actor

The Magic Box

63 %|Jan 1, 1952|Drama

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.

Featured Crew

Jack Cardiff
Director of Photography
John Boulting
Director
Ronald Neame
Producer
Eric Ambler
Screenplay
Richard Best
Editor
George Minassian
Camera Technician
Julia Squire
Costume Designer
Ray Allister
Book

Cast

actor
Robert Donat
William Friese-Greene
actor
Margaret Johnston
Edith Harrison Friese-Greene
actor
Maria Schell
Helena Friese-Greene
actor
Robert Beatty
Lord Beaverbrook
actor
Martin Boddey
Sitter in Bath Studio
actor
Edward Chapman
Father in Family Group
actor
John Charlesworth
Graham Friese-Greene
actor
Maurice Colbourne
Bride's Father in wedding group
actor
Roland Culver
1st Company Promoter
actor
John Howard Davies
Maurice Friese-Greene
actor
Henry Edwards
Fox Talbot's Butler
actor
Mary Ellis
Nell Collings
actor
Marjorie Fielding
Elderly Viscountess
actor
Leo Genn
Maida Vale Doctor
actor
Marius Goring
House Agent
actor
Everley Gregg
Bridegroom's Mother
actor
Joyce Grenfell
Mrs Claire
actor
Robertson Hare
Sitter in Bath Studio
actor
Kathleen Harrison
Mother in Family Group
actor
William Hartnell
Recruiting Sergeant
actor
Joan Hickson
Mrs Stukely
actor
Thora Hird
Doctor's Housekeeper
actor
Stanley Holloway
Broker's Man
actor
Patrick Holt
Sitter in Bath Studio
actor
Michael Hordern
Official Receiver
actor
Jack Hulbert
Holborn Policeman
actor
Sid James
Army Sergeant
actor
Glynis Johns
May Jones
actor
Peter Jones
Industry Man
actor
James Kenney
Kenneth Friese-Greene
actor
Ann Lancaster
Bridesmaid in Wedding Group
actor
Herbert Lomas
Warehouse Manager
actor
John Longden
Speaker in Connaught Rooms
actor
Bessie Love
Bride's Mother in Wedding Group
actor
Miles Malleson
Orchestra Conductor
actor
Garry Marsh
Company Promoter
actor
Muir Mathieson
Sir Arthur Sullivan
actor
A.E. Matthews
Old Gentleman
actor
Bernard Miles
Cousin Alfred
actor
Richard Murdoch
Sitter in Bath Studio
actor
John McCallum
Sitter in Bath Studio
actor
David Oake
Claude Friese-Greene
actor
Laurence Olivier
Police Constable 94-B
actor
Cecil Parker
1st Platform Man
actor
Frank Pettingell
Bridegroom's Father in Wedding Group
actor
Norman Pierce
Speaker in Connaught Rooms
actor
Eric Portman
Arthur Collings
actor
Peter Reynolds
Bridegroom in Wedding Group
actor
Janette Scott
Ethel Friese-Greene
actor
Ronald Shiner
Fairground Barker
actor
Sheila Sim
Nursemaid
actor
Oda Slobodskaya
Soloist at Bath Concert
actor
John Stuart
2nd Platform Man at Connaught
actor
Marianne Stone
Bride in Wedding Group
actor
Basil Sydney
William Fox-Talbot
actor
Sybil Thorndike
Sitter in Bath Studio
actor
Cecil Trouncer
John Rudge
actor
Michael Trubshawe
Sitter in Bath Studio
actor
Peter Ustinov
Industry Man
actor
Frederick Valk
Maurice Guttenburg
actor
Amy Veness
Grandmother in Wedding Group
actor
Charles Victor
Industry Man
actor
Kay Walsh
Hotel Receptionist
actor
Norman Watson
Doctor in Connaught Rooms
actor
Emlyn Williams
Bank Manager
actor
Googie Withers
Sitter in Bath Studio
actor
Joan Young
Glove Shop Colleague
actor
John Sharp
Film Society Member (uncredited)