MovieChat Forums > The Prestige (2006) Discussion > The Disappearing Bird

The Disappearing Bird

posted 8 years ago by the-author
4 replies | jump to latest

You're looking for the secret... but you won't find it, because of course you're not really looking. You don't really want to know. You want to be fooled."

I love the illusions within this film and its foreshadowing. Here's an example of illusion to consider.

In the beginning, Cutter shows the little girl a disappearing bird. We think its a simple trick of misdirection and slight of hand. the foreshadowing is the large number of birds in cages, a foreshadow of Angier as well, of course.

Later, we see another magician perform the same trick. Notice his facial expression. He seems harsh compared to Cutter. The boy immediately cries. Borden shows us how the trick works. The obvious foreshadow is the expression of the bird's brother.

Later, Cutter shows Angier a trick way to pull the dove within his jacket. Is it real or designed to trick the stage manager? We are not shown if there are more than two doves. The dove that reappears does not have the string on its foot. We see the trick repeated later. But, wouldn't it pretty much break its leg? I think we are left with no true explanation. Or are we to imagine that the trick really works the way it is told by Cutter? Maybe this foreshadows how Angier disappears and Root takes the bow, because nobody really cares to find out if the first dove is alright. Angier is still using a second dove.

In the ending, we see the sweet little girl not realizing that the friendly Cutter is mashing a little bird before her face during this 'happy' ending of the film. So, you were looking for Borden's reappearance to his daughter, and you forgot about the helpless bird being crushed.

Good thing Borden's nephew wasn't there.

I've noticed very slight mannerisms whether Bale is playing Alfred or Fredrick. I didn't note down every thought but I might some day. Freddy is a bit more harsh in his voice and has a bit of different facial expressions from Alfred.

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[–] huzdaman 8 years ago

I've noticed very slight mannerisms whether Bale is playing Alfred or Fredrick. I didn't note down every thought but I might some day. Freddy is a bit more harsh in his voice and has a bit of different facial expressions from Alfred.

I may have to re-watch it just for that reason. I have often maligned Bale as a one-note actor, all pouty and sort of a one-trick pony. If what you say is correct, then I will have to eat those words and admit that he is a better actor than I thought. He makes good movies that entertain, but in my mind he is a character-actor, sort of the same expressions and everything, every time. Maybe you're right, and his communication and body language variances are VERY subtle.

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[–] the-author 8 years ago

I would start with the scene where he appears inside Sarah's home.
You have to sort of outline which Borden is actually onscreen.

Fredrick was buried, Alfred was in the main scene.
Fredrick was the one she told she was pregnant.
Alfred bought the home and showed it to her.
Fredrick says, "Why can't you outhink him?"
Alfred says, "Let him have his trick, leave him alone."

I think he's a serious actor who tries very hard.
As long as he knew which Borden he was playing, he should well have made tiny patterns.

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[–] yurenchu 8 years ago

Fredrick was the one she told she was pregnant.
Alfred bought the home and showed it to her.

What was there in Albert's personality in that scene that was different from Freddie's personality when he explains the Bullet Catch trick to Sarah, or later when Olivia breaks up with him in the restaurant? As far as I can tell, they are the same personality, the only reason we know that one is Freddie and the other Albert is because Sarah can tell the difference, and because we know that only one of them loves Sarah and the other loves Olivia.

I think that when Albert would explain the Bullet Catch trick to a woman that he doesn't love, he would behave pretty much the same as Freddie did in that scene. And I think that if Freddie had bought a house for Olivia, he would have behaved quite similarly to Albert when Albert gave the key to Sarah. I haven't encountered any hard evidence in the movie to assume otherwise. Which different mannerisms do the brothers really have that distinguish them from eachother?

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[–] the-author 8 years ago

Albert is a bit friendlier and smiles more.
Freddie is a bit more serious, pouty?, and seems to drink a bit.
It's Freddie that explains both tricks, not Alfred (right?).
I can't tell, is it a different day when Borden walks Sarah home?
Because Alfred is already inside.
there was a facial gesture I'm sure Freddie uses two or three times, but I haven't marked them yet.
The first time I saw Prestige, I kept trying to figure out which twin was onscreen. so, it has been more of an obsession than some others to identify which brother is shown.

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