''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 Lewis Furey, born Lewis Greenblatt (born 7 June 1949) is a Canadian composer, singer, violinist, pianist, actor and director. Career Born in Montreal, Quebec to French and American parents, Furey trained as a classical violinist, and at age 11 ...

and directed by Furey. The film stars

Nick Mancuso Nicodemo Antonio Massimo Mancuso (born May 29, 1948) is an Italian-Canadian actor, artist, playwright, and director. Beginning his career as a stage actor, he had his breakthrough role in the 1981 drama ''Ticket to Heaven'', for which he won the ...

as Michael, a down on his luck musician whose fantasies begin to come true after he meets an angel (Judy, played by

Carole Laure Carole Laure O.C. (born August 5, 1948) is an actress and singer from Quebec, Canada. Career Throughout most of her career, Carole Laure primarily collaborated with Anglophone singer, songwriter, producer, and director Lewis Furey, whom she ...

)."Angel Eyes heads for Cannes". ''

The Globe and Mail ''The Globe and Mail'' is a Canadian newspaper printed in five cities in western and central Canada. With a weekly readership of approximately 2 million in 2015, it is Canada's most widely read newspaper on weekdays and Saturdays, although it ...

'', March 23, 1985. The film's supporting cast includes

Stéphane Audran Stéphane Audran (born Colette Suzanne Dacheville; 8 November 1932 – 27 March 2018) was a French actress. She was known for her performances in award-winning films such as ''The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie'' (1972) and ''Babette's Feast'' ...

Jean Carmet Jean Carmet (25 April 1920 – 20 April 1994) was a French actor. Life and career Jean Carmet began working on stage and then in film in the early 1940s becoming a very popular comedic actor in his native country. He is best known internatio ...

, Frank Augustyn, Louis Robitaille,

Anik Bissonnette Anik Bissonnette OC CQ (born 9 February 1962) is a Canadian ballet dancer; and was a principal dancer starting in 1990 with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens. Her father, Jean Bissonnette, was famous as a television director with Télévision de R ...

Nanette Workman Nanette Joan Workman (born 20 November 1945, Brooklyn, New York, United States) is a singer-songwriter, actress and author, who has been based in Quebec, Canada, during much of her career. She holds dual citizenship of both the United States and ...

and

Barbara Eve Harris Barbara Eve Harris (born Barbara Evadney Reid-Hibbert; March 8, 1959) is a Tobagonian-Canadian actress, known for her supporting performances on television. She is best known for her role as FBI Agent Felicia Lang on '' Prison Break''. Life an ...

Jay Scott Jeffrey Scott Beaven (October 4, 1949 – July 30, 1993), known professionally by his pen name Jay Scott, was a Canadian film critic."Critic Jay Scott, 43 among world's best". ''Toronto Star'', July 31, 1993. Early life Scott was born in Lincol ...

, "'Ooh, that is wonderful, yes!'". ''

'', 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 o ...

on May 17, 1985. Most of the score is in

Spenserian stanza The Spenserian stanza is a fixed verse form invented by Edmund Spenser for his epic poem ''The Faerie Queene'' (1590–96). Each stanza contains nine lines in total: eight lines in iambic pentameter followed by a single 'alexandrine' line in iambic ...

s.The Montreal Gazette, July 19 1986 ''Night Magic creators take on just too much of a challenge.'' Bruce Bailey
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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

as Judy *

as Michael * Stephane Audran as Janice *

as Sam * Lyne Tremblay as Stardust * Danielle Godin as Moonbeam *

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 woul ...

as The Beggar *

as Michael (voice) * Karen Young as Doubt (voice) * Erin Dickens as Purple Angel (voice) * Estelle Ste-Croix as Caramel Angel (voice) *

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 ha ...

, and the lyrics of the song ''The Bells'' form a large part of the song "Anthem" from The Future.

Awards

The film garnered four Genie Award nominations at the

7th Genie Awards The 7th Genie Awards were held March 20, 1986, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre to honour achievements in Canadian film in 1985. The ceremony was co-hosted by Leslie Nielsen and Catherine Mary Stewart."Genie hosts announced". ''Toronto Star'' ...

: * Best Art Direction (

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/P ...

) * Best Original Score (Furey) *

Best Original Song This is a list of categories of awards commonly awarded through organizations that bestow film awards, including those presented by various film, festivals, and people's awards. Best Actor/Best Actress *See Best Actor#Film awards, Best Actress#F ...

: "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