The Magic Box
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The Magic Box

Year:
Duration:
118 min | UK:103 min (DVD version) | UK:108 min (edited version) | USA:108 min (TV version)
Genres:
Biography | Drama
IMDB rate:
7.1
Director:
John Boulting
Awards:
Nominated for 2 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 1 win
Details
Country: UK
Release Date: 1952-01-21
Filming Locations: A.B.P.C. Studios, Elstree, England, UK
Cast
Actor
Character
Renée Asherson
Miss Tagg (as Renee Asherson)
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
Robert Donat
William Friese-Greene
Joan Dowling
Maggie
Henry Edwards
Butler at Fox Talbot's
Mary Ellis
Mrs. Nell Collings
Marjorie Fielding
Elderly Viscountess
Robert Flemyng
Doctor in Surgery
Leo Genn
Maida Vale Doctor
Marius Goring
House Agent
Everley Gregg
Bridegroom's Mother in Wedding Group
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
1st Holborn Policeman
Sidney James
Sergeant in Storeroom (as Sydney James)
Glynis Johns
May Jones
Mervyn Johns
Goitz
Margaret Johnston
Edith Friese-Greene
Barry Jones
Bath 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
2nd Company Promoter
Muir Mathieson
Sir Arthur Sullivan
A.E. Matthews
Old Gentleman (as A. E. Matthews)
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
First 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
Brodegroom in Wedding Group
Margaret Rutherford
Lady Pond
Maria Schell
Helena Friese-Greene
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
Sybil Thorndike
Sitter in Bath Studio
Cecil Trouncer
John Rudge
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 'Dragon'
Tony Adams
Boy (uncredited)
Johnny Briggs
Youth (uncredited)
David Coote
William (uncredited)
Norma Dale
Minor Role (uncredited)
Alan Gifford
Industry Man (uncredited)
Madam Kirkwood-Hackett
Financier (uncredited)
Hal Osmond
Conductor's Manager (uncredited)
Ian Wilson
Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Carol Wolveridge
Screaming Child (uncredited)
Did you know?
Trivia
One of the extras in this movie is a teenage Ronnie Kray (later the infamous London gangster).
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Made to celebrate 1951's Festival of Britain.
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According to Ronald Neame in his memoirs, Alec Guinness was only actor to refuse a role in this.
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Goofs
In 1915 when Green's three eldest sons join the army, the landlord's agent mentions that the Spanish influenza is going around. In actuality the Spanish influenza did not begin until 1918.
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Quotes
William Fox-Talbot: The original thinker - the innovator - mustn't mind seeming a little foolish to his contemporaries. He must always look to his star... In the end, he may still fail. That's unimportant. If he is true to himself, he won't be too unhappy or embittered, even in failure, and will still speak for what is good.
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Photos from cast
Ernest Thesiger David Tomlinson Michael Trubshawe
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