The Magic Box
| The Magic Box | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | John Boulting |
| Written by |
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| Produced by | Ronald Neame |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Jack Cardiff |
| Edited by | Richard Best |
| Music by | William Alwyn |
| Distributed by | British Lion Films |
Release date |
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Running time | 118 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Budget | £220,000 or $700,000 |
| Box office | £82,398 (UK) |
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 numerous cameo appearances by performers such as Peter Ustinov and Laurence Olivier.
Produced by Ronald Neame and distributed by British Lion Film Corporation, the film was made as part of the Festival of Britain and adapted by Eric Ambler from a biography by Ray Allister.
The film presents a dramatized account of Friese-Greene's life, who was one of the earliest inventors to design and patent a working cinematic camera. Told largely in flashback, the story follows his passionate pursuit of motion picture technology and its impact on his financial stability and personal life.