The Magic Box
01/01/1952
2h



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.
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


Sidney 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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