The Magic Box
6.3
118 minutes
1/1/1952
Overview
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 List
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)