The Prestige - Screenplay - Softcover

Nolan, Jonathan; Nolan, Christopher

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0571235824 ISBN 13: 9780571235827

Publisher: Faber & Faber, 2006

Synopsis

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. 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.

About this title

Review:

The Washington Post called this "a dizzying magic show of a novel, chock-a-block with all the props of Victorian sensation fiction: seances, multiple narrators, a family curse, doubles, a lost notebook, wraiths, and disembodied spirits; a haunted house, awesome mad-doctor machinery, a mausoleum, and ghoulish horrors; a misunderstood scientist, impossible disappearances; the sins of the fathers visited upon their descendants." Winner of the 1996 World Fantasy Award, The Prestige is even better than that, because unlike many Victorians, Priest writes crisp, unencumbered prose. And anyone who's ever thrilled to the arcing electricity in the "It's alive!" scene in Frankenstein will relish the "special effects" by none other than Nikola Tesla.

About the Author:

Born in London in 1970, Christopher Nolan began making films at the age of seven using his father's super 8mm camera and an assortment of male-action figures. He graduated to making films involving real people, with his surrealist short film 'tarantella' shown on US television in 1989. Chris studied English Literature at University College London while starting to make 16mm films at the college film society.

About this edition

• Publisher: Faber & Faber
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0571235824
• ISBN 13: 9780571235827
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 112