive and natural in his role. Even though what he gets up to is pretty wild you believe that this kid is amazing enough to pull it off.

About legacy, and fathers and sons. Much better and deeper than the ratings on this board give it credit for, in my opinion. There is little violence, sex or break-neck action but much boils under the surface and there are powerful moments. This is a fine movie.

Just watched this movie from an old tape in VHS format and was pleasantly surprised by the results. The story was strong, the writing top-notch and the actors perfectly cast- it make for an enjoyable, or should I say surprising, film that makes you feel better for watching.

The story follows a young Danny Masters, the son of famous deceased magician and escape artist, who leaves home to join his uncle and aunt in their performance of magic. Everything is fine until he meets Stu Quinones, the son of a corrupt mayor, and pickpockets a wallet that contains stolen money. Danny will learn much from his situation and we, the viewer, will be along for the ride as Danny's life is exposed.

This film is not action packed, nor is there stunning special effects but there is something about this film that is endearing. It is one of those films that when the credits roll you already want to see it again. Was not expecting much from the old VHS tape but got a treat from watching. Good Watch!

This unheralded gem was produced by Francis Ford Coppola's Zoetrope Studios.

I give it 10 stars for the theme music alone.

There are some very good performances by Griffin O'Neal (his debut) as Danny and Desi Arnez Sr (Lucille Ball's husband) as the crooked Mayor...but the best performances are Raul Julia as Stu, the slightly(!) unhinged son of the Mayor and Joan Hackett as Danny's Aunt Sibyl.

Funny and understated performances by John P Ryan as Stu's sidekick Vernon and Teri Garr as Stu's dotty girlfriend Arlene (pure eye-candy) are also worth mentioning.

There's even a couple of the original 'Dead-End Kids' in the mix, Huntz Hall and Gabriel Dell, plus the original Uncle Fester and silent screen kid actor, Jackie Coogan. I've just realised all the names I've mentioned bar O'Neal and Garr are all gone now. Sad.

M.Emmet Walsh throws in a greasy, smirking performance as the Chief Jailer with corruption oozing from every pore. Walsh never disappoints, even in a cameo role.

The ending just about pulls it all together but not quite, though it doesn't disappoint. Once again though...beautiful music

One strange thing, Richard Bradford as Sam the City Treasurer is missing off the film credits. It took me two updates to get his name listed on IMDb as uncredited.

A whimsical bittersweet tale with quirky characters, charming moments and which is quite enchanting as a whole. Griffin O'Neal (Ryan's son) as the young lead character showed great promise in this film. Raul Julia is at his most vibrant as the spoiled son of a mayor (played by Desi Arnaz!) who befriends O'Neal's character. This film is HIGHLY under-rated and desperately needs to be remastered and reissued on video.

This is one of those odd movies which is much greater than the sum of its parts. Leonard Maltin is quite right that it is muddled, and the plot has tons of holes and inconsistencies. The casting is odd and quirky. But when the smoke clears, it stays with you. Maybe it's just the concept of a child prodigy magician. BTW, the contemporary reviews in 1982 were pretty much in accord with this opinion.

I loved this film. It ranks as my number 1 film of all time. I think it is warm, funny and poignant. The whole film from the acting to the photography is infused with a kind of otherworldliness. It is magically warm and sad, and uses illusion to describe how we come terms with our place in the world. The stand out performance by Griffin O'Neal bests anything that i have seen from the O'Neal clan.

I forgot to mention the wonderful haunting score by Georges Delerue. The main theme has a sad music box quality to it - gives a sort of a longing childhood feeling....VERY effective.

I watched this movie 37 years or so after it was made - and I was really surprised. This was not what I was expecting at all. This film boasts a clever, innovative and engrossing story and great performances by the two lead actors - Raul Julia and Griffin O'Neal. I don't know where Griffin O'Neal's career went after this, but he deserved to do well. Interesting to see the participation of Desi Arnez and Jackie Coogan. It struck me that it was interesting seeing Jackie Coogan, the original Uncle Fester, doing a scene with Raul Julia, who went on to play the movies' Gomez Addams. This really is a very enjoyable movie and I'm happy to recommend it.

The Escape Artist ranks as one of the best films I have ever seen. The fact that it is little-known is ironic, because it seems the film has done its own disappearing act, even though it is quite substantial. I am not sure I have ever seen such a profound and convincing role performed by a child, before.

The screenwriter and director made sure that Griffin O'Neal's character (Danny Masters) was not some sugar-coated cartoon character, but instead, this boy comes from a "broken" home with a great deal of turmoil. He survives and flourishes by his own strength of character and his singular purpose: To re-create and enact the famous magic feats of his deceased father.

Raul Julia (as Stu Quinnones) is at-his-best in this film, playing a dis-satisfied, eccentric, mischievous outcast with a good heart. Danny and Stu naturally coalesce. It is intriguing that Julia plays the role of the impulsive, fun loving child, where O'Neal's character is rather sober and mature. Danny endeavors to continue the tradition (and memory) of his father, while Stu rejects and de-serves his father's influence. It is apparent to me that the film's creators strove to create a meaningful, emotionally-rich film, almost free of violence. This movie stands on it's own substance; outstanding acting and direction, and fine script writing. This should have been one of the most talked-about movies of the 80's, and a perennial favorite with this understated, tour-de-force performance by Griffin O'Neal. Hats off to Melissa Mathison for magically adapting-to-screen the original novel, written by David Wagoner.

Danny Masters is the teenage son of the late Harry Masters "The Greatest Escape Artist in the world, after Houdini". He leaves home to join his Uncle and Aunty, fellow magicians. He wants to follow in his father's steps and he's not that far behind him in doing so, even though his father died what he loved doing. One day while visiting a magic shop he meets the town's Mayor's neurotic adult son Stu, where a strange relationship begins, as Danny and Stu decide to create the ultimate escape, but are Danny's talents being exploited, or does he not care.

The theme at hand is engaging just thinking about it and "The Escape Artist" (which is adapted off David Wagoner's novel) is an enjoyably offbeat and wondrously moody drama with some splendid performances. Griffin O'Neal is fitting as the lead and Raul Julia is eccentrically good. The chemistry dynamics between the two demonstrates laughs, but also excitement as it remains unpredictable. There's charming support by Teri Garr, Joan Hackett, Gabriel Dell, Elizabeth Daily and Jackie Coogan. Then there are the likes of Desi Arnaz, M. Emmet Walsh and a minor, but comically good John P. Ryan. Never really heard of it before, but I was pulled in by its charm and mystic with a nice blend of witty humour between the characters and tension within some of the magic tricks. Sure it's a kid's film at heart, but the playful story does have its sombre moments and numerous smokescreen developments. Melissa Mathison (who was behind "E.T. The Extra Terrestrial") pens the screenplay, where it's sharply pitched and ambitious despite some shady details and plenty going on. Even the imagery stands out at times with imaginative touches and perfect timing in its performances and poignant direction.