The Magic Shop (Color, 1972)
This is a modern version of the H.G. Wells short story, where a father and son pay a visit to a magic shop. As the son marvels at tricks he believes to be true magic, his skeptical father tries his best to ground the feats in logical thinking.
The Bloxham Tapes (Color, 1978)
A fascinating documentary focusing on the tape recordings of eminent hypnotherapist Arnall Bloxham who, over the course of more than 20 years, has hypnotized 400 people, recording what appear to be uncannily detailed descriptions of previous lives. The film considers the question of whether or not the Bloxham tapes can be taken as proof of reincarnation or the possibility of the hoax of implanted memories. The film features real participants and re-imagined reenactments of the detailed stories that come out of their sessions.
X-Factor or Fraud presents us with self-styled mystical types ranging from earnest believers to hucksters, served up with a generous sprinkling of cheese. It's hippie chic meets old-style hag-tastic, with the motley bunch weighing in all things otherworldly. This camp fest is graced by the grandeur of talk-show-hopping superstar sorceress, Sybil Leek.
Fraud By Mail (1944, B&W)
Meet ‘Joe Gullible’ and his cohort of dim-bulbed dummies in this Universal Studios short about bogus mail order products. Which is funnier, the devices themselves (nose shapers, spine straighteners, electrical hair stimulators, eye mallets, pendiculators) or the idiots who bought them? With a satirical narration by Joe Costello, this film sure does point out the fools among us!
The Magic Shop (Color, 1972)
This short film, adapted from H.G. Wells’s short story of the same name, chronicles a father and son’s trip to a neighborhood magic shop. The magician inside demonstrates a wide array of tricks and illusions, which amaze the son, but initially fail to impress the skeptical father. As the magician’s feats grow more outlandish, however, it becomes increasingly difficult for the father to hold on to his disbelief.
Houdini Never Died (B&W/Color, 1978)
Harry Houdini is perhaps the best-known magician and escape artist in American popular memory. In addition to his death-defying feats, he was also committed to debunking spiritualism and otherworldly claims. His magic was grounded in the physicality of his acts; they were simply fantastic escapes and illusions, rather than something supernatural. Both sides of Houdini are on display in this fascinating half-hour long documentary, which contains rarely-seen archival footage of Houdini, narrated by Burgess Meredith.
Matthew Manning: Study of the Psychic (1974, Color)
Alleged British psychic and healer, Matthew Manning was born in 1955, and, according to his autobiography found himself at the centre of inexplicable events from an early age. This doc describes his ability to telekinetically move objects, his “automatic writing” directed by spirits of the dead and his metal-bending displays. Fact or fraud? You decide!
Not You, Too?! (Color, 1973)
Anti-fraud educational film teaches how to avoid typical scenarios like paying to have a studio record your stupid hippy song (convincing you it’s a sure fire hit).
Four Famous Frauds (Color, 1977, 9.5 min)
Watch out for ‘PT Fraud’! The embodiment of trickery, Mr. Fraud is cruising a neighborhood looking for his next victims, so pay close attention to make sure he doesn’t get you next. And, piece of advice, move out of that cardboard, cartoon-like neighborhood you live in.