The Magic Box
“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!”
Synopsis
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.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
The Magic Box (1951) - You must be a very happy man.
Type: Clip • Published 2013-04-12
Top Cast
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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
Release History & Theatrical Window
September 23, 1952
Wide Cinema Exhibition
September 12, 2006
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$600K
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$110K
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
0.18x
-$490K deficit
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- John Boulting
- Screenplay & Story
- Eric Ambler
- Original Score
- William Alwyn
- Original Title
- The Magic Box
- Country of Origin
- United Kingdom
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 58m
- Production Budget
- $600K
- Worldwide Gross
- $110K
- Production Studios
- Festival Films
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
John Boulting
Eric Ambler, Ray Allister
William Alwyn
Jack Cardiff
Richard Best
Ronald Neame
Department Leadership Roster
John Boulting
Director
Ronald Neame
Producer
Eric Ambler
Screenplay
Richard Best
Editor
Jack Cardiff
Director of Photography
John Bryan
Production Design
William Alwyn
Original Music Composer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Universal — Suitable for all audiences.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Magic Box.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Magic Box.
Missing Mine
MovieLens[20K:30K]
FILMS ABOUT FILM
Imported from MUBI list: https://mubi.com/en/lists/films-about-film--4
Award nominated films
Oscars, Golden Globes, BAFTA
BAFTA - Best Film Award Winners
UK CLASSICS
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Magic Box
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Magic Box about?
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.
Who directed The Magic Box?
The Magic Box was directed by John Boulting.
Who stars in The Magic Box?
The principal cast of The Magic Box includes Robert Donat, Margaret Johnston, Maria Schell, Renée Asherson, Richard Attenborough.
When was The Magic Box released and how long is it?
The Magic Box was released in 1952 with a total runtime of 1h 58m.
What was the box office and production budget of The Magic Box?
The Magic Box had a reported production budget of $600K and grossed $110K at the worldwide box office (0.18 return on budget, classified as a underperformed).
Who composed the musical score for The Magic Box?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Magic Box was composed by William Alwyn.
Is The Magic Box based on a book or true story?
The Magic Box is adapted from the following source material: Book: "Ray Allister".
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Magic Box?
The Magic Box holds official age classifications: DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); GB: U (Universal — Suitable for all audiences.).