THE MAGIC BOX is a 1951 biopic from the Boulting Brothers. The subject of the film is William Friese-Greene, a man whose invention of a moving-picture format saw him contributing to the development of early cinema, although he is very much a forgotten figure today. As such, this film is surprisingly downbeat and plays out as a tragedy at times. It's very realistic, harshly so, in fact, and details poverty, oppression, and the impact of turgid real life on one man's dreams. However, a succession of endless cameos from about half of all the famous faces of the era keeps it watchable, and Robert Donat - of THE 39 STEPS fame - delivers a winning performance as the protagonist.
Review of The Magic Box
