Ingmar Bergman's The Magician (Ansiktet) is an engaging, brilliantly imagined tale of deceit from among cinema's premier illusionists. Max von Sydow stars as Dr. Vogler, a nineteenth century travel mesmerist and peddler of potions whose magical is placed to the test from Stockholm by the barbarous, eminently rational roy-al medical adviser Dr. Vergérus. The outcome is a diabolically clever conflict of wits that is both amusing and frightening, shot in rich gothic white and black.