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.
Release Date
January 1, 1952Runtime
118 minGenres
DramaDirected by
John Boulting, Cliff Owen, Max VarnelScreenplay by
Eric AmblerLanguage
EnglishBudget
$0Revenue
$110,372Status
Released
Cast
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
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
A.E. Matthews
Old Gentleman
Bernard Miles
Cousin Alfred
Richard Murdoch
Sitter in Bath Studio
John McCallum
Sitter in Bath Studio
Laurence Olivier
Police Constable 94-B
Cecil Parker
1st Platform Man
Frank Pettingell
Bridegroom's Father in Wedding Group
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
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
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
Emlyn Williams
Bank Manager
Harcourt Williams
Tom
Googie Withers
Sitter in Bath Studio
Joan Young
Glove Shop Colleague
John Sharp
Film Society Member (uncredited)Images
Videos
Clip from "The Magic Box" (1951)
The Magic Box (1951) - You must be a very happy man.
Clip from "The Magic Box" (1951)