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The Prestige - Screenplay
From film-maker Christopher Nolan ("Memento," "Batman Begins") and writer Jonathan Nolan (whose original short story 'Memento Mori' was the basis of "Memento") comes a mysterious tale of two magicians whose intense rivalry erupts into a life-long battle lethally fueled by obsession, deceit, and jealousy. In late nineteenth-century England, two stage illusionists are drawn into a match of wits, each desiring to annihilate the reputation of the other. Upper-class Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman) enjoys worldwide fame, while cockney Alfred Borden (Christian Bale) is his most ardent rival. Their antagonism is also a mutual fascination, but the competition between them leads to evermore dangerous acts of conjuring. When Angier raises the stakes by consulting scientist Nikola Tesla (David Bowie), the potential for a deadly reckoning draws near. This volume contains an Introduction by Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan.
112 pages, Paperback
First published September 21, 2006
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About the author
Jonathan Nolan
85 books171 followersJonathan Nolan is a British-American author and screenwriter. His short story
„Memento Mori“
(Latin for remember you will die) was used by his brother, director Christopher Nolan, as the basis for the screenplay for the critically acclaimed film Memento. He has also co-written the screenplays for The Prestige and The Dark Knight, with his brother. He recently created the CBS drama Person of Interest. He has also been credited under his nickname of Jonah.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
October 25, 2016
Grossly underrated and obscured by his brilliant forays into the Batman universe, this is, in my mind, Jonathan Nolan's best work after Memento. The real power behind his brother's celebrity and brilliance, Jonathan concots a fascinating narrative that surpasses its source material, Christopher Priest's eponymous novel, an original even if forgettable fantasy. The difference lies in execution. Priest fails in showmanship, Nolan exceeds at it, just like the two magicians in the story. Borden had a marvelous trick, but lacked the talent to dress it up. The Great Danton had the stage command and the acting chops to take it home... so he stole it. This story has the greatest, third-act denouement I've seen since the original Planet of the Apes and The Sixth Sense.
November 30, 2025
The Prestige, based on the book by Christopher Priest and directed, adapted by Christopher Nolan
Nine out of 10
This is a note about the film, inspired by the book…
The Prestige has had a…prestigious relationship with the audiences as evidenced by the 1,099, 489 viewers that have given it an average of 8.5 out of 10, placing it with that appreciation at 48 among the Top Rated Movies, although the critics have not been equally ebullient and have given it a Metascore of 66, which means that on average, they have enjoyed the film, but not with exaggerated enthusiasm for a twice nominated for the Oscars production.
The astounding Christian Bale as Alfred Borden – and perhaps another, mysterious character – Scarlett Johansson as Olivia Wenscombe, Hugh Jackman as Robert Angier, legendary Michael Caine as Cutter, Rebecca Hall in the role of Sarah and all the other artists, including Andy Serkis and David Bowie, as Tesla, work resplendently under the direction of Christopher Nolan.
Robert Angier and Alfred Borden work together at the beginning of their careers, helping a ‘magician’ perform, tying up an assistant that jumps into a huge box filled with water, only to appear spectacularly outside, if the ties are correct and the special lock is in place, but when one of these conditions are not met, she dies drowning, before the hammer can break through the glass to release the now cold, dead body.
This is the beginning of a vicious, lifelong hatred between the two main characters, for when confronted, Alfred Borden claims he does not remember what type of knot he had used – he had been contemplating changing the style and that might have been the cause of the fatal entrapment – and with that he becomes a mortal enemy of Robert Angiers, who had loved the dead woman, who had been his wife and whose leg he had used to kiss during the performance, making Cutter tell him to stop, for the public seated in the first rows could see it…
Alfred is working with unscrupulous, cruel performers, one of whom uses in his act birds, like so many others, but his ‘act’ has him kill the poor feathered animals, for the pretense that the little soul disappeared was based on the monster slapping his hand over the covered creature, thus squashing it and then bringing out from a hidden pocket in the coat a new, different canary or other small bird, pretending it is just innocent magic.
