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Drama

The Magic Box (1951): Cast & Plot

The Magic Box (1951) movie poster

The Magic Box is a 1951 drama directed by John Boulting, starring Basil Sydney as William Fox-Talbot, Robert Donat and Janette Scott. It runs 1 hour 58 minutes.

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The Magic Box (1951) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 58m (118 min)
Director
John Boulting
Genre
Drama
Original language
English
Studio
Festival Film Productions
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Magic Box About?

The premise of The Magic Box without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

A moving portrait of inventor William Freise‑Greene, once a handsome photographer named William Green who altered his name to honor his first wife. Now old, ill, and forgotten, he obsessively pursues a method to project moving images, a breakthrough that reshapes the lives of the two women who love and sacrifice for him.

The Magic Box Themes & Keywords

· 35 tags
  • lie
  • poverty
  • family problems
  • coincidence
  • inventor
  • obsession
  • 1951 festival of britain
  • based on biography
  • three word title
  • world war one
  • son
  • second marriage
+23 more
  • pregnancy
  • police officer
  • photography
  • photo studio
  • pawnshop
  • military
  • marriage
  • marital separation
  • hyde park london
  • heart attack
  • film camera
  • fight
  • enlistment
  • doctor
  • development
  • death
  • conductor
  • choir
  • cameo
  • bankruptcy
  • baby girl
  • invention
  • filmmaking
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Cast & crew

The Magic Box Cast & Characters

Basil Sydney leads the cast as William Fox-Talbot, with Robert Donat as William Friese-Greene and Janette Scott as Ethel Friese-Greene. Directed by John Boulting; 81 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in The Magic Box

· 77 more
Show all 81 cast members
From the director

More from John Boulting

More films directed by John Boulting: The Family Way, Rotten to the Core, Suspect and I’m All Right Jack.

Full filmography
Plot

The Magic Box Plot Summary

What happens in The Magic Box from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Set in 1921, the story follows British inventor William Friese-Greene, Robert Donat as he wrestles with severe financial distress while attending a London film industry conference that will be told largely through a tapestry of flashbacks. The narrative initially centers on Helena Friese-Greene, Maria Schell, who recounts how she first met Willie, their marriage, and the four sons they had amid a growing, relentless pressure from his obsession with color film. The strain takes a toll on the family: their three eldest boys even lie about their ages to enlist in the army during the First World War, and Helena ultimately leaves him, unable to endure the mounting tension.

Full summary

The whole story of The Magic Box, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Magic Box?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Which actor portrayed William Friese‑Greene in the film?
Cars

Cars in The Magic Box

1 car on screen: the 1898 Stephens 'Dog Cart'.

  • 1898 Stephens 'Dog Cart' in The Magic Box 1898 Stephens 'Dog Cart' Minor role
Details

The Magic Box Also Known As

9 alternative titles, including “Der wunderbare Flimmerkasten” and “La boite magique”.

Also known as
  • Der wunderbare Flimmerkasten
  • La boite magique
  • La Boîte magique
  • A Caixa Mágica
  • 魔盒
  • Stupenda conquista
  • 매직 박스
  • Оставшийся в тени
  • Det mörka rummet

Seen The Magic Box?
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Movies Like The Magic Box

Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Music Box, Magic Lantern and The Illusionist.

FAQ

The Magic Box FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Magic Box, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Magic Box?

The Magic Box runs 1 hour 58 minutes (118 minutes).

When was The Magic Box released?

The Magic Box was released on September 18, 1951.

Who directed The Magic Box?

The Magic Box was directed by John Boulting.

More films by John Boulting

Who is in the cast of The Magic Box?

The Magic Box stars Basil Sydney as William Fox-Talbot, Robert Donat as William Friese-Greene and Janette Scott as Ethel Friese-Greene, among 81 credited actors.

Does The Magic Box have a post-credit scene?

No. The Magic Box has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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