Backdrop

The Magic Box

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.

1952 |1h 58m |  Drama

Videos

Cast

cast

Robert Donat

William Friese-Greene

cast

Margaret Johnston

Edith Harrison Friese-Greene

cast

Maria Schell

Helena Friese-Greene

cast

Renée Asherson

Miss Tagg

cast

Richard Attenborough

Jack Carter

cast

Robert Beatty

Lord Beaverbrook

cast

Martin Boddey

Sitter in Bath Studio

cast

Edward Chapman

Father in Family Group

cast

Maurice Colbourne

Bride's Father in wedding group

cast

Roland Culver

1st Company Promoter

cast

Michael Denison

Reporter

cast

Joan Dowling

Maggie

cast

Mary Ellis

Nell Collings

cast

Marjorie Fielding

Elderly Viscountess

cast

Robert Flemyng

Doctor

cast

Leo Genn

Maida Vale Doctor

cast

Marius Goring

House Agent

cast

Everley Gregg

Bridegroom's Mother

cast

Joyce Grenfell

Mrs Claire

cast

Robertson Hare

Sitter in Bath Studio

cast

Kathleen Harrison

Mother in Family Group

cast

William Hartnell

Recruiting Sergeant

cast

Joan Hickson

Mrs Stukely

cast

Thora Hird

Doctor's Housekeeper

cast

Stanley Holloway

Broker's Man

cast

Patrick Holt

Sitter in Bath Studio

cast

Michael Hordern

Official Receiver

cast

Jack Hulbert

Holborn Policeman

cast

Sid James

Army Sergeant

cast

Glynis Johns

May Jones

cast

Mervyn Johns

Goitz

cast

Barry Jones

Doctor

cast

Peter Jones

Industry Man

cast

James Kenney

Kenneth Friese-Greene

cast

Ann Lancaster

Bridesmaid in Wedding Group

cast

Herbert Lomas

Warehouse Manager

cast

John Longden

Speaker in Connaught Rooms

cast

Bessie Love

Bride's Mother in Wedding Group

cast

Miles Malleson

Orchestra Conductor

cast

Garry Marsh

Company Promoter

cast

A.E. Matthews

Old Gentleman

cast

Bernard Miles

Cousin Alfred

cast

Richard Murdoch

Sitter in Bath Studio

cast

John McCallum

Sitter in Bath Studio

cast

Laurence Olivier

Police Constable 94-B

cast

Cecil Parker

1st Platform Man

cast

Frank Pettingell

Bridegroom's Father in Wedding Group

cast

Eric Portman

Arthur Collings

cast

Dennis Price

Harold

cast

Michael Redgrave

Mr. Lege

cast

Peter Reynolds

Bridegroom in Wedding Group

cast

Margaret Rutherford

Lady Pond

cast

Janette Scott

Ethel Friese-Greene

cast

Ronald Shiner

Fairground Barker

cast

Sheila Sim

Nursemaid

cast

John Stuart

2nd Platform Man at Connaught

cast

Marianne Stone

Bride in Wedding Group

cast

Basil Sydney

William Fox-Talbot

cast

Ernest Thesiger

Earl

cast

Sybil Thorndike

Sitter in Bath Studio

cast

David Tomlinson

Lab Asst

cast

Michael Trubshawe

Sitter in Bath Studio

cast

Peter Ustinov

Industry Man

cast

Frederick Valk

Maurice Guttenburg

cast

Amy Veness

Grandmother in Wedding Group

cast

Charles Victor

Industry Man

cast

Kay Walsh

Hotel Receptionist

cast

Emlyn Williams

Bank Manager

cast

Harcourt Williams

Tom

cast

Googie Withers

Sitter in Bath Studio

cast

Joan Young

Glove Shop Colleague

cast

John Sharp

Film Society Member (uncredited)

More Details

Status

Released

Language

English

Budget

-

Revenue

$110,372.00