The Magic Box

John Boulting
1952-01-01

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!
6.3
118 min

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.

Cast

Name Character Team
Robert Donat William Friese-Greene Unowned
Margaret Johnston Edith Harrison Friese-Greene Unowned
Maria Schell Helena Friese-Greene Unowned
Renée Asherson Miss Tagg Unowned
Richard Attenborough Jack Carter Unowned
Robert Beatty Lord Beaverbrook Unowned
Martin Boddey Sitter in Bath Studio Unowned
Edward Chapman Father in Family Group Unowned
John Charlesworth Graham Friese-Greene Unowned
Maurice Colbourne Bride's Father in wedding group Unowned
Roland Culver 1st Company Promoter Unowned
John Howard Davies Maurice Friese-Greene Unowned
Michael Denison Reporter Unowned
Joan Dowling Maggie Unowned
Henry Edwards Fox Talbot's Butler Unowned
Mary Ellis Nell Collings Unowned
Marjorie Fielding Elderly Viscountess Unowned
Robert Flemyng Doctor Unowned
Leo Genn Maida Vale Doctor Unowned
Marius Goring House Agent Unowned
Everley Gregg Bridegroom's Mother Unowned
Joyce Grenfell Mrs Claire Unowned
Robertson Hare Sitter in Bath Studio Unowned
Kathleen Harrison Mother in Family Group Unowned
William Hartnell Recruiting Sergeant Unowned
Joan Hickson Mrs Stukely Unowned
Thora Hird Doctor's Housekeeper Unowned
Stanley Holloway Broker's Man Unowned
Patrick Holt Sitter in Bath Studio Unowned
Michael Hordern Official Receiver Unowned
Jack Hulbert Holborn Policeman Unowned
Sid James Army Sergeant Unowned
Glynis Johns May Jones Unowned
Mervyn Johns Goitz Unowned
Barry Jones Doctor Unowned
Peter Jones Industry Man Unowned
James Kenney Kenneth Friese-Greene Unowned
Ann Lancaster Bridesmaid in Wedding Group Unowned
Herbert Lomas Warehouse Manager Unowned
John Longden Speaker in Connaught Rooms Unowned
Bessie Love Bride's Mother in Wedding Group Unowned
Miles Malleson Orchestra Conductor Unowned
Garry Marsh Company Promoter Unowned
Muir Mathieson Sir Arthur Sullivan Unowned
A.E. Matthews Old Gentleman Unowned
Bernard Miles Cousin Alfred Unowned
Richard Murdoch Sitter in Bath Studio Unowned
John McCallum Sitter in Bath Studio Unowned
David Oake Claude Friese-Greene Unowned
Laurence Olivier Police Constable 94-B Unowned
Cecil Parker 1st Platform Man Unowned
Frank Pettingell Bridegroom's Father in Wedding Group Unowned
Norman Pierce Speaker in Connaught Rooms Unowned
Eric Portman Arthur Collings Unowned
Dennis Price Harold Unowned
Michael Redgrave Mr. Lege Unowned
Peter Reynolds Bridegroom in Wedding Group Unowned
Margaret Rutherford Lady Pond Unowned
Janette Scott Ethel Friese-Greene Unowned
Ronald Shiner Fairground Barker Unowned
Sheila Sim Nursemaid Unowned
Oda Slobodskaya Soloist at Bath Concert Unowned
John Stuart 2nd Platform Man at Connaught Unowned
Marianne Stone Bride in Wedding Group Unowned
Basil Sydney William Fox-Talbot Unowned
Ernest Thesiger Earl Unowned
Sybil Thorndike Sitter in Bath Studio Unowned
David Tomlinson Lab Asst Unowned
Cecil Trouncer John Rudge Unowned
Michael Trubshawe Sitter in Bath Studio Unowned
Peter Ustinov Industry Man Unowned
Frederick Valk Maurice Guttenburg Unowned
Amy Veness Grandmother in Wedding Group Unowned
Charles Victor Industry Man Unowned
Kay Walsh Hotel Receptionist Unowned
Norman Watson Doctor in Connaught Rooms Unowned
Emlyn Williams Bank Manager Unowned
Harcourt Williams Tom Unowned
Googie Withers Sitter in Bath Studio Unowned
Joan Young Glove Shop Colleague Unowned
John Sharp Film Society Member (uncredited) Unowned