The Magic Box

The Magic Box (1952)

A rich and deeply moving story of a man whose achievement opened up a new world, and of the two women whose love and sacrifices made it possible!

  • Genre: Drama
  • Release Date: 1952-01-01
  • User Rating: 6.3/10 from 20 ratings
  • Runtime: 1h 58min
  • Language: English
  • Production Company: Festival Film Productions
  • Production Country: United Kingdom
  • Director: John Boulting
star 6.3/10
From 20 Ratings

Summary

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.

The Magic Box Trailer

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  • Robert Donat

    as William Friese-Greene

  • Margaret Johnston

    as Edith Harrison Friese-Greene

  • Maria Schell

    as Helena Friese-Greene

  • Renée Asherson

    as Miss Tagg

  • Richard Attenborough

    as Jack Carter

  • Robert Beatty

    as Lord Beaverbrook

  • Martin Boddey

    as Sitter in Bath Studio

  • Edward Chapman

    as Father in Family Group

  • John Charlesworth

    as Graham Friese-Greene

  • Maurice Colbourne

    as Bride's Father in wedding group

  • Roland Culver

    as 1st Company Promoter

  • John Howard Davies

    as Maurice Friese-Greene

  • Michael Denison

    as Reporter

  • Joan Dowling

    as Maggie

  • Henry Edwards

    as Fox Talbot's Butler

  • Mary Ellis

    as Nell Collings

  • Marjorie Fielding

    as Elderly Viscountess

  • Robert Flemyng

    as Doctor

  • Leo Genn

    as Maida Vale Doctor

  • Marius Goring

    as House Agent

  • Everley Gregg

    as Bridegroom's Mother

  • Joyce Grenfell

    as Mrs Claire

  • Robertson Hare

    as Sitter in Bath Studio

  • Kathleen Harrison

    as Mother in Family Group

  • William Hartnell

    as Recruiting Sergeant

  • Joan Hickson

    as Mrs Stukely

  • Thora Hird

    as Doctor's Housekeeper

  • Stanley Holloway

    as Broker's Man

  • Patrick Holt

    as Sitter in Bath Studio

  • Michael Hordern

    as Official Receiver

  • Jack Hulbert

    as Holborn Policeman

  • Sid James

    as Army Sergeant

  • Glynis Johns

    as May Jones

  • Mervyn Johns

    as Goitz

  • Barry Jones

    as Doctor

  • Peter Jones

    as Industry Man

  • James Kenney

    as Kenneth Friese-Greene

  • Ann Lancaster

    as Bridesmaid in Wedding Group

  • Herbert Lomas

    as Warehouse Manager

  • John Longden

    as Speaker in Connaught Rooms

  • Bessie Love

    as Bride's Mother in Wedding Group

  • Miles Malleson

    as Orchestra Conductor

  • Garry Marsh

    as Company Promoter

  • Muir Mathieson

    as Sir Arthur Sullivan

  • A.E. Matthews

    as Old Gentleman

  • Bernard Miles

    as Cousin Alfred

  • Richard Murdoch

    as Sitter in Bath Studio

  • John McCallum

    as Sitter in Bath Studio

  • David Oake

    as Claude Friese-Greene

  • Laurence Olivier

    as Police Constable 94-B

  • Cecil Parker

    as 1st Platform Man

  • Frank Pettingell

    as Bridegroom's Father in Wedding Group

  • Norman Pierce

    as Speaker in Connaught Rooms

  • Eric Portman

    as Arthur Collings

  • Dennis Price

    as Harold

  • Michael Redgrave

    as Mr. Lege

  • Peter Reynolds

    as Bridegroom in Wedding Group

  • Margaret Rutherford

    as Lady Pond

  • Janette Scott

    as Ethel Friese-Greene

  • Ronald Shiner

    as Fairground Barker

  • Sheila Sim

    as Nursemaid

  • Oda Slobodskaya

    as Soloist at Bath Concert

  • John Stuart

    as 2nd Platform Man at Connaught

  • Marianne Stone

    as Bride in Wedding Group

  • Basil Sydney

    as William Fox-Talbot

  • Ernest Thesiger

    as Earl

  • Sybil Thorndike

    as Sitter in Bath Studio

  • David Tomlinson

    as Lab Asst

  • Cecil Trouncer

    as John Rudge

  • Michael Trubshawe

    as Sitter in Bath Studio

  • Peter Ustinov

    as Industry Man

  • Frederick Valk

    as Maurice Guttenburg

  • Amy Veness

    as Grandmother in Wedding Group

  • Charles Victor

    as Industry Man

  • Kay Walsh

    as Hotel Receptionist

  • Norman Watson

    as Doctor in Connaught Rooms

  • Emlyn Williams

    as Bank Manager

  • Harcourt Williams

    as Tom

  • Googie Withers

    as Sitter in Bath Studio

  • Joan Young

    as Glove Shop Colleague

  • John Sharp

    as Film Society Member (uncredited)
Directing John Boulting Director
Production Ronald Neame Producer
Writing Eric Ambler Screenplay
Editing Richard Best Editor
Camera Jack Cardiff Director of Photography
Camera George Minassian Camera Technician
Writing Ray Allister Book
Art John Bryan Production Design
Camera Arthur Ibbetson Assistant Camera
Art T. Hopewell Ash Art Direction
Costume & Make-Up Julia Squire Costume Designer
Production Bob McNaught Production Manager
Directing Cliff Owen Assistant Director
Directing Max Varnel Assistant Director
Sound Harold V. King Sound Director
Sound Herbert J. Bird Sound Mixer
Costume & Make-Up Harold Fletcher Makeup Artist
Costume & Make-Up Nora Bentley Hairdresser
Camera Joan Bridge Other
Production John Redway Casting Director
Sound William Alwyn Original Music Composer
Sound Muir Mathieson Conductor
Crew R. Howard Cricks Thanks

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