Alfred Borden works on a different performance, involving a revolver, that a member of the audience would fire at him, without killing him, because he has supernatural powers allegedly, only he shows his wife, Sarah, that she has nothing to worry about, because the bullet he is supposed to have caught with his chest, will have been always in his hand and the gun is manipulated in such a manner as to be unable to hurt him.
Indeed, as we can all see now on Discovery or other channels, the secrets of ‘magic tricks’ rely on a few aspects, such as the distraction technique – while the audience is concentrated and watching intensely one hand, the other does the ‘trick’, based also on the psychologically tested fact that we tend to accommodate to very fast changing circumstances – or and the agility and dexterity of those who practice all day, every day in their trade…an example that comes to mind is included in bobby Deerfield, with Al Pacino, where the hero asks a magician how he does his act and in answer, the latter plays with a coin that keeps moving through all his fingers and when the main character tries to do the same, he is unable even after plenty of tests…
When they are still comrades in arms, Robert and Alfred go to see a Chinese old man – at least in theory – perform his unbelievable act, in which at one point a huge bowl with a fish appears and they realize that the man pretends he is feeble and walks with great effort, while he trains all day and he has immensely powerful muscles in his legs, which allow him to carry the huge, round fish tank covered under his traditional dress and thus present it as a miraculous apparition on the table.
When they are adversaries, first Robert shows at the act of his mortal enemy and he is the one who offers to fire the gun in the act, only to use a real one and shoot off the ends of a few fingers, and in return, after this happens, the wounded Alfred returns the ‘favor’, by appearing on stage at the other’s act, which involves a disappearing dove, only to injure the spectator that volunteered to help and kill the bird in front of the public, ruining his prospects.
The confrontation continues when Alfred creates a new, unseen magic act, in which he seems to disappear at one side of the stage, only to materialize instantly at the other end, a presentation which Robert immediately copies with the help of his partner, Cutter, who states that this is made with the inclusion of a ‘double’, and in this case they find an unemployed actor, who drinks too much and in fact would cause much trouble when he is approached by the rival, Alfred, who would speculate on this vice and thus mange to include himself in the show of the enemy, only to advertise to the audience his own, better production that is staged across the street.
The famous Tesla aka the late, famed David Bowie is included in the movie, albeit the suggestion that his experiences would have resulted in cats and top hats that multiply and appear somewhere else is odd and evidently preposterous, but the relationship with Robert Angier and the presence of hatchet men sent by Thomas Edison is interestingly presented.
To conclude, the film is indeed special and rewarding, with wondrous acting all around and the creative, original direction of the now established Christopher Nolan adding a splendid flavor to the movie.
Nine out of 10
This is a note about the film, inspired by the book…
The Prestige has had a…prestigious relationship with the audiences as evidenced by the 1,099, 489 viewers that have given it an average of 8.5 out of 10, placing it with that appreciation at 48 among the Top Rated Movies, although the critics have not been equally ebullient and have given it a Metascore of 66, which means that on average, they have enjoyed the film, but not with exaggerated enthusiasm for a twice nominated for the Oscars production.
The astounding Christian Bale as Alfred Borden – and perhaps another, mysterious character – Scarlett Johansson as Olivia Wenscombe, Hugh Jackman as Robert Angier, legendary Michael Caine as Cutter, Rebecca Hall in the role of Sarah and all the other artists, including Andy Serkis and David Bowie, as Tesla, work resplendently under the direction of Christopher Nolan.
Robert Angier and Alfred Borden work together at the beginning of their careers, helping a ‘magician’ perform, tying up an assistant that jumps into a huge box filled with water, only to appear spectacularly outside, if the ties are correct and the special lock is in place, but when one of these conditions are not met, she dies drowning, before the hammer can break through the glass to release the now cold, dead body.
