
The Magic Box ( 1952 )
"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!"
Overview
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.
Top Cast

Robert Donat
William Friese-Greene

Margaret Johnston
Edith Harrison Friese-Greene

Maria Schell
Helena Friese-Greene

Renée Asherson
Miss Tagg

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

Joan Dowling
Maggie

Henry Edwards
Fox Talbot's Butler

Mary Ellis
Nell Collings

Marjorie Fielding
Elderly Viscountess

Robert Flemyng
Doctor

Leo Genn
Maida Vale Doctor

Marius Goring
House Agent

Everley Gregg
Bridegroom's Mother

Joyce Grenfell
Mrs Claire

Robertson Hare
Sitter in Bath Studio

Kathleen Harrison
Mother in Family Group

William Hartnell
Recruiting Sergeant

Joan Hickson
Mrs Stukely

Thora Hird
Doctor's Housekeeper

Stanley Holloway
Broker's Man

Patrick Holt
Sitter in Bath Studio

Michael Hordern
Official Receiver

Jack Hulbert
Holborn Policeman

Sid James
Army Sergeant

Glynis Johns
May Jones

Mervyn Johns
Goitz

Barry Jones
Doctor

Peter Jones
Industry Man

James Kenney
Kenneth Friese-Greene

Ann Lancaster
Bridesmaid in Wedding Group

Herbert Lomas
Warehouse Manager

John Longden
Speaker in Connaught Rooms

Bessie Love
Bride's Mother in Wedding Group

Miles Malleson
Orchestra Conductor

Garry Marsh
Company Promoter

Muir Mathieson
Sir Arthur Sullivan

A.E. Matthews
Old Gentleman

Bernard Miles
Cousin Alfred

Richard Murdoch
Sitter in Bath Studio

John McCallum
Sitter in Bath Studio

David Oake
Claude Friese-Greene

Laurence Olivier
Police Constable 94-B

Cecil Parker
1st Platform Man

Frank Pettingell
Bridegroom's Father in Wedding Group

Norman Pierce
Speaker in Connaught Rooms

Eric Portman
Arthur Collings

Dennis Price
Harold

Michael Redgrave
Mr. Lege

Peter Reynolds
Bridegroom in Wedding Group

Margaret Rutherford
Lady Pond

Janette Scott
Ethel Friese-Greene

Ronald Shiner
Fairground Barker

Sheila Sim
Nursemaid

Oda Slobodskaya
Soloist at Bath Concert

John Stuart
2nd Platform Man at Connaught

Marianne Stone
Bride in Wedding Group

Basil Sydney
William Fox-Talbot

Ernest Thesiger
Earl

Sybil Thorndike
Sitter in Bath Studio

David Tomlinson
Lab Asst

Cecil Trouncer
John Rudge

Michael Trubshawe
Sitter in Bath Studio

Peter Ustinov
Industry Man

Frederick Valk
Maurice Guttenburg

Amy Veness
Grandmother in Wedding Group

Charles Victor
Industry Man

Kay Walsh
Hotel Receptionist

Norman Watson
Doctor in Connaught Rooms

Emlyn Williams
Bank Manager

Harcourt Williams
Tom

Googie Withers
Sitter in Bath Studio

Joan Young
Glove Shop Colleague

John Sharp
Film Society Member (uncredited)
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