The Magic Box
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!
1952 | 118m | English
Popularity: 4 (history)
| Director: | John Boulting |
|---|---|
| Writer: | Eric Ambler, Ray Allister |
| Staring: |
| 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. | |
| Release Date: | Jan 01, 1952 |
|---|---|
| Director: | John Boulting |
| Writer: | Eric Ambler, Ray Allister |
| Genres: | Drama |
| Keywords | |
| Production Companies | Festival Films |
| Box Office |
Revenue: $110,372
Budget: $0 |
| Updates |
Updated: Aug 04, 2024 Entered: Apr 15, 2024 |
| Name | Character |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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) |
| Name | Job |
|---|---|
| Jack Cardiff | Director of Photography |
| John Boulting | Director |
| Eric Ambler | Screenplay |
| John Bryan | Production Design |
| William Alwyn | Original Music Composer |
| Muir Mathieson | Conductor |
| R. Howard Cricks | Thanks |
| Richard Best | Editor |
| George Minassian | Camera Technician |
| Ray Allister | Book |
| 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 |
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Ronald Neame | Producer |
| Organization | Category | Person |
|---|
Popularity History
| Year | Month | Avg | Max | Min |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | 6 | 11 | 3 |
| 2024 | 5 | 7 | 13 | 4 |
| 2024 | 6 | 6 | 14 | 2 |
| 2024 | 7 | 6 | 16 | 2 |
| 2024 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 2 |
| 2024 | 9 | 4 | 7 | 2 |
| 2024 | 10 | 4 | 8 | 1 |
| 2024 | 11 | 4 | 8 | 2 |
| 2024 | 12 | 4 | 12 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 2 |
| 2025 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 1 |
| 2025 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 1 |
| 2025 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 2025 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 2025 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2025 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2025 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2025 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 2025 | 10 | 3 | 5 | 3 |
Trending Position