The Magic Box (1951)
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The Magic Box was the English film industry's contribution to the 1951 Festival of Britain. Its all-star cast generously forsook their usual salaries for the privilege of paying tribute to that unsung pioneer of cinema, William Friese-Greene, here played by Robert Donat. Adapted by Eric Ambler… More The Magic Box was the English film industry's contribution to the 1951 Festival of Britain. Its all-star cast generously forsook their usual salaries for the privilege of paying tribute to that unsung pioneer of cinema, William Friese-Greene, here played by Robert Donat. Adapted by Eric Ambler from the controversial biography by Ray Allister, Magic Box contends that Friese-Greene was the true father of motion pictures, and not such upstarts as W. K. L. Dickson and Thomas Edison. Told in flashback, the film details Friese-Greene's tireless experiments with the "moving image," leading inexorably to a series of failures and disappoints, as others hog the credit for the protagonist's discoveries. The huge cast includes such British film luminaries as Joyce Grenfell, Miles Malleson, Michael Redgrave, Eric Portman, Emlyn Williams, Richard Attenborough, Peter Ustinov, Cecil Parker, Kay Walsh, and, best of all, Laurence Olivier as the confused bobby who witnesses Friese-Greene's first motion picture demonstration. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- John Boulting
- Genres
- Drama
- In Theaters
- Sep 22, 1952 Wide
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Cast
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Robert Donat
as William Friese-Greene
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Margaret Johnston
as Edith Harrison
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Maria Schell
as Helena Friese-Greene
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Robert Beatty
as Lord Beaverbrook
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John Charlesworth
as Graham Friese-Greene
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James Kenney
as Kenneth Friese-Greene
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Bernard Miles
as Cousin Alfred
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Joyce Grenfell
as Mrs. Claire
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Miles Malleson
as Orchestra Conductor
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Laurence Olivier
as Police Constable 94-B (uncredited)
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Michael Redgrave
as Ledley
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Eric Portman
as Arthur Collings
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Emlyn Williams
as Bank Manager
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David Oake
as Claude Friese-Greene
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Janette Scott
as Ethel Friese-Greene
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Richard Attenborough
as Jack Carter
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Basil Sydney
as William Fox-Talbot
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Kay Walsh
as Hotel Receptionist
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Renée Ashershon
as Miss Tagg
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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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Maurice Colbourne
as Bride's Father at Wedding
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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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Joan Dowling
as Friese-Greene Maid
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Marjorie Fielding
as Elderly Viscountess
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Robert Flemyng
as Doctor in Surgery
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Leo Genn
as Dacres
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Marius Goring
as House Agent
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Everley Gregg
as Bridegroom's Mother at Wedding
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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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Sidney James
as Sergeant in Storeroom
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Mervyn Johns
as Goitz
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Barry Jones
as Bath Doctor
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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 Wedding Group
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Garry Marsh
as 2nd Company Promoter
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A.E. Matthews
as Old Gentleman Bond St. Studio
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John McCallum
as Sitter in Bath Studio
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Richard Murdoch
as Sitter in Bath Studio
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Cecil Parker
as 1st Platform Man at Connaught
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Frank Pettingell
as Bridegroom's Father at Wedding
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Norman Pierce
as Speaker in Connaught Rooms
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Dennis Price
as Harold
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Peter Reynolds
as Bridegroom Wedding Group
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Margaret Rutherford
as Lady Pond
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Ronald Shiner
as Fairground Barker
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Sheila Sim
as Nursemaid
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Marianne Stone
as Bride in Wedding Group
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John Stuart
as 2nd Platform Man at Connaught
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Ernst Thesiger
as Man
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Sybil Thorndike
as Sitter in Bath Studio
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David Tomlinson
as Assistant in Laboratory
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Michael Trubshawe
as Sitter in Bath Studio
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Charles Victor
as Industry Man Connaught Rooms
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Harcourt Williams
as Tom Workman at Lege & Co.
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Googie Withers
as Sitter in Bath Studio
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Joan Young
as Glove Shop "Dragon"
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Henry Edwards
as Butler at Fox Talbot's
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Mary Ellis
as Mrs. Collings
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Jack Hulbert
as 1st Holborn Policeman
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Glynis Johns
as May Jones
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Peter Jones
as Industry Man Connaught Rooms
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Muir Mathieson
as Sir Arthur Sullivan
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Peter Ustinov
as Industry Man
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Cecil Trouncer
as John Rudge
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Norman Watson
as Doctor in Connaught Rooms
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Michael Denison
as Reporter