Tour De Force (TDF) by Michael O’Brien is a cool twist on the Triumph effect and it is fantastic. I like the thinking and the several different routines using a very deceptive method.

Basically, TDF is a 65 minute DVD that teaches how to do the Triumph effect in the performer’s hands, without a table, with a table and several other very clever routines including a phenomenal Ace Production. One routine allows you to end with all the card in order by suit, but it will require another something. All five routines taught utilize the Triumph principle in which a deck of cards is apparently shuffled face-up into face-down creating a chaotic mixture of cards in the deck. But, magically the entire deck rearranges itself so that all the cards face the same way, except the chosen card or cards. Each routine is performed by O’Brien to studio spectators in an empty restaurant bar. Some routines are performed for only one person and some for more. Then, each routine is taught by O’Brien.

Most of the tricks are taught with a gimmicked card, which is easy to make. It should take about 45 seconds and requires no skill. However, an impromptu TDF routine is taught and that is the only routine that is taught without the need to use a gimmicked card. Because I will not perform TDF with a gimmicked card and because I prefer to perform TDF with a borrowed shuffled deck, it is by far the most attractive of all the routines. I wish O’Brien taught everything else as an impromptu version.

Do not get me wrong, the tricks taught are great, but, the DVD production is not the best. On many of the tracks, the audio is tinny or only on one channel and the lighting at times casts distracting shadows. This DVD was likely shot with a shoulder video camera with one light and one microphone mounted on the camera. I have to say that the camera work could have been a bit better and the teaching should have provided more detail on how to do more impromptu work for the other routines. Because of the camera angles from the spectator’s point of view during the instruction, I was somewhat confused at first. I had to watch the DVD several times and write notes before I was able to get the effect down to easy steps. Once you master the steps to this trick, it is really wonderful. Also, the DVD does not allow you to play all the 15 or so tracks in a row. Once a selected track is over, the DVD goes back to the main menu and you have to pick the next track by fast forwarding through many pages. No biggie, just slightly annoying.

One down side for beginners may be that this trick requires a Faro shuffle. The Faro does not need to be perfect, but the interlacing of the first 4 or 5 cards should be perfect. There is a quick Faro tutorial at the end for those that need some help with their Faro. Although this trick is not hard to do, once you get past the Faro issue (if that is an issue), it requires a small amount of practice to look natural and fluid.

The ad copy and promo video are accurate.

The price of $19.99 is a great deal for a great Triumph project. Notwithstanding the criticisms above, this still gets a very high rating.

First, let me say that this is yet one more set of versions of the Triumph routine. It may seem that perhaps we have enough versions of Triumph. However, I was pleasantly surprised, and particularly inspired by this DVD.

His streamlined versions of Triumph he calls The Tour de Force.

PROS

In the DVD, he covers his primary handling and several variations. Each one is really quite a different effect. They have their similarities, but they really play quite differently, with different patter for each.

The handling is similar in each effect. They use a regular deck that has one card gimmicked. He teaches how to quickly make the gimmicked card. This may be a gimmicked card that you already use, but if you don't, let me just say that this is a gimmicked card that can be used for a wide variety of astounding effects.

He also teaches a version of the effect with a completely regular, borrowed deck.

The instruction is very thorough and very good. He shows a live presentation of the effect, followed by a detailed description.

The DVD is true to the ad copy.

The explanation covers methods that are pretty simple to do. There are no knuckle buster moves.

The primary routine, Tour De Force, looks very visual and very clean. When you turn half the deck over to shuffle face up into face down, you are really turning half the deck over and showing both sides of each half. It is displayed very cleanly as shuffling half the deck face up into half the deck face down. You then spread the deck to show face up and face down cards. It is a great display of face up and face down with very easy moves to perform the magic.

Tour De Four Ace. This is a very nice alternative where the patter is about playing poker and how sometimes the cards are shuffled face up into face down so you don't know if you are going to be dealt a face up or face down card. The cards magically all turn in the same direction except the four aces.

Croque Monsieur. All the variations are fantastic in that they are really very different routines, but this is one of my favorites! He talks about how he has two sneaky confederates in the room. The audience members start to look around and snicker at each other, trying to figure out who might be in on the con. He then takes two Jokers from this pocket. A card is selected and lost in the deck. The deck is shuffled face up into face down. The Jokers are clearly inserted in different places in the deck. The cards magically right themselves except for the two jokers who have come together to sandwich a single card, their selected card.

Neighborhood watch is a fun routine where three participants select a card. The three participants are witnesses to the three suspects in a crime. The four Kings end up capturing three cards facing down. The three cards are the three suspects.

Tribute to Vernon. This is a very fast and direct Triumph routine.

Heckler. This is also a pretty fast and direct Triumph routine with patter about a drunk participant who shuffled his deck face up into face down.

CONS

At one point in the main routine and a few other versions, you turn around as your participant shows the selected card to the rest of the audience. At this point, a couple easy moves are done. I would have really liked for him to explain more advanced options that don't require turning away from the audience. Some of the routines don't require this.

VERDICT

If you have an appreciation for classic effects, or Triumph in particular, I think you might enjoy this DVD.

I have performed a very simple in the hands Triumph and I have taken some ideas from this DVD to make my Triumph more convincing and more magical using some of his concepts, but with a bit more advanced moves so the routine can be done without turning away from the audience.

Suggestions

For those Triumph fans, the version of Triumph that I developed from watching this DVD involves a patter about the magnetic properties in everything that is organic, including playing cards. I ask the participant to hold their selected card between both hands and to imagine a ball of energy spinning around the card. While they are doing this, I do a few moves right in front of them, instead of turning my back. I use more classic moves like the half pass and a pinkie card turnover. When the cards are magically re-arranging themselves, I hold the deck between my two hands and have them hold my hands with both of their hands. They imagine a ball of energy spinning around their card and I imagine a ball of energy spinning around the deck in the opposite direction. We open our hands and the cards are spread to reveal the climax.