This is the beginning of a vicious, lifelong hatred between the two main characters, for when confronted, Alfred Borden claims he does not remember what type of knot he had used – he had been contemplating changing the style and that might have been the cause of the fatal entrapment – and with that he becomes a mortal enemy of Robert Angiers, who had loved the dead woman, who had been his wife and whose leg he had used to kiss during the performance, making Cutter tell him to stop, for the public seated in the first rows could see it…
Alfred is working with unscrupulous, cruel performers, one of whom uses in his act birds, like so many others, but his ‘act’ has him kill the poor feathered animals, for the pretense that the little soul disappeared was based on the monster slapping his hand over the covered creature, thus squashing it and then bringing out from a hidden pocket in the coat a new, different canary or other small bird, pretending it is just innocent magic.
Alfred Borden works on a different performance, involving a revolver, that a member of the audience would fire at him, without killing him, because he has supernatural powers allegedly, only he shows his wife, Sarah, that she has nothing to worry about, because the bullet he is supposed to have caught with his chest, will have been always in his hand and the gun is manipulated in such a manner as to be unable to hurt him.
Indeed, as we can all see now on Discovery or other channels, the secrets of ‘magic tricks’ rely on a few aspects, such as the distraction technique – while the audience is concentrated and watching intensely one hand, the other does the ‘trick’, based also on the psychologically tested fact that we tend to accommodate to very fast changing circumstances – or and the agility and dexterity of those who practice all day, every day in their trade…an example that comes to mind is included in bobby Deerfield, with Al Pacino, where the hero asks a magician how he does his act and in answer, the latter plays with a coin that keeps moving through all his fingers and when the main character tries to do the same, he is unable even after plenty of tests…
When they are still comrades in arms, Robert and Alfred go to see a Chinese old man – at least in theory – perform his unbelievable act, in which at one point a huge bowl with a fish appears and they realize that the man pretends he is feeble and walks with great effort, while he trains all day and he has immensely powerful muscles in his legs, which allow him to carry the huge, round fish tank covered under his traditional dress and thus present it as a miraculous apparition on the table.
When they are adversaries, first Robert shows at the act of his mortal enemy and he is the one who offers to fire the gun in the act, only to use a real one and shoot off the ends of a few fingers, and in return, after this happens, the wounded Alfred returns the ‘favor’, by appearing on stage at the other’s act, which involves a disappearing dove, only to injure the spectator that volunteered to help and kill the bird in front of the public, ruining his prospects.
The confrontation continues when Alfred creates a new, unseen magic act, in which he seems to disappear at one side of the stage, only to materialize instantly at the other end, a presentation which Robert immediately copies with the help of his partner, Cutter, who states that this is made with the inclusion of a ‘double’, and in this case they find an unemployed actor, who drinks too much and in fact would cause much trouble when he is approached by the rival, Alfred, who would speculate on this vice and thus mange to include himself in the show of the enemy, only to advertise to the audience his own, better production that is staged across the street.
The famous Tesla aka the late, famed David Bowie is included in the movie, albeit the suggestion that his experiences would have resulted in cats and top hats that multiply and appear somewhere else is odd and evidently preposterous, but the relationship with Robert Angier and the presence of hatchet men sent by Thomas Edison is interestingly presented.
To conclude, the film is indeed special and rewarding, with wondrous acting all around and the creative, original direction of the now established Christopher Nolan adding a splendid flavor to the movie.
October 16, 2024
روووووعة
😍من اجمل الأفلام اللي شفتها من فترة طويلة
😍من اجمل الأفلام اللي شفتها من فترة طويلة
March 19, 2018
''Never show anyone. They'll beg you and they'll flatter you for the secret, but as soon as you give it up... you'll be nothing to them. The secret impresses no one. The trick you use it for is everything.''
Having been firm friends, a friendship turns into a deadly rivalry. When Alfred performs the ultimate magic trick, Robert tries desperately to find out the secret to the trick and to use it for his own means. Obsession turns the two men and begins to unravel their lives...
