Night Magic
Night Magic is a 1985 Canadian-French musical film written by Leonard Cohen and Lewis Furey and directed by Furey. The film stars Nick Mancuso as Michael, a down-on-his-luck musician whose fantasies begin to come true after he meets an angel (Carole Laure). The film’s supporting cast includes Stéphane Audran, Jean Carmet, Frank Augustyn, Louis Robitaille, Anik Bissonnette, Nanette Workman and Barbara Eve Harris.
I starred in Night Magic. And I feel guilty about it. A marvelously original musical by two geniuses: Leonard Cohen and Lewis Furey. Take a listen. Find this lost Canadian film. I say geniuses because there is no doubt that Leonard Cohen remains one of the great legends in music history, poetry, and writing in the latter part of the 20th century in the period known as the 60s. As for Lewis well take a listen.
Leonard Cohen. A legend. Night Magic the unknown unsung movie he wrote starring myself, Carol Laure, Stephan Audron, Jean Carmet, directed by Lewis Feury ~ his first time at the bat. Cinematography by Philippe Selot. Choreography and dancing by Eddie Toussant Ballet de Montreal and Frank Augustine of the National Ballet of Canada.
A class act of a film and a complete flop. It reflected a time of mythic figures in cinema: Fellini, Kurosawa, Godard. And music: The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Jim Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Bob Dylan, and from the frontier country of olden Canada… Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchel, Neil Young, Gordon Lightfoot, and all the other illuminated crazies that infused my generation with the sheer force and hope for a shimmering bright new future. It reflected the echoes of a time that would once and all-time end the war to end all wars. And bring about a time of peace and love. To my mind at least this was the subtext of Night Magic. Yes, it was to be peace and love and this unknown little film spoke about it all. Success. Fame. Love. Immortality.
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