Magic on a Stick

1946 0h 10m EN

🙌

8.0

BANGER

★8.0TMDB · 2

History

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

This MGM Passing Parade series short recounts how English chemist John Walker invented the wooden friction match during the 1820s.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

John Nesbitt
Narrator (voice)
Paul Langton
John Walker (uncredited)
Jacqueline White
Mrs. John Walker (uncredited)

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Cy Endfield
Writers: Charles Larson
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Tight 10-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

80 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Directed by Cy Endfield, shot by Harold Lipstein. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Tom Biggart shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

John Nesbitt and Paul Langton and Jacqueline White carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0129217 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 2 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Cy Endfield directs. Harold Lipstein behind the camera. Tom Biggart cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Tight 10-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.
280 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
3Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
4Directed by Cy Endfield, shot by Harold Lipstein. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Editor Tom Biggart shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6John Nesbitt and Paul Langton and Jacqueline White carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0129217 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 2 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.