The Magic Flame

The Magic Flame
The Magic Flame
	Lobby card
Directed by	Henry King
Written by	George Marion Jr. (titles); June Mathis (continuity); Bess Meredyth (writer); Nellie Revell (titles)
Based on	König Harlekin; by Rudolph Lothar
Produced by	Samuel Goldwyn
Starring	Ronald Colman ; Vilma Bánky
Cinematography	George Barnes
Music by	Sigmund Spaeth
Production; company	Samuel Goldwyn Productions
Distributed by	United Artists
Release date	September 18, 1927(U.S.);
Running time	9 reels
Country	United States
Language	Silent (English intertitles)

Last updated December 15, 2025

The Magic Flame is a 1927 American silent drama film directed by Henry King, produced by Samuel Goldwyn, and based on the 1900 play Konig Harlekin by Rudolph Lothar.^[1] George Barnes was nominated at the 1st Academy Awards for Best Cinematography for his work in The Magic Flame, The Devil Dancer , and Sadie Thompson .^[2] The film promoted itself as the Romeo and Juliet of the circus upon its release.

Plot

Cast

Ronald Colman as Tito the Clown
Vilma Bánky as Bianca, the acrobat
Agostino Borgato as The Ringmaster
Gustav von Seyffertitz as The Chancellor
Harvey Clark as The Aide
Shirley Palmer as The Wife
Cosmo Kyrle Bellew as The Husband
George Davis as The Utility Man
André Cheron as The Manager
Vadim Uraneff as The Visitor
Meurnier-Surcouf as Sword Swallower
Raoul Paoli as Weight Thrower
William Bakewell
Lucille Ballart
Austen Jewell

Preservation

The Magic Flame is now considered to be a lost film.^[3] The first five reels are rumored to exist at the George Eastman Museum, though this is disputed.^[4]^[5]

References

↑ Shilling, Donovan A. (September 1, 2013). Rochester's Movie Mania. Pancoast Publishing. p. 187. ISBN 9780982109045.
↑ "The 1st Academy Awards (1929) Nominees and Winners". Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences . Retrieved November 9, 2013.
↑ Progressive Silent Film List: The Magic Flame at silentera.com
↑ Vilma Banky: Hungarian Rhapsody
↑ Schildgen, Rachel A. (2010). More Than a Dream: Rediscovering the Life and Films of Vilma Bánky. 1921 PVG Publishing. p. 167. ISBN 978-0982770924 . Retrieved March 5, 2013. ... in the past, scholars have said the first five reels were housed at the George Eastman House in New York. Further inquiries have turned up little, and it is safe to assume the film is gone for good.

External links

The Magic Flame at IMDb
‹See Tfd› The Magic Flame at the TCM Movie Database
Stills at silenthollywood.com

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[1] Shilling, Donovan A. (September 1, 2013). Rochester's Movie Mania. Pancoast Publishing. p. 187. ISBN 9780982109045.

[2] "The 1st Academy Awards (1929) Nominees and Winners". Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences . Retrieved November 9, 2013.

[3] Progressive Silent Film List: The Magic Flame at silentera.com

[4] Vilma Banky: Hungarian Rhapsody

[5] Schildgen, Rachel A. (2010). More Than a Dream: Rediscovering the Life and Films of Vilma Bánky. 1921 PVG Publishing. p. 167. ISBN 978-0982770924 . Retrieved March 5, 2013. ... in the past, scholars have said the first five reels were housed at the George Eastman House in New York. Further inquiries have turned up little, and it is safe to assume the film is gone for good.

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