(A review of film and story... 9 years ago on 26 August 2008 21:27 http://www.listal.com/viewentry/140574)
The Prestige(2006) is the film adaptation from Director Christopher Nolan based upon the book by Christopher Priest. The story is simply, diversely about two entertaining magicians whom become friends then later rivals; a friendship that turns to rivalry, a rivalry that turns deadly. Friendly rivalry becomes an obsession. They start to spiral into complexities as their obsessions eclipse and destroy their lives.
The story is in a word mesmerizing. You cannot help but stay focused throughout the film as you want to know how it will conclude. There are many twists and turns within the snake labyrinthine plot, There is a quote in the film used throughout, "Are you watching closely?"...You need to be paying close attention with the The Prestige and every viewing is as if one is deciphering a Rubix cube.
Beside the twists, the turns, the shocks and surprises, the performances and casting are truly phenomenal.
Hugh Jackman was a big surprise success as Rupert Angier, whom chooses deep films like the layered project from Darren Aronofsky The Fountain. The Prestige again shows Hugh Jackman as a man whom chooses his scripts wisely.
Christian Bale again always on top form in any Nolan collaboration; He gives life, depth and vitality to his character Alfred Borden.
Michael Cane as Cutter shows us a veteran hand, Nolan, Bale & Nolan in a Batman successful partnership once again.
Scarlett Johansson also very good as Olivia Wenscombe. Piper Perabo makes a short appearance but very effective and memorable.
Even Legend David Bowie and Andy Serkis popped up as Nikola Tesla and Alley.
''You never understood, why we did this. The audience knows the truth: the world is simple. It's miserable, solid all the way through. But if you could fool them, even for a second, then you can make them wonder, and then you... then you got to see something really special... you really don't know?... it was... it was the look on their faces...''
Christopher Nolan's The Prestige achieves in bringing to life a dark tale of duelling magicians, cunning betrayals laced with rivalry, magical trickery, all resulting in high quality dazzling entertainment and drenched with darkness and mystery; True to Nolan's style and nature. The Prestige isn't just a battle of words, but one fused of actions and wit. The film is full of mirroring and doubling, so it's not surprising that the magicians' feud is indeed mirrored by Nikola Tesla's equally dangerous rivalry with Thomas Edison over electricity and science.
Magic, Science and Mystery all merge into a perfect equation for both stories and film-making, in the way the spectacle could almost be an allegory about why we do the things we do to feel complete. Each protagonist is in search of his destiny and achieving aspiring greatness in his craft. Bale has the genius but not the ability to sell his illusions to an audience. Jackman has the showmanship but not the originality to create a truly great trick. In the middle is Michael Caine's engine, the backstage genius with the surprisingly shaky cockney accent, caught somewhere between director and ghost writer within the scheme of things.
Ultimately, it's a film that could be about everything or absolutely nothing, one that is either led entirely by plot differentiation or one where the themes and storytelling dictate the characters' actions far more than credibility...where the biggest trick is that ultimately there is no trick. All interpretations seem equally valid, which is part of the fun and puzzlement. The Prestige is a period film with a modern, unique feel that will leave you contemplating, leave you wondering, leave you breathless.
''Now 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 work it out. You want to be fooled.''
Having been firm friends, a friendship turns into a deadly rivalry. When Alfred performs the ultimate magic trick, Robert tries desperately to find out the secret to the trick and to use it for his own means. Obsession turns the two men and begins to unravel their lives...
(A review of film and story... 9 years ago on 26 August 2008 21:27 http://www.listal.com/viewentry/140574)
The Prestige(2006) is the film adaptation from Director Christopher Nolan based upon the book by Christopher Priest. The story is simply, diversely about two entertaining magicians whom become friends then later rivals; a friendship that turns to rivalry, a rivalry that turns deadly. Friendly rivalry becomes an obsession. They start to spiral into complexities as their obsessions eclipse and destroy their lives.
The story is in a word mesmerizing. You cannot help but stay focused throughout the film as you want to know how it will conclude. There are many twists and turns within the snake labyrinthine plot, There is a quote in the film used throughout, "Are you watching closely?"...You need to be paying close attention with the The Prestige and every viewing is as if one is deciphering a Rubix cube.
