The Magic Box
7.0
“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!”
Now old, ill, poor, and largely forgotten, William Freise-Greene was once young and handsome William Green. He changed his name to include his first wife's for the photographic portrait work he excelled 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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Cast
81 people
Robert Donat
William Friese-Greene
Known for
The 39 Steps
Goodbye, Mr. Chips
Margaret Johnston
Edith Harrison Friese-Greene
Known for
Night of the Eagle
Maria Schell
Helena Friese-Greene
Known for
White Nights
Superman
Renée Asherson
Miss Tagg
Known for
The Others
Henry V
Richard Attenborough
Jack Carter
Known for
Jurassic Park
The Great Escape
Robert Beatty
Lord Beaverbrook
Known for
2001: A Space Odyssey
Jesus of Nazareth
Martin Boddey
Sitter in Bath Studio
Known for
Tales from the Crypt
Indiscreet
Edward Chapman
Father in Family Group
Known for
Things to Come
Murder!
John Charlesworth
Graham Friese-Greene
Known for
Scrooge
Maurice Colbourne
Bride's Father in wedding group
Also in
I'm All Right Jack
Victoria Regina
Roland Culver
1st Company Promoter
Known for
Dead of Night
Thunderball
John Howard Davies
Maurice Friese-Greene
Known for
Oliver Twist
John Boulting Director · Eric Ambler Screenplay Ray Allister Author
Worldwide gross $110K · Budget $600K · United States release September 23, 1952
Box office
Budget
$600,000
Worldwide gross
$110,372
Gross vs. budget
0.2×
Production
Festival Films
Production
Festival Film Productions
Production
United Kingdom
Produced in
Languages
Original language
English
Spoken on screen
English
Release dates
United Kingdom · September 18, 1951
Premiere
United Kingdom · January 21, 1952
Theatrical
United States · September 23, 1952
Theatrical
Germany
January 1, 1952 · Theatrical
Ireland
January 21, 1952 · Theatrical
Netherlands
September 12, 2006 · Physical · DVD
Russia
January 25, 1965 · Theatrical
More from John Boulting
Other films they directed, best known first.
Some details come from TheTVDB.