Poster

The Magic Box ()

Reference View | Change View
A chronicle of the life of William Friese-Greene, a British inventor and early pioneer in cinema.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
  • Nominated for 2 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 1 win.
  • See more »
Reviews:

Photos and Videos

7 photos

Cast verified as complete

Edit
...
Miss Tagg (as Renee Asherson)
...
Jack Carter
...
Lord Beaverbrook
...
Sitter in Bath Studio
...
Father in Family Group
John Charlesworth ...
Graham Friese-Greene
...
Bride's Father in Wedding Group
...
1st Company Promoter
...
Maurice Friese-Greene
...
Reporter - Connaught Rooms
...
William Friese-Greene
Joan Dowling ...
Maggie
...
Butler at Fox Talbot's
...
Mrs. Nell Collings
...
Elderly Viscountess
...
Doctor in Surgery
...
Maida Vale Doctor
...
House Agent
...
Bridegroom's Mother in Wedding Group
...
Mrs. Claire
...
Sitter in Bath Studio
...
Mother in Family Group
...
Recruiting Sergeant
...
Mrs. Stukely
...
Doctor's Housekeeper
...
Broker's Man
...
Sitter in Bath Studio
...
Official Receiver
...
1st Holborn Policeman
...
Sergeant in Storeroom (as Sydney James)
...
May Jones
...
Goitz
...
Edith Friese-Greene
...
Bath Doctor
...
Industry Man - Connaught Rooms
...
Kenneth Friese-Greene
Ann Lancaster ...
Bridesmaid in Wedding Group
...
Warehouse Manager
...
Speaker in Connaught Rooms
...
Bride's Mother in Wedding Group
...
Orchestra Conductor
...
2nd Company Promoter
Muir Mathieson ...
Sir Arthur Sullivan
...
Old Gentleman
...
Cousin Alfred
...
Sitter in Bath Studio
...
Sitter in Bath Studio
David Oake ...
Claude Friese-Greene
...
Police Constable 94-B
...
1st Platform Man - Connaught Rooms
...
Bridegroom's Father in Wedding Group
...
Speaker in Connaught Rooms
...
Arthur Collings
...
Harold
...
Mr. Lege
...
Bridegroom in Wedding Group
...
Lady Pond
...
Helena Friese-Greene
...
Ethel Friese-Greene
...
Fairground Barker
...
Nursemaid
Oda Slobodskaya ...
Soloist at Bath Concert
...
2nd Platform Man - Connaught Rooms
...
Bride in Wedding Group
...
William Fox-Talbot
...
Earl
...
Sitter in Bath Studio
...
Assistant in Laboratory
Cecil Trouncer ...
John Rudge
...
Sitter in Bath Studio
...
Industry Man - Connaught Rooms
...
Maurice Guttenburg
...
Grandmother in Wedding Group
...
Industry Man - Connaught Rooms
...
Hotel Receptionist
Norman Watson ...
Doctor in Connaught Rooms
...
Bank Manager
...
Tom
...
Sitter in Bath Studio
Joan Young ...
Glove Shop 'Dragon'
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tony Adams ...
Boy (uncredited)
Paul Beradi ...
Industry Man - Connaught Rooms (uncredited)
...
Youth (uncredited)
...
Sitter in Bath Studio (uncredited)
...
William (uncredited)
George Crawford ...
Industry Man - Connaught Rooms (uncredited)
Norma Dale ...
Minor Role (uncredited)
Alex Gallier ...
Industry Man - Connaught Rooms (uncredited)
...
Industry Man - Connaught Rooms (uncredited)
Charles Hammond ...
Industry Man - Connaught Rooms (uncredited)
Hubert Hill ...
Industry Man - Connaught Rooms (uncredited)
Ned Hood ...
Industry Man - Connaught Rooms (uncredited)
...
Milkman (uncredited)
Frederick Kelsey ...
Industry Man - Connaught Rooms (uncredited)
Eveline Kirkwood-Hackett ...
Financier (uncredited)
...
Conductor's Manager (uncredited)
...
3rd Platform Man - Connaught Rooms (uncredited)
Sally Smith ...
Little girl (uncredited)
...
Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Carol Wolveridge ...
Screaming Child (uncredited)

