The Magic Box

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The Magic Box
Magic box 1.jpg
Directed by John Boulting
Produced by Ronald Neame
Written by Ray Allister and Eric Ambler
Starring Robert Donat
Margaret Johnston
Maria Schell
Robert Beatty
Margaret Rutherford
Music by William Alwyn
Cinematography Jack Cardiff
Editing by Richard Best
Distributed by British Lion Films
Release date(s) 1951
Running time 118 min.
Country UK
Language English
Box office £82,398 (UK)[1]

The Magic Box is a 1951 British, Technicolor, biographical drama film, directed by John Boulting. The film stars Robert Donat as William Friese-Greene, with a host of cameo appearances by such actors as Peter Ustinov and Laurence Olivier. It was produced by Ronald Neame and distributed by British Lion Film Corporation. The film was a project of the Festival of Britain and adapted by Eric Ambler from the controversial biography by Ray Allister.

Contents

Background [edit]

This biographical drama gives an account of the life of William Friese-Greene, who first designed and patented a working cinematic camera. This claim is subject to some controversy, but evidence now tends to support it.[citation needed] The film was completed and shown just before the end of the Festival, but the general release was not until 1952. Told in flashback, the film details Friese-Greene's tireless experiments with the "moving image," leading inexorably to a series of failures and disappointments, as others hog the credit for the protagonist's discoveries.[2]

Plot summary [edit]

In 1921, William Friese-Greene, in dire financial straits and separated from his wife, but still working, attends a film conference in London. He is saddened that all the attenders are businessmen interested only to money-making. He attempts to speak but no-one is interested and he sits down. He thinks back to his early pioneering days.

Young 'Willie' works as an assistant to photographer Maurice Guttenberg who will not let him take portraits his way. He leaves and with his new wife, a client of his former employer, opens a studio. After a slow start, he does well and opens other studios. But he is more interested in developing moving pictures and colour films. He single-mindedly works on his ideas, spending more and more money and is eventually declared bankrupt. With the coming of World War 1, their sons (one under age) enlist in the army to relieve their parents of the burden.

In partnership with a businessman, he develops his ideas, but the partnership sours and he's on his own - bankrupt again. Nevertheless, he perseveres and late one night, he projects the short film he has taken in Hyde Park that afternoon. Excitedly, he rushes out and drags in a passing policeman to witness the success of the film. The policeman is dumbfounded, not quite comprehending what he has just seen.

Back at the conference, Friese-Greene again stands up to speak, but becomes incoherent and is forced to sit down. He collapses. A doctor is called, but it is too late. Examining the contents of his pockets in an attempt to identify him, the doctor comments that all the money he could find was just enough for a ticket to the cinema.

Awards [edit]

The film was nominated for two BAFTA Awards in 1952—Best Film and Best British Film.

Cast [edit]

Cameos [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ Vincent Porter, 'The Robert Clark Account', Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, Vol 20 No 4, 2000 p495
  2. ^ Allmovie.com

TimeOut Film Guide - published by Penguin Books - ISBN 0-14-029395-7

External links [edit]

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