United Kingdom / Sep 18, 1951
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!
Overall average
5.0/10
Videos
Plot
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.
Main cast
Full cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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| 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) |
Genres
Technical details
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Original title | The Magic Box |
| Original language | English (EN) |
| Spoken languages | English |
| Production countries | United Kingdom |
| Status | Released |
| Production companies | Festival Films |
| Release date | 1 gennaio 1952 |
| Production | Ronald Neame |
| Writer | Eric Ambler, Ray Allister |
| Casting | John Redway |
| Editing | Richard Best |
| Cinematography | Jack Cardiff, George Minassian, Arthur Ibbetson, Joan Bridge |
| Assistant directors | Cliff Owen, Max Varnel, John Boulting |
| Camera operators | Jack Cardiff, George Minassian, Arthur Ibbetson, Joan Bridge |
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| Additional photography | Jack Cardiff, George Minassian, Arthur Ibbetson, Joan Bridge |
| Production design | John Bryan, T. Hopewell Ash |
| Art direction | T. Hopewell Ash, John Bryan |
| Set decoration | John Bryan, T. Hopewell Ash |
| Music | William Alwyn, Harold V. King, Herbert J. Bird, Muir Mathieson |
| Sound | Harold V. King, Herbert J. Bird, William Alwyn, Muir Mathieson |
| Costume design | Julia Squire, Harold Fletcher, Nora Bentley |
| Makeup | Harold Fletcher, Julia Squire, Nora Bentley |
| Hairstyling | Julia Squire, Harold Fletcher, Nora Bentley |
| Revenue | 110.372 € |
Release dates
Premiere
Theatrical release
Germany / Jan 01, 1952 / 12
Ireland / Jan 21, 1952 / PG
United Kingdom / Jan 21, 1952 / U
United States / Sep 23, 1952
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Russia / Jan 25, 1965
Physical media
Netherlands / Sep 12, 2006 / DVD
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