Directed by

Edit
John Boulting

Written by

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

Produced by

Edit
Ronald Neame ... producer

Music by

Edit
William Alwyn

Cinematography by

Edit
Jack Cardiff ... director of photography

Editing by

Edit
Richard Best

Editorial Department

Edit
Joan Bridge ... color consultant: Technicolor
George Minassian ... colour technician: Technicolor (uncredited)
Joan Warwick ... assistant editor (uncredited)

Casting By

Edit
John Redway

Production Design by

Edit
John Bryan

Art Direction by

Edit
T. Hopewell Ash ... (as T. Hopewell-Ash)

Set Decoration by

Edit
Dario Simoni ... (uncredited)

Costume Design by

Edit
Julia Squire

Makeup Department

Edit
Nora Bentley ... hairdresser
Harold Fletcher ... makeup artist
Kenneth Mackay ... assistant makeup (uncredited)
June Robinson ... assistant hair stylist (uncredited)
Polly Young ... additional hairdresser (uncredited)

Production Management

Edit
Bob McNaught ... production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

Edit
Cliff Owen ... assistant director
Max Varnel ... assistant director
Frederic Goode ... third assistant director (uncredited)
John Hewlett ... second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department

Edit
Bill Beavis ... scenic artist (uncredited)
Allan Harris ... draughtsman (uncredited)
Robert Jones ... draughtsman (uncredited)
Harry Parr ... property buyer (uncredited)
Fred Pratt ... property chargehand (uncredited)
Mario Simoni ... set dresser (uncredited)
Stanley Yeomanson ... construction manager (uncredited)

Sound Department

Edit
Herbert J. Bird ... sound mixer
Harold V. King ... sound recording director
John Soutar ... sound camera operator (uncredited)
Jim Whiting ... assistant boom operator (uncredited)
Dennis Whitlock ... boom operator (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department

Edit
Arthur Ibbetson ... associate cameraman
Alan Bryce ... clapper (uncredited)
George Higgins ... still photographer (uncredited)
Frank Kingston ... technical assistant (uncredited)
George Minassian ... Technicolor camera technician (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department

Edit
Charles Guerin ... wardrobe master (uncredited)
Elizabeth Hennings ... assistant costume designer (uncredited)
Alice McLaren ... wardrobe mistress (uncredited)
Simmons ... costumier (uncredited)

Music Department

Edit
Muir Mathieson ... conductor

Script and Continuity Department

Edit
June Faithfull ... continuity (uncredited)

Additional Crew

Edit
Sidney G. Barnsby ... cashier (uncredited)
Douglas Bodkin ... assistant publicity director (uncredited)
Douglas Gosling ... accountant (uncredited)
Winifred Pearson ... production secretary (uncredited)
John Jack Lewis Worrow ... publicity director (uncredited)
Penny Worth ... secretary to producer (uncredited)

Thanks

Edit
R. Howard Cricks ... the producers gratefully acknowledge the generous co-operation of
Crew verified as complete

Production Companies

Edit

Distributors

Edit

Special Effects

Edit

Other Companies

Edit

Storyline

Edit
Plot Summary

Now old, ill, poor, and largely forgotten, William Freise-Greene (Robert Donat) 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 at which he was so good. 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. Written by Jeremy Perkins {J-26}

Plot Keywords
Taglines 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! See more »
Genres
Parents Guide Add content advisory for parents »
Certification

Additional Details

Edit
Also Known As
  • La boîte magique (France)
  • Το μαγικό κουτί (Greece)
  • A Caixa Mágica (Brazil)
  • マジックボックス (Japan, Japanese title)
  • Filmen om filmen (Norway)
  • See more »
Runtime
  • 118 min
Country
Language
Color
Aspect Ratio
Sound Mix
Filming Locations

Did You Know?

Edit
Trivia One of the extras in this movie is a teenage Ronald Kray (later the infamous London gangster). See more »
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. See more »
Movie Connections Edited into The Magic Box (1956). See more »
Soundtracks Let the Great Big World Keep Turning See more »
Crazy Credits Closing credits superimposed over the tablet bearing the following: WILLIAM FRIESE-GREENE 1855 - 1921 A PIONEER OF THE CINEMA See more »
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.
See more »
Getting Started | Contributor Zone »

Contribute to This Page


Clear your history

Recently Viewed