The Magic Box
- Robert Donat: William Friese- Greene
- Margaret Johnston: Edith Friese- Greene
- Maria Schell: Helena Friese- Greene
- David Oake: Claude Friese- Greene
- Janette Scott: Ethel Friese- Greene
- John Howard Davies: Maurice Friese- Greene
- Robert Beatty: Lord Beaverbrook
- Richard Attenborough: Jack Carter
- Basil Sydney: William Fox Talbot
- Bernard Miles: Cousin Alfred
- Eric Portman: Arthur Collings
- Mary Ellis: Mrs Collings
- Muir Mathieson: Sir Arthur Sullivan
- Joyce Grenfell: Mrs Claire
- Dennis Price: Harold
- Margaret Rutherford: Lady Pond
- Mervyn Johns: Goitz
- Glynis Johns: May Jones
- James Kenney: Kenneth Friese- Greene
- Frederick Valk: Maurice Guttenberg
- Ronald Shiner: Fairground Barker
- Peter Reynolds: Groom
- Laurence Olivier: policeman
- Jack Hulbert: policeman
- Sidney James: policeman
- Peter Ustinov: Businessman
The wonderful goggle ( Original title: The Magic Box ) is a British film directed by John Boulting from the year 1951.
The film deals with the life of the British photographer and inventor William Friese- Greene ( 1855-1921 ).
Action
The inventor William Friese- Greene lives apart from his wife and is in financial straits when he visited in 1921 a film conference in London. It grieves him that all visitors to the conference are only areas. He's trying to make a speech, but no one listens to him. He sits back and thinks back to the early days of cinema.
The young Willie works as an assistant with the photographer Maurice Guttenberg. Dissatisfied with working conditions, he opened his own studio. At first, the business is not doing well, but little by little he can open more studios. However, more than studio work interested him tinkering on film cameras. For his work he gives heaps of money so that he is broke soon. At the beginning of World War I pull his sons in the war, also in order to free the parents of the debt with their pay.
A business partnership fails and Friese- Greene is again penniless. Eventually, however, he manages a short film, which he recorded in Hyde Park to play. Overjoyed, he runs on the street a policeman 's arms. The baffled police officer does not quite understand what the invention Friese -Greene presented to him there.
Again on the conference is Friese- Greene on again and tried to speak, but is again forced to sit because of its incomprehensible stammering. Back at his place, he collapses and dies. The doctor who was called found in his pockets just enough money for a cinema ticket.
Background
The film was made as a contribution to the British film industry for the Festival of Britain in 1951. Numerous British actors waived their usual fees to be involved in the production. To the smallest supporting roles, the film with movie stars such as Laurence Olivier, Joyce Grenfell, Miles Malleson, Michael Redgrave, Eric Portman, Emlyn Williams, Richard Attenborough, Peter Ustinov, Cecil Parker and Kay Walsh was busy. The main role was played by Oscar winner Robert Donat.
The script was written by Eric Ambler, based on the controversial biography Friese- Greene. Close- up of an Inventor by Ray Allister from the 1948 book and film set Friese- Green as the "inventor " of the recording motion pictures in 1889 is, although Louis Le Prince, this was in 1888 succeeded. Undeniably, however, is that Friese- Green is one of the pioneers of film art.
His debut film in December 1951. On January 21, 1952, he was regularly in British cinemas.
Criticism
The lexicon of the International film ruled that the film production was an " [ u ] convincing, is told in flashbacks Biography " and set " a widely forgotten film pioneer a monument ." Also in the supporting roles, the film is filled with " contemporary performer prominence ".
Variety described the film as a work of " great seriousness and honesty ," charged with the " drama of real life ," which convince especially thanks to " excellent " actor services and " intelligent direction ".
Awards
- BAFTA Awards 1952: Nomination for Best Film
- BAFTA Awards 1952: Nominations for Best British film
- Bambi 1952 award in the category for actors German Maria Schell