The Magic Box (1952)
The Magic Box (1952)

Plot.
Now old, ill, poor, and largely forgotten, William Freise-Greene was once very different. As young and handsome William Green he changed his name to include his first wife's so that it sounded more impressive for the photographic portrait work he was so good at. But he was also an inventor and his search for a way to project moving pictures became an obsession that ultimately changed the life of all those he loved.
Where to Watch.


Currently The Magic Box is available for streaming online, rent, buy or watch for free on: Netflix, Netflix basic with Ads
Streaming in:🇪🇸 Spain
Cast & Crew.

Robert Donat
William Friese-Greene

Margaret Johnston
Edith Harrison Friese-Greene

Maria Schell
Helena Friese-Greene

Renée Asherson
Miss Tagg

Richard Attenborough
Jack Carter

Robert Beatty
Lord Beaverbrook

Martin Boddey
Sitter in Bath Studio

Edward Chapman
Father in Family Group

John Charlesworth
Graham Friese-Greene

Maurice Colbourne
Bride's Father in wedding group

Roland Culver
1st Company Promoter

John Howard Davies
Maurice Friese-Greene

Michael Denison
Reporter

Joan Dowling
Maggie

Henry Edwards
Fox Talbot's Butler

Mary Ellis
Nell Collings

Marjorie Fielding
Elderly Viscountess

Robert Flemyng
Doctor

Leo Genn
Maida Vale Doctor

Marius Goring
House Agent

Everley Gregg
Bridegroom's Mother

Joyce Grenfell
Mrs Claire

Robertson Hare
Sitter in Bath Studio

Kathleen Harrison
Mother in Family Group

William Hartnell
Recruiting Sergeant

Joan Hickson
Mrs Stukely

Thora Hird
Doctor's Housekeeper

Stanley Holloway
Broker's Man

Patrick Holt
Sitter in Bath Studio

Michael Hordern
Official Receiver

Jack Hulbert
Holborn Policeman

Sid James
Army Sergeant

Glynis Johns
May Jones

Mervyn Johns
Goitz

Barry Jones
Doctor

Peter Jones
Industry Man

James Kenney
Kenneth Friese-Greene

Ann Lancaster
Bridesmaid in Wedding Group

Herbert Lomas
Warehouse Manager

John Longden
Speaker in Connaught Rooms

Bessie Love
Bride's Mother in Wedding Group

Miles Malleson
Orchestra Conductor

Garry Marsh
Company Promoter

Muir Mathieson
Sir Arthur Sullivan / Conductor

A.E. Matthews
Old Gentleman

Bernard Miles
Cousin Alfred

Richard Murdoch
Sitter in Bath Studio

John McCallum
Sitter in Bath Studio

David Oake
Claude Friese-Greene

Laurence Olivier
Police Constable 94-B

Cecil Parker
1st Platform Man

Frank Pettingell
Bridegroom's Father in Wedding Group

Norman Pierce
Speaker in Connaught Rooms

Eric Portman
Arthur Collings

Dennis Price
Harold

Michael Redgrave
Mr. Lege

Peter Reynolds
Bridegroom in Wedding Group

Margaret Rutherford
Lady Pond

Janette Scott
Ethel Friese-Greene

Ronald Shiner
Fairground Barker

Sheila Sim
Nursemaid

Oda Slobodskaya
Soloist at Bath Concert

John Stuart
2nd Platform Man at Connaught

Marianne Stone
Bride in Wedding Group

Basil Sydney
William Fox-Talbot

Ernest Thesiger
Earl

Sybil Thorndike
Sitter in Bath Studio

David Tomlinson
Lab Asst

Cecil Trouncer
John Rudge

Michael Trubshawe
Sitter in Bath Studio

Peter Ustinov
Industry Man

Frederick Valk
Maurice Guttenburg

Amy Veness
Grandmother in Wedding Group

Charles Victor
Industry Man

Kay Walsh
Hotel Receptionist

Norman Watson
Doctor in Connaught Rooms

Emlyn Williams
Bank Manager

Harcourt Williams
Tom

Googie Withers
Sitter in Bath Studio

Joan Young
Glove Shop Colleague

John Sharp
Film Society Member (uncredited)

John Boulting
Director

Ronald Neame
Producer

Eric Ambler
Screenplay

Richard Best
Editor

Jack Cardiff
Director of Photography

George Minassian
Camera Technician

Ray Allister
Book

John Bryan
Production Design

Arthur Ibbetson
Assistant Camera

T. Hopewell Ash
Art Direction

Julia Squire
Costume Designer

Bob McNaught
Production Manager

Cliff Owen
Assistant Director

Max Varnel
Assistant Director

Harold V. King
Sound Director

Herbert J. Bird
Sound Mixer

Harold Fletcher
Makeup Artist

Nora Bentley
Hairdresser

Joan Bridge
Other

John Redway
Casting Director

William Alwyn
Original Music Composer

R. Howard Cricks
Thanks
Media.


Details.
Release DateJanuary 1, 1952
StatusReleased
Running Time1h 58m
Box Office$110,372
Genres
Last updated:
Wiki.
The Magic Box is a 1951 British Technicolor biographical drama film directed by John Boulting. The film stars Robert Donat as William Friese-Greene, with numerous cameo appearances by performers such as Peter Ustinov and Laurence Olivier.
Produced by Ronald Neame and distributed by British Lion Film Corporation, the film was made as part of the Festival of Britain and adapted by Eric Ambler from a biography by Ray Allister.
The film presents a dramatized account of Friese-Greene's life, who was one of the earliest inventors to design and patent a working cinematic camera. Told largely in flashback, the story follows his passionate pursuit of motion picture technology and its impact on his financial stability and personal life.
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