Win all of these!
Drawing on April 1st, 2024
Details

Out of This World

Various

L&L Publishing

(Based on 1 review)
Imagine owning the most comprehensive magic book ever written. This would surely be a treasured possession for any magician with each chapter focusing on a single aspect of the craft and the very best routines ever created for it. That's the idea behind L&L Publishing's critically-acclaimed DVD series, The World's Greatest Magic by the World's Greatest Magicians. Each volume is like another chapter in the world's best magic book. Featuring in-depth exposition and instruction on some of magic's most cherished and classic effects by its most-talented practitioners, this unprecedented series represents an essential reference work for anyone interested in the magical arts, regardless of their skill level.

In 1942, magician Paul Curry invented a card trick that would take the world of pasteboard sorcery by storm. Dubbed Out of This World, this effect, where a spectator separates the red cards from the black ones without looking at them, featured a very rare combination of an extremely powerful effect with an almost self-working methodology and quickly became the most talked-about card trick of its time. On this DVD, you'll meet five different performers who each has a singular take on this classic trick. Michael Ammar is first with an easy-to-perform version that echoes Curry's original method. Steve Draun is next with a streamlined version that eliminates any packet switches in the middle of the effect while David Regal takes the Curry methodology a step further, with the spectator not only separating the cards by color but by suit, also! Glenn Falkenstein uses a classic Triumph-like effect to set the deck up for his version of Curry's miracle while, finally, Eugene Burger offers some thoughts, not just on the methodology, but more so on the presentational aspects of the trick.

Curry later recalled that the concept of the trick came to him in about 15 minutes and he didn't understand why it would fool magicians. But, fool them it did! Curry's brainchild has become one of the most famous card tricks of all time and in fact, in the famous Genii-Orben poll, was voted as one of the greatest tricks in magic history. What's more, it can now be a part of your own repertoire as an anytime, anywhere, any deck miracle.
  • Out of This World - Michael Ammar
  • Out of This World - Steve Draun
  • Out of This Borough - David Regal
  • Out of This World - Falkenstein & Willard
  • Out of This World - Eugene Burger

Running Time Approximately: 48min

Reviews

Gordon Meyer

Official Reviewer

Jun 20, 2011

Paul Curry's "Out of This World" is perhaps the greatest card trick of the 20th century. (If you don't believe me, perhaps Wikipedia, sadly, will convince you.) Given its popularity it's no surprise that the video archives at L&L include many performances of this classic piece.

By now, everyone knows the "World's Greatest Magic" formula. L&L mines their past work and assembles a compilation that teaches, or sometimes just demonstrates, different approaches to a single trick. The result is almost always a bargain for those who want to study a particular piece in depth. It's also a bit like having an endless supply of ice cream--it's easy to overindulge and end up with nothing but regret and self-loathing.

The Out of This World compilation is no exception. If you want to learn this trick, I can think of no better way to begin. Not just for the various methodologies that are taught, but for the lessons about presentation you'll learn. Unfortunately there's not as much variety in presentation as there is in method, which is a subtle lesson unto itself.

Of the segments, I particularly enjoyed David Regal's overall approach (including his methodology, which is based on Harry Lorayne's version). But in my view Eugene Burger's contribution was the most unique and interesting. Burger's method isn't tipped, however, which further serves to make the segment stand out. By the time you reach his version, it's a breath of fresh air, and you'll no longer need to learn how to do the trick. You only need to learn why, which Burger ably provides.
(Top ▲)