The Magic Box (1951)

A chronicle of the life of William Friese-Greene, a British inventor and early pioneer in cinema.

Director:

John Boulting

Writers:

Ray Allister (based on the biography: "Friese-Greene, Close Up of an Inventor"), Eric Ambler (screenplay)

Stars:

Robert Donat, Maria Schell, Renée Asherson

Nominated for 2 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Renée Asherson	...	Miss Tagg (as Renee Asherson)
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
Robert Donat	...	William Friese-Greene
Joan Dowling	...	Maggie
Henry Edwards	...	Butler at Fox Talbot's
Mary Ellis	...	Mrs. Nell Collings
Marjorie Fielding	...	Elderly Viscountess

Storyline

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.

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Plot Keywords:

inventor | obsession | 1951 festival of britain | based on biography | three word title | 

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Taglines:

A fabulous cast of 60 STARS

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Genres:

Biography | Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 January 1952 (UK)

Also Known As:

A Caixa Mágica

Filming Locations:

A.B.P.C. Studios, Elstree, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Festival Film Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min 103 min (DVD) 108 min (edited) 108 min (TV)

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Color (Colour by) (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The camera used by William (Robert Donat) in Hyde Park has two lenses, but the reason for the second lens is never explained. It's actually a stereoscopic camera on which William shot some pioneering 3-D footage, but this is also never mentioned.

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Goofs

In 1915 when Green's three eldest sons join the army, the landlord's agent mentions that the Spanish influenza is going around. In actuality the Spanish influenza did not begin until 1918.

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Quotes

William Fox-Talbot: The original thinker - the innovator - mustn't mind seeming a little foolish to his contemporaries. He must always look to his star... In the end, he may still fail. That's unimportant. If he is true to himself, he won't be too unhappy or embittered, even in failure, and will still speak for what is good.

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Crazy Credits

Closing credits superimposed over the tablet bearing the following: WILLIAM FRIESE-GREENE 1855 - 1921 A PIONEER OF THE CINEMA

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Connections

Featured in Great Performances: Laurence Olivier: A Life (1983)

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Soundtracks

There's a Long, Long Trail a-Winding
(1913) (uncredited)
Written by Zo Elliott and Stoddard King

User Reviews

The Magic Box is Magic ****

Superb film often overlooked when we talk about the accomplishments of the late Robert Donat. Donat proved to be a fine character actor and too bad that he died so early; otherwise, there would have been more brilliant performances in store for him.

This film is the autobiography of William Friese Greene, who by the account of this fine film, made the moving picture literally move by camera.

The film is splendidly detailed and boasted a cast of every well known British star of that period.

If you blink an eye, you don't realize that the film goes back to his first marriage. Notice that nothing is really said about what happened to his children from both marriages.

Friese Greene was a kindly, devoted inventor who should never have married. He allowed his work to neglect his responsibilities as a husband and father. The man was a dreamer and Donat captured every movement of that dream.

This was certainly a stellar film.