The Movie

The best magicians of the 21st century set out on a journey to search for the lost author of the most legendary book about the art of sleight of hand.

S.W. Erdnase… the pseudonym of the man thought to be the most notorious card shark of the 19th century. His book “The Expert at the Card Table” is now considered the card conjurer’s bible, making it compulsory reading for any magician. It took more than 30 years after its publication for the true value of the book to be appreciated – too late for the author to witness the success of his work and too late for all the magicians who would have enjoyed meeting him. His true identity is still uncertain and remains a great mystery, leaving even the best illusionists in the dark.

In our film the greatest magicians of our time go in search of the long-lost genius. They talk about the rumors of his supposed suicide and other stories that will chill you to the bone. No proof of the many legends appears to exist, but in searching for him we learn about the true significance of his book. Along the way, we are given valuable insights into the history of deception through the ages and the origin of some of the best-kept secrets of the contemporary world of magic.

 

The Motivation

Director’s Statement

I spent seven years of my life learning magic tricks from a book which is known as the bible of card magic. It was first published in 1902. Today it is regarded as one of the most important treasures of knowledge in the world of magic. When I passed the entry test for the Magic Circle of Germany at the age of 19 I started looking for information about the author. I was eager to find out more about the genius behind this book but until today his identity has remained unclear. Through my research I became aware of many fascinating stories connected to the subject. They are the core of this documentary and are all based on true events.

// Hans-Joachim Brucherseifer

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