World's Greatest Magic: Cups and Balls Vol. 1

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What can one say about the Cups and Balls? It's an iconic trick and has become almost as synonymous with the conjurer's art as the proverbial rabbit from hat. It's certainly one of magic's oldest tricks. But why has this trick endured the centuries? For one thing, a Cups and Balls routine can incorporate many different effects - there can be vanishes, appearances, transpositions and productions. For another, it's always been regarded within the magic world as a kind of measuring stick of a performer's ability.

The other notable thing about the Cups and Balls is the amount of individuality that magicians can bring to their interpretation of the effect and you'll find no better example of that than the seven performers you'll meet on this DVD. Tommy Wonder begins our journey with his wonderfully self-contained routine with just two cups and two surprise productions and all with no pocket loads! Frank Garcia offers a wide variety of various moves and bits of business with the Cups and Balls, ready to add to your favorite routine, while Dan Fleshman demonstrates his famous sequence with the Cups and Balls, including his amazing five-ball "Fleshman Flash" final load. Aldo Colombini is up next, demonstrating an elegant silent routine that he used to win a prize at FISM followed by the Professor himself, Dai Vernon, along with Michael Ammar, Gary Ouellet and Steve Freeman, discussing and dissecting perhaps the most popular Cups and Balls routine in magic, the Dai Vernon Cups and Balls. Alex Elmsley is next with a great routine that climaxes with a production you have to see to believe while Ross Bertram presents a multi-phase routine with many original sequences that will fool even seasoned Cups and Balls workers.

The Cups and Balls should be studied, if not performed, by every magician and this DVD is an excellent starting point for new students and a wonderful reference tool even for those who have some experience with this foundational effect.

Two Cup Routine - Tommy Wonder
Cups and Balls - Frank Garcia
Cups and Balls - Dan Fleshman
Award Winning Cups and Balls - Aldo Colombini
Classic Cups and Balls Explanation - Dai Vernon
The Cups and Balls - Alex Elmsley
Egyptian Cups and Balls - Ross Bertram

Running Time Approximately 2hrs 08min

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Verified buyer Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on April 2nd, 2010

"I consider no man to be a magician until he can adequately perform the cups and balls." Harry Houdini.

There is probably no other routine in magic that exercises more of the classic effects as the cups and balls. Even if one never performs the cups and balls, to practice it will improve your understanding of magic and hone many skills.

I love the cups and balls as a spectator. I don't believe I've ever performed it for others but I remains one of my favorite routines to practice. The reason I don't perform it is because I haven't yet came up with a routine that I can call my own. I'm still looking for the right routine, the right sequences and the right theme or motivation.

As a big fan of the World's Greatest Magic DVDs, I could never understand why L&L Publishing didn't have a Secrets of the Cups & Balls DVD. Such a DVD is exactly what I'm looking for. I alreadty have an encyclodepic DVD set with over 70 moves and sleights. But what I need now is an resource of routines by the best C&B handlers. I need some inspiration!

L&L Publishing has finally come to my rescue with three DVDs of Cups & Balls taken from their vast catalog of magic. I've watched Volume 1 many times and my wrists are sore from flinging those cups and little balls for hours and hours.

The degree of difficulty is Moderate to difficult. Althought the basic Vernon routine is taught in detail, this is not the DVD to learn the cups and balls from. There are better introductory texts such as Mark Wlison's Complete Course in Magic. There are also DVDs available such as Michael Ammar's The Complete Cups and Balls or Eddy Ray's Complete Course in Magic with Cups & Balls. These resources will start with the basics, the props, the vanishes, the palms, and all of the classic sequences and final load techniques.

However, if you're a beginner, I would still whole heartedly recommend getting this DVD just for the sheer entertainment and wisdom you get. You must remember that this is a compilation DVD so you get the benefit of multiple teachers. These guys are all great teachers. Plus you get to hear the Professor, Dai Vernon, pass along his vast expertise with the cups and balls. Remember the cups and balls are a great teaching vehicle. You'll learn misdirection, vanishes, productions, appearances, transpostions, and almost every effect in magic except levitations!

There is over two hours of cups and balls nirvana from at least eight master magicians. Either Tommy Wonder's or Colombini's routine is worth the price of the admission alone.
A wide range of tape quality. Most of the footage is very good. Even the old film of Bertram is not bad considering the age of the film.

The rest is standard L&L Publishing menuing and production. In other words, pretty good.

This is not the DVD to learn the cups and balls from. I learned a plethora of great cups and ball sequences from the encyclopedic Eddy Ray DVD set and the Ammar DVD set appears to be a favorite of magicians far and wide. Once you've worked with the cups and balls you'll find this is a valuable resource to examine different styles and learn some unique moves. Or if you just want to sit back and enjoy some great magic you'll find it a great way to spend an evening.

3 of 3 magicians found this helpful.

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