Trailer: ‘Dealt’ Doc About Blind Magician Richard Turner Will Blow Your Mind

by | Trailers

I recently attended an event at the famed Magic Castle in Hollywood where I got to see blind magician Richard Turner perform a series of card tricks. I say this without a shred of the hyperbole that is rampant on the Internet these days: my mind was blown. I’m not even someone who is particularly interested in magic or cards and yet I would say that it was one of the most mind-boggling and electrifying performances I’ve ever seen. I was sitting just a few feet from Turner and I can’t even fathom how he was able to do what he did with a deck of cards. Milt Larson, the founder of the Magic Castle says that “people repeatedly say of Richard Turner that it is the most astounding act of sheer skill they have ever witnessed.” I couldn’t agree more.

I spoke to Turner as well as the people who are shooting a documentary about his remarkable life called Dealt. “Richard Turner is extraordinary,” said Dealt’s writer/director Luke Korem. “His talent is mesmerizing and character is larger than life.” He is simply the greatest card mechanic/manipulator the world has ever seen. For a taste of Richard Turner’s skills, check out the new teaser trailer for the documentary:

Dealt will chronicle Richard Turner’s unpredictable journey of self-discovery after he lost his sight at the age of nine because of a degenerative disease. In his formative years, Turner battled with drugs and alcohol and felt increasingly helpless and defeated. But when the young man picked up a deck of cards, his life changed forever. Mentored by Dai Vernon, known as the only man who was ever able to fool Harry Houdini, Turner soon became the greatest card magician of our time. Not only has he astounded the world with his talent, he is also a speaker who motivates others to “deal with the hand they’ve been dealt in life.”

This feature-length documentary will be released next year. You can stay updated on the film here and check out a recent interview with Richard Turner on CBS This Morning here.