"Lord of Illusions"

Kevin J. O'Connor, playing magician Philip Swann, fakes his death in a performance at the Pantages in Clive Barker's "Lord of Illusions" (United Artists, 1995). Scott Bakula isn't sure that he's dead. Of course, there's a cult involved as well. It's one gory mess you don't need to watch. 

 

Thanks to Dave Hunter for noting the use of the Pantages in the film and getting five of the screenshots that appear here. The film also features Famke Janssen, Sheila Tousey, J. Trevor Edmond, Ashley Tesoro, Joseph Latimore and Susan Taylor. The cinematography was by Rohn Schmidt. 

 

See the pages about the Pantages Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for more information about this historic Hollywood showplace. 

 

 

 

The expectant crowd. 

 

 

A look across to stage right. 

 

 The obligatory chandelier shot. 

 

 

The main floor crowd. 

 

 

 

The show begins. 

 

A magical item sails down from the heavens. 

 

 

Our magician addresses the crowd. 

 

 

The instrument of death. 

 

Meanwhile, in the lobby. A look at Pacific Theatres' circular snackbar. 

 

 

 

A look under the stage after the show to investigate Swann's "death."

 

Of course our hero gets involved in a fight while down there. It's a nice space that does look like a theatre basement, but the scene wasn't shot at the Pantages.

 

 

 

Note the "Stage Left" signage and interesting basement-level pinrail with the ropes for several hemp sets going up through the stage floor. 

 

 

 

Taking down the signage the next day.  

 

 

 

A view from the top as the set is dismantled. 

 

Yes, back in the basement for more investigations.

 

 

Would you believe another basement fight? 

On IMDb: "Lord of Illusions"