I love it when I spot Tarot card references in movies! Some references are overt--such as the Woody Allen movie Scoop starring Scarlett Johansson and Hugh Jackman. If you look closely, you can see Jackman's character holding the Death card from the Thoth Tarot Deck. This movie follows the hijinks of a college journalism student, the ghost of a dead investigative reporter, and a bumbling magician as they try to uncover the identity of the Tarot Card Serial Killer.
Sometimes, the Tarot pops up in movies and has no obvious connection to the plot. I remember the movie Hostage, starring Bruce Willis and his daughter, Rumer, showing Tarot card images. There's a shot of Rumer's character's bedroom, which is decorated like a fortuneteller's parlor. Large RWS images--I believe from the Giant Rider Waite Deck--are on the walls and one of the doors. (I think I remember seeing The Magician card?)
Can you think of any other movies that mention the Tarot or feature Tarot imagery?
-- Janet Boyer
Hi Janet,
Of course, the 007 movie, Live and Let Die, comes to mind as an obvious example, especially since it resulted in a new Tarot deck. (Interesting trivia note: in the original book version, the psychic did not use Tarot cards -- they were added for the movie.)
Posted by: James Ricklef | January 19, 2007 at 08:57 PM
Hi James!
Just last night, my husband and I were talking movies (villians, in particular) and we realized that neither one of us had EVER seen a James Bond movie!
Well, if I ever start, I know where to begin. :o) Btw, what's the name of the deck?
Posted by: Janet Boyer | January 19, 2007 at 09:06 PM
Hi Janet,
You have NEVER seen a James Bond movie?! My Goddess! Are you guys aliens? :-)
Seriously, in (a long) answer to your question, the following is from the Wikipedia entry for the L&LD movie:
"Solitaire's Tarot cards are backed with a repeating red pattern with '007' worked into it. The High Priestess card was deliberately designed to resemble Jane Seymour. The deck was released as the "James Bond 007 Tarot Deck" with blue backs and, along with an instruction book and layout mat as the "James Bond 007 Tarot Game." The deck was later reissued, with a different back pattern, as the "Tarot of the Witches Deck" (with a different backing, probably to avoid licensing issues). The deck faces were designed by Fergus Hall."
Posted by: James Ricklef | January 19, 2007 at 09:32 PM
Too funny, James...LOL! Sometimes I wonder...
Nope, it's true. I wasn't allowed to watch movies growing up (I was born in 1970). Heck, my first in-theater movie occurred when accompanying the wife & kids of one of my friends from college to Disney's Beauty and the Beast! (ca 1992?)
And the funny thing is, Netflix is showing that I've rated 930 movies. Now, that includes a few TV series--but that number shows I haven't exactly been under a rock the last decade. Hahaha! (I'm just working my way through the 90's and recent movies I guess...) ^_^
Thanks for the info. on the deck!
Posted by: Janet Boyer | January 19, 2007 at 11:08 PM