Beside the twists, the turns, the shocks and surprises, the performances and casting are truly phenomenal.
Hugh Jackman was a big surprise success as Rupert Angier, whom chooses deep films like the layered project from Darren Aronofsky The Fountain. The Prestige again shows Hugh Jackman as a man whom chooses his scripts wisely.
Christian Bale again always on top form in any Nolan collaboration; He gives life, depth and vitality to his character Alfred Borden.
Michael Cane as Cutter shows us a veteran hand, Nolan, Bale & Nolan in a Batman successful partnership once again.
Scarlett Johansson also very good as Olivia Wenscombe. Piper Perabo makes a short appearance but very effective and memorable.
Even Legend David Bowie and Andy Serkis popped up as Nikola Tesla and Alley.
''You never understood, why we did this. The audience knows the truth: the world is simple. It's miserable, solid all the way through. But if you could fool them, even for a second, then you can make them wonder, and then you... then you got to see something really special... you really don't know?... it was... it was the look on their faces...''
Christopher Nolan's The Prestige achieves in bringing to life a dark tale of duelling magicians, cunning betrayals laced with rivalry, magical trickery, all resulting in high quality dazzling entertainment and drenched with darkness and mystery; True to Nolan's style and nature. The Prestige isn't just a battle of words, but one fused of actions and wit. The film is full of mirroring and doubling, so it's not surprising that the magicians' feud is indeed mirrored by Nikola Tesla's equally dangerous rivalry with Thomas Edison over electricity and science.
Magic, Science and Mystery all merge into a perfect equation for both stories and film-making, in the way the spectacle could almost be an allegory about why we do the things we do to feel complete. Each protagonist is in search of his destiny and achieving aspiring greatness in his craft. Bale has the genius but not the ability to sell his illusions to an audience. Jackman has the showmanship but not the originality to create a truly great trick. In the middle is Michael Caine's engine, the backstage genius with the surprisingly shaky cockney accent, caught somewhere between director and ghost writer within the scheme of things.
Ultimately, it's a film that could be about everything or absolutely nothing, one that is either led entirely by plot differentiation or one where the themes and storytelling dictate the characters' actions far more than credibility...where the biggest trick is that ultimately there is no trick. All interpretations seem equally valid, which is part of the fun and puzzlement. The Prestige is a period film with a modern, unique feel that will leave you contemplating, leave you wondering, leave you breathless.
''Now 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 work it out. You want to be fooled.''
November 25, 2024
I liked the story soooooo much!
I absolutely loved actor choosing, it matched the best.
I absolutely loved actor choosing, it matched the best.
July 20, 2023
upscale fantasy
September 5, 2021
Pretty similar to what ended up on screen although there are moments in the performance that differ. Phenomenal ending and another great secret in Nolan's catalogue. The subject matter fits perfectly in this sort of narrative where you're never really sure what's real and what's illusion.
December 10, 2024
It’s wild to see how little changed from the screenplay to the screen. I always assumed Nolan threaded the needle in the edit, but no… he’s got it all worked out on the page. Pretty amazing! This was very enjoyable to read. It’s one of my favorite movies.
April 5, 2018
Definitely Nolan's best film, at par with Dunkirk.
Read
September 15, 2019Brilliant
September 23, 2020
I have read this screenplay 3-4 times always find it intriguing.
February 14, 2024
Lame cover, great screenplay.
September 22, 2024
Blijft een geniaal scenario! Ook in boekvorm blijft het mij verbazen…
September 25, 2010
Introduction by Jonathan and Christopher Nolan is short and sweetly thematic.
Screenplay is taught and perfect, like everything Chris works on.
Screenplay is taught and perfect, like everything Chris works on.
July 3, 2013
Brilliant mystery script - it merits comparison with Robert Louis Stevenson's "Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde."
September 18, 2015
This was a very well thought out and well done movie. I greatly enjoyed watching it.
Read
October 5, 2015interested
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews