8.4
Viewer Rating
Combines user and critic ratings from four sources
Documentary, History • 2022 • 85 min • Teen (13+)
The Expert at the Card Table: Looking for Erdnase (2022)
The Expert at the Card Table: Looking for Erdnase (2022)
Overview
A German documentary from 2022, this film chases one of magic's oldest cold cases: who actually wrote 'The Expert at the Card Table,' the 1902 bible of card sleight-of-hand published under the pseudonym S.W. Erdnase? Contemporary card magicians and researchers dig through history trying to put a face to the name. The Leans Traditional label follows naturally. The subject is a century-old book, the investigators are predominantly white men, the craft celebrated is rooted in old-school artisanal skill, and the whole project radiates reverence for a pre-digital tradition. There are no political angles, identity themes, or social commentary in sight. It is, genuinely, just about cards.
Starring Cast
Marc Aden Gray • Peter Seaton-Clark • Jeff Burrell
Where to watch
Rating & Dimensions
Bias Rating
Analyzing...
Leans Traditional
Political: Center
Diversity: Low
Family Values: Mixed
Viewer Rating
8.4
Overview
A German documentary from 2022, this film chases one of magic's oldest cold cases: who actually wrote 'The Expert at the Card Table,' the 1902 bible of card sleight-of-hand published under the pseudonym S.W. Erdnase? Contemporary card magicians and researchers dig through history trying to put a face to the name. The Leans Traditional label follows naturally. The subject is a century-old book, the investigators are predominantly white men, the craft celebrated is rooted in old-school artisanal skill, and the whole project radiates reverence for a pre-digital tradition. There are no political angles, identity themes, or social commentary in sight. It is, genuinely, just about cards.
Starring Cast
Marc Aden Gray • Peter Seaton-Clark • Jeff Burrell
Where to watch
Detailed Bias Analysis
Analyzing...
Leans Traditional
Primary
Political: Center
Confidence: High
The film is a documentary exploring the history and mystery surrounding a seminal book on card manipulation. Its narrative focuses on apolitical themes of skill, historical legacy, and an unsolved mystery, rather than engaging with political ideologies.
Diversity: Low
Confidence: High
The movie features traditional casting, with the primary individuals involved being white males, which aligns with the historical subject matter of the documentary. The narrative focuses on the historical context of a book on card manipulation and does not incorporate explicit DEI themes or critiques of traditional identities.
Secondary
Family Values: Mixed
Confidence: High
The film is a documentary focused on the historical mystery surrounding a book on card manipulation and its author, and as such, it does not depict family structures, roles, or values in any meaningful way within its narrative.
LGBTQ: N/A
Confidence: High
The film is a documentary exploring the enduring mystery of S.W. Erdnase, the author of a foundational text on card manipulation. It delves into historical research, theories, and the world of magic. There are no identifiable LGBTQ+ characters, themes, or plot points present in the narrative or its focus.
Trans: N/A
Confidence: High
The film is a documentary exploring the historical mystery of S.W. Erdnase, author of 'The Expert at the Card Table,' and the world of card magic. Its narrative is entirely centered on magic history, biographical investigation, and interviews with card experts. There are no identifiable transsexual characters or themes present in the film's content.
Female Combat: N/R
The movie does not contain any action or adventure elements.
Gender Swap: No
Confidence: High
The film is a documentary exploring the historical mystery of S.W. Erdnase, a figure consistently understood as male. There is no indication that Erdnase or any other historically established character is portrayed with a different gender.
Race Swap: No
Confidence: High
The film explores the mystery surrounding the identity of S.W. Erdnase, the pseudonymous author of a classic card manipulation book. Since Erdnase's true identity and race are unknown, no portrayal of this figure can constitute a race swap.
Hinduism: N/A
Confidence: High
Not depicted in the film.
Viewer Rating Breakdown
User Ratings
7.8
9.0
Critic Ratings
N/A
N/A
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