The Magic Box (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.
Director:
John Boulting
Writer:
Eric Ambler
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Robert Donat as William Friese-Greene |
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Margaret Johnston as Edith Harrison Friese-Greene |
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Maria Schell as Helena Friese-Greene |
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Renée Asherson as Miss Tagg |
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Richard Attenborough as Jack Carter |
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Robert Beatty as Lord Beaverbrook |
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Martin Boddey as Sitter in Bath Studio |
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Edward Chapman as Father in Family Group |
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John Charlesworth as Graham Friese-Greene |
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Maurice Colbourne as Bride's Father in wedding group |
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Roland Culver as 1st Company Promoter |
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John Howard Davies as Maurice Friese-Greene |
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Michael Denison as Reporter |
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Joan Dowling as Maggie |
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Henry Edwards as Fox Talbot's Butler |
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Mary Ellis as Nell Collings |
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Marjorie Fielding as Elderly Viscountess |
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Robert Flemyng as Doctor |
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Leo Genn as Maida Vale Doctor |
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Marius Goring as House Agent |
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Everley Gregg as Bridegroom's Mother |
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Joyce Grenfell as Mrs Claire |
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Robertson Hare as Sitter in Bath Studio |
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Kathleen Harrison as Mother in Family Group |
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William Hartnell as Recruiting Sergeant |
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Joan Hickson as Mrs Stukely |
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Thora Hird as Doctor's Housekeeper |
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Stanley Holloway as Broker's Man |
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Patrick Holt as Sitter in Bath Studio |
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Michael Hordern as Official Receiver |
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Jack Hulbert as Holborn Policeman |
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Sidney James as Army Sergeant |
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Glynis Johns as May Jones |
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Mervyn Johns as Goitz |
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Barry Jones as Doctor |
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Peter Jones as Industry Man |
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James Kenney as Kenneth Friese-Greene |
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Ann Lancaster as Bridesmaid in Wedding Group |
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Herbert Lomas as Warehouse Manager |
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John Longden as Speaker in Connaught Rooms |
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Bessie Love as Bride's Mother in Wedding Group |
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Miles Malleson as Orchestra Conductor |
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Garry Marsh as Company Promoter |
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Muir Mathieson as Sir Arthur Sullivan |
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A.E. Matthews as Old Gentleman |
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Bernard Miles as Cousin Alfred |
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Richard Murdoch as Sitter in Bath Studio |
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John McCallum as Sitter in Bath Studio |
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David Oake as Claude Friese-Greene |
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Laurence Olivier as Police Constable 94-B |
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Cecil Parker as 1st Platform Man |
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Frank Pettingell as Bridegroom's Father in Wedding Group |
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Norman Pierce as Speaker in Connaught Rooms |
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Eric Portman as Arthur Collings |
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Dennis Price as Harold |
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Michael Redgrave as Mr. Lege |
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Peter Reynolds as Bridegroom in Wedding Group |
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Margaret Rutherford as Lady Pond |
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Janette Scott as Ethel Friese-Greene |
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Ronald Shiner as Fairground Barker |
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Sheila Sim as Nursemaid |
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Oda Slobodskaya as Soloist at Bath Concert |
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John Stuart as 2nd Platform Man at Connaught |
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Marianne Stone as Bride in Wedding Group |
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Basil Sydney as William Fox-Talbot |
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Ernest Thesiger as Earl |
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Sybil Thorndike as Sitter in Bath Studio |
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David Tomlinson as Lab Asst |
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Cecil Trouncer as John Rudge |
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Michael Trubshawe as Sitter in Bath Studio |
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Peter Ustinov as Industry Man |
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Frederick Valk as Maurice Guttenburg |
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Amy Veness as Grandmother in Wedding Group |
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Charles Victor as Industry Man |
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Kay Walsh as Hotel Receptionist |
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Norman Watson as Doctor in Connaught Rooms |
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Emlyn Williams as Bank Manager |
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Harcourt Williams as Tom |
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Googie Withers as Sitter in Bath Studio |
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Joan Young as Glove Shop Colleague |
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John Sharp as Film Society Member (uncredited) |
| Directing | John Boulting | Director |
| Production | Ronald Neame | Producer |
| Writing | Eric Ambler | Screenplay |
| Editing | Richard Best | Editor |
| Camera | Jack Cardiff | Director of Photography |
| Camera | George Minassian | Camera Technician |
| Writing | Ray Allister | Book |
| Art | John Bryan | Production Design |
| Camera | Arthur Ibbetson | Assistant Camera |
| Art | T. Hopewell Ash | Art Direction |
| Costume & Make-Up | Julia Squire | Costume Designer |
| Production | Bob McNaught | Production Manager |
| Directing | Cliff Owen | Assistant Director |
| Directing | Max Varnel | Assistant Director |
| Sound | Harold V. King | Sound Director |
| Sound | Herbert J. Bird | Sound Mixer |
| Costume & Make-Up | Harold Fletcher | Makeup Artist |
| Costume & Make-Up | Nora Bentley | Hairdresser |
| Camera | Joan Bridge | Other |
| Production | John Redway | Casting Director |
| Sound | William Alwyn | Original Music Composer |
| Sound | Muir Mathieson | Conductor |
| Crew | R. Howard Cricks | Thanks |
