The Magic Box

The Magic Box

118 mins | Drama | Jan. 1, 1952

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

118 mins | Drama | Jan. 1, 1952

The Magic Box
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.
IMDb rating 7.0
Producers Festival Film Productions
Original title The Magic Box
Directors Cliff Owen, Max Varnel, John Boulting
Writers Ray Allister, Eric Ambler

Cast

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

Googie Withers

as Sitter in Bath Studio

Joan Young

as Glove Shop Colleague