World's Greatest Magic - Cups & Balls Volume 1 (DVD)

"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. Here's my review...

Marketing Fluff

Here is the marketing fluff from L&L's DVD case...

"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."

Degree of Difficulty

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.


Teaching

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!


Quantity of Effects

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.


Quality of Effects

Let's take a look at each routine on the DVD:

Two Cup Routine – Tommy Wonder

So many people consider Wonder's routine the pinnacle of the Cups & Balls. Tommy solved the problem of dealing with final loads without requiring a coat, deep pockets, a servant or your lap. He solved the problem by using the cups bag and an attached pom-pom tie as the final loads. The final loads are on the table at all times in full view. Wonder is a master of misdirection. Even when you know what he is going to do it is still very hard to catch him because the misdirection is so strong and his audience management is so nuanced.

This routine has a high degree of difficulty, at least to execute it to the perfection of Wonder. You'll also need to acquire a specialty bag and poms.

Cups and Balls – Frank Garcia

Garcia doesn't really show a routine but demonstrates a series of cups and balls sequences. After he demonstrates the sequences he goes into a teaching segment. The moves are rather strong.

Cups and Balls – Dan Fleshman

Fleshman does a seated routine with mini baseballs. The final loads are five baseballs.

Award Winning Cups and Balls – Aldo Colombini

I didn't think I would ever find a Cups and Balls routine I like more that the Wonder routine. Perhaps this is it. This is a beautiful routine that Colombini does without patter. His Can-Can move is worth the price of the DVD.

Classic Cups and Balls Explanation – Dai Vernon

Vernon's routine is the gold standard of the cups and balls. In this vintage footage, Vernon doesn't perform the routine as he no longer has the required dexterity. However, Dai was able to demonstrate many of his signiture moves including his wand spins and vanishes. At first, I got a little bored as I know a lot of his moves. However, as I took the time to listen, you really pick up a lot of wisdom and great advice on these moves.

There is no demonstration of Vernon's routine. This is purely a teaching segment. Micheal Ammar teaches Vernon's sequences as Vernon narrates and expands the basic instruction that Ammar provides. This is a master class on cups and balls.

The Cups and Balls – Alex Elmsley

As big of a fan of Alex Elmsley that I am, I have to say that this is the weakest routine on the disk. His moves are sometimes smooth and sometimes rough and unpolished. For example, his cup through cup move is really rough. Vernon, even in his advanced age did it flawlessly.

This final sequence is what makes Elmsley's routine different. He produces a stream of salt from the final stack of cups - which he pours on a newspaper. He picks up the newspaper and pours the salt back into the cups; filling all three cups. The problem with this is that the initial pour of salt takes so long that it created an ackward moment with the audience. Although this is the weakest routine, I still love Elmsley's creativity!

Egyptian Cups and Balls – Ross Bertram

Great ending to a strong DVD. I'm guessing that this old film footage is from an old television show. The film opens with a little Egyptian magic history reminiscent of an old Disney travelogue. Once the magic starts, you get a close up of Bertram's copper cups - even in this old footage you can tell these are really beautiful cups. His wand is a carved wooden snake. He rhythmically moves the wand to animate the snake as he works his routine. Really a wonderful touch that captures the Egyptian theme better than any routine I've ever seen.

The routine is set to middle-eastern music with no patter. The black balls are quite small and I'm guessing made out of wood. His production of each ball from the tip of the snake's head was a move I've never seen. The same with some of his wand vanishes - very creative and just a bit different.

He appears to classic palm these little balls in a few sequences for some stunning effects. He seems to use the classic palm to drop a ball onto the cup as he waves his hand over the cups. This isn't a misdirection move - he smoothly executes the drop with the heat on the cup and hand. You never really see Bertram's face until the very end of the routine. It's a lengthy routine but one that lovers of the cups and balls will appreciate. Sadly, there is no teaching segment for the Bertram segment.



Production Quality

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.

Overall: 9/10

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.