Incidentally in case you were wondering the music used in David Copperfield's trick was the theme score from the film "The Rocketeer", knew I'd heard it before but took a while to place it.In a recent article for Smithsonian Magazine, Teller (right), half of the magic team Penn & Teller, explains the art and science of mental manipulation. This is much simpler to do and whilst it looks very realistic on stage the second video gives it all away, and shows just how simple the trick is, but is made to look better with a bit of showbiz sparkle. This is the David Copperfield version of the same sort of illusion performed live in Las Vegas. Knowing how it's doesn't detract from just how good the illusion looks if you don't know. Another give away is look how far the gusset of the trousers are between his legs from what is supposed to be his waist (don't think there are many midgets with long legs knocking about). Note also how the "doctor" and "nurse" have to lever him upright (remember he can't pivot at the waist). The legs are then laid down and the doctor again blocks your view whilst the legs literally jump into position for them to lock back together again. The top half of the body is then carried onto the low trolley and has again to be turned over by hand for the re-joining. The location points and locks holding them together are covered by cloth on the top of the legs and the bottom of the body. Also look at the legs that are left, the cut leaves a section of his white top still attached to his trousers, and that makes the lower legs section longer so that the guy in the bottom can stand upright, and take the weight of the top half of the body, on the frame he's wearing. (Note the shoulder width compared with the big barrel chest) When he's cut in half he falls onto the table, but has to be picked up to get him upright on the table, he's then able to lift himself up off the table with his hands so you can see right underneath him. The top half is a midget who sits on a platform with his knees folded in front of his chest. The "man" himself is in reality two midgets in a specially constructed frame that makes them both appear as one single person. Notice that the guy who is supposedly cut in half is supporting himself on the table, and when he's actually cut in half the "doctor" miraculously blocks your view of the actual body cut. As a one-time member of David Copperfield's Illusion creation team, you would expect David Copperfield himself to have a better version of the illusion. Sadly it's been closed down, so until I find another site all the other tricks will fall into the "how the h**L, did he do that" category.Īs I originally said the cut a man in half illusion was performed by Kevin James, in his audition on Americas Got talent. I claim no credit in telling you how it was done I actually saw it on a video in Daily Motion that spilled the beans on quite a few magic tricks and elusions. When you watch that even if you know how it's done, you'll wonder how he did it. If you want to know or can't work it out for yourself then let me know and I'll give you the answer plus a link to another site that shows a variation of this illusion performed by a world class illusionist. Look at the link above that shows a magician on the Americas Got Talent show.
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