The Magic of David Copperfield 10: The Bermuda Triangle (1988)

This is the 10th CBS Copperfield TV special, introduced by the host Lisa Hartman and then presented by David Copperfield himself, from a huge triangular platform floating on the Atlantic Ocean. For the first time he is also the executive producer, and this special is the first and only one titled with a natural number ("10") in place of the equivalent roman one ("X"). The shown platform has been built to allow Copperfield to perform the last illusion, named "Bermuda Triangle", as expressed in this special's title. The feat that Copperfield wants to perform is to enter just before the dawn in the parallel hidden dimension present inside the Bermuda Triangle and, more important, to be the first person ever to return alive, given that nothing that entered in this parallel dimension has ever been able to come back. This illusion is one of the few no more repeated, and also one of the few conceived and filmed for the TV audience only, since it was not possible to have a live audience. So, the illusions performed are: "Death Saw", "Sailing Montage" (a montage of three illusions, known as "Sunglasses Routine", "Floating On The Beach" and "Coal To Diamond"), "Run Duck Run", "Poultry In Motion" (aka "Webster And Consuelo"), "Floating Match", "Poultry In Motion Reversed" (aka "Webster And Consuelo Restored" and "Baby Ducks") and then "Bermuda Triangle". During his own career Copperfield has performed several escapes, and "Death Saw", filmed in long take, is one of the few conceived to go wrong in order to increase suspense. In fact, before performing it, Copperfield himself tells the audience: «I'm going to be attempting an escape. That's true. But I guarantee you it's an escape like... you have never seen before». And the execution proves this to be true: because of a damage to the motor of the saw, the latter drops on Copperfield before the expiration of the 60 seconds allowed to save himself, so he remains sawed in half in full view, without any cover. Moreover, after the separation of the two parts of his body, he is still able to move his feet.