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The Magic Box
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.
The Magic Box
January 1, 1952
20
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Cast (81)
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Robert Donat
William Friese-Greene
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Margaret Johnston
Edith Harrison Friese-Greene
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Maria Schell
Helena Friese-Greene
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Renée Asherson
Miss Tagg
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Richard Attenborough
Jack Carter
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Robert Beatty
Lord Beaverbrook
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Martin Boddey
Sitter in Bath Studio
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Edward Chapman
Father in Family Group
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John Charlesworth
Graham Friese-Greene
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Maurice Colbourne
Bride's Father in wedding group
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Roland Culver
1st Company Promoter
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John Howard Davies
Maurice Friese-Greene
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Michael Denison
Reporter
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Joan Dowling
Maggie
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Henry Edwards
Fox Talbot's Butler
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Mary Ellis
Nell Collings
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Marjorie Fielding
Elderly Viscountess
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Robert Flemyng
Doctor
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Leo Genn
Maida Vale Doctor
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Marius Goring
House Agent
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Everley Gregg
Bridegroom's Mother
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Joyce Grenfell
Mrs Claire
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Robertson Hare
Sitter in Bath Studio
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Kathleen Harrison
Mother in Family Group
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William Hartnell
Recruiting Sergeant
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Joan Hickson
Mrs Stukely
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Thora Hird
Doctor's Housekeeper
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Stanley Holloway
Broker's Man
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Patrick Holt
Sitter in Bath Studio
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Michael Hordern
Official Receiver
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Jack Hulbert
Holborn Policeman
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Sid James
Army Sergeant
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Glynis Johns
May Jones
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Mervyn Johns
Goitz
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Barry Jones
Doctor
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Peter Jones
Industry Man
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James Kenney
Kenneth Friese-Greene
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Ann Lancaster
Bridesmaid in Wedding Group
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Herbert Lomas
Warehouse Manager
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John Longden
Speaker in Connaught Rooms
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Bessie Love
Bride's Mother in Wedding Group
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Miles Malleson
Orchestra Conductor
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Garry Marsh
Company Promoter
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Muir Mathieson
Sir Arthur Sullivan
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A.E. Matthews
Old Gentleman
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Bernard Miles
Cousin Alfred
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Richard Murdoch
Sitter in Bath Studio
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John McCallum
Sitter in Bath Studio
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David Oake
Claude Friese-Greene
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Laurence Olivier
Police Constable 94-B
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Cecil Parker
1st Platform Man
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Frank Pettingell
Bridegroom's Father in Wedding Group
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Norman Pierce
Speaker in Connaught Rooms
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Eric Portman
Arthur Collings
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Dennis Price
Harold
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Michael Redgrave
Mr. Lege
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Peter Reynolds
Bridegroom in Wedding Group
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Margaret Rutherford
Lady Pond
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Janette Scott
Ethel Friese-Greene
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Ronald Shiner
Fairground Barker
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Sheila Sim
Nursemaid
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Oda Slobodskaya
Soloist at Bath Concert
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John Stuart
2nd Platform Man at Connaught
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Marianne Stone
Bride in Wedding Group
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Basil Sydney
William Fox-Talbot
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Ernest Thesiger
Earl
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Sybil Thorndike
Sitter in Bath Studio
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David Tomlinson
Lab Asst
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Cecil Trouncer
John Rudge
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Michael Trubshawe
Sitter in Bath Studio
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Peter Ustinov
Industry Man
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Frederick Valk
Maurice Guttenburg
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Amy Veness
Grandmother in Wedding Group
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Charles Victor
Industry Man
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Kay Walsh
Hotel Receptionist
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Norman Watson
Doctor in Connaught Rooms
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Emlyn Williams
Bank Manager
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Googie Withers
Sitter in Bath Studio
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Joan Young
Glove Shop Colleague
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John Sharp
Film Society Member (uncredited)
Crew (23)
Directing
Writing
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Eric Ambler
Screenplay
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Ray Allister
Book
Production
Sound
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Muir Mathieson
Conductor
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William Alwyn
Original Music Composer
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Harold V. King
Sound Director
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Herbert J. Bird
Sound Mixer
Art
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John Bryan
Production Design
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T. Hopewell Ash
Art Direction
Camera
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Jack Cardiff
Director of Photography
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George Minassian
Camera Technician
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Joan Bridge
Other
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Arthur Ibbetson
Assistant Camera
Costume & Make-Up
Crew
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R. Howard Cricks
Thanks
Editing
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Richard Best
Editor