The Magician's Daughter

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

Frank Albertson, Maurice Cass, and Eleanor Lynn in The Magician's Daughter (1938)

News photographer/journalist Bob Wilson is assigned to get photographs showing how a popular local magician, Professor Jasper Murdock, does his tricks. Wilson wrangles a dinner invitation to... Read allNews photographer/journalist Bob Wilson is assigned to get photographs showing how a popular local magician, Professor Jasper Murdock, does his tricks. Wilson wrangles a dinner invitation to Murdock's home and takes a keen interest in the magician's daughter, Dolores. He also tak... Read allNews photographer/journalist Bob Wilson is assigned to get photographs showing how a popular local magician, Professor Jasper Murdock, does his tricks. Wilson wrangles a dinner invitation to Murdock's home and takes a keen interest in the magician's daughter, Dolores. He also takes a liking to the family and tells his editor that he isn't going to take the photos. The... Read all

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

5.9/10

124

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Photos

Top cast9

Edit

Eleanor Lynn

Dolores Murdock

Frank Albertson

Bob Wilson

Maurice Cass

Professor Jasper Murdock

Tommy Bond

Harry Murdock
(uncredited)

Virginia Brissac

Mrs. Murdock
(uncredited)

Thomas E. Jackson

Mr. Burns, The Editor
(uncredited)

Mitchell Lewis

Stage Doorman
(uncredited)

Charles Williams

Slugger Burke
(uncredited)

Katherine Yorke

Nightclub Patron
(uncredited)

Director
- Felix E. Feist
Writers
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

More like this

6.5

5.5

5.8

6.5

6.1

6.0

7.0

5.9

6.7

My Grandfather's Clock

7.8

Is It Love or Is It Conscription?

6.9

Air Mail Special

7.3

Pride of the Marines

Storyline

Edit

Did you know

Edit

Trivia
Tommy Bond, in an uncredited role, was familiar to younger viewers across the country as bully Butch in the Our Gang comedies.

Goofs
When taking a picture of the contrived beach scene with the sea serpent, Bob Wilson tells Dolores to wiggle it a little, referring to the tail of the rubber serpent. He then takes one picture with his camera and says, "There! That ought to hold Burns for a week." However, as he took only a single picture, the "wiggle" served no purpose as it wouldn't be seen in the still picture. A newspaper photographer would know this.

Quotes
Bob Wilson: But, Chief, you wouldn't take the bread and butter out of an old man's mouth, would you?
Mr. Burns, The Editor: Let him eat cake. Say, you didn't get tangled up with that dame, did you?
Bob Wilson: Oh, Chief, you know I wouldn't let a dame interfere with my work.
Mr. Burns, The Editor: No? How about that time I sent you to cover that beauty contest winner? You didn't come back for three days.
Bob Wilson: Well, that was different, Chief. This is a matter of principle.
Mr. Burns, The Editor: Principle! Heh!... Well, maybe you're right, kid. Forget the assignment.
Bob Wilson: Aww, you're a great guy, Chief. I thought you'd see it my way.
Mr. Burns, The Editor: Forget it, kid. Just get me some pictures of a sea serpent.
Bob Wilson: Where am I going to find a sea serpent?
Mr. Burns, The Editor: That's your worry.
Bob Wilson: OK, Chief.
[turns and leaves]

Soundtracks
Alone
(uncredited)
Music by Nacio Herb Brown
Lyrics by Arthur Freed
Performed by Eleanor Lynn (vocal)

User reviews4

Review

Featured review

Decent Short

Magician's Daughter, The (1938)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

MGM short about a reporter who begins to investigate a magician in hopes of proving that he's a fraud but he falls in love with the magician's daughter. The magic tricks look horribly fake and the so called love story is very minor. Not too many laughs either. The directed went on to do The Devil Thumbs a Ride and Donovan's Brain.

Decent but nothing too great.

Turner Classic Movies shows this short every once in a while so if you're interested that would be your best shot at seeing this.