Revealing mistake: Uhl talks about Eisenheim's childhood, and about the vanishing tree. Problem is that not only the tree disappears, but also his very own shadow, making him look as if he's floating in a landscape, thus giving away the green screen effect. (00:06:50)
The Illusionist (2006)
1 revealing mistake - chronological order
Directed by: Neil Burger
Starring: Paul Giamatti, Edward Norton, Jessica Biel, Rufus Sewell
Visible crew/equipment: Near the end of the film, Chief Inspector Uhl is in Prince Leopold's office. In the close-up shot when the two argue, you can view the boom mic, going from one character to the other, in the reflection on the brass table lamp.
More trivia for The IllusionistMore questions & answers from The Illusionist
Join the mailing list
Separate from membership, this is to get updates about mistakes in recent releases. Addresses are not passed on to any third party, and are used solely for direct communication from this site. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Check out the mistake & trivia books, on Kindle and in paperback.
Answer: The trick is done with electromagnets under the stage holding the sword upright and stuck to the floor (switched off when Leopold takes the sword). Audiences at the time would have been unfamiliar with such a technique.
Sierra1 ★