The Magic Box

The film was produced as part of the Festival of Britain in 1951, adapted by Eric Ambler from a biography of William Friese-Greene written by Ray Allister.

The film featured Robert Donat in the lead role as William Friese-Greene, alongside numerous cameo appearances by prominent British actors including Peter Ustinov and Laurence Olivier.

Half of the film's budget was provided by the National Film Finance Corporation, and the production was organized through Festival Film Productions, a semi-cooperative to which major British film companies contributed services for free or at reduced rates.

Bosley Crowther of The New York Times praised Robert Donat's performance as 'superlative', comparing it favorably to his earlier role in Goodbye, Mr. Chips, while criticizing the film's screenplay as 'vague and extended'.

Film historian Terry Ramsaye, writing in Motion Picture Herald, criticized the film's portrayal of Friese-Greene as the father of motion pictures, calling it a 'perversion of history'; the producers responded by accusing Ramsaye of bias against Friese-Greene.

Despite its star-studded ensemble cast with cameos from leading British actors, the film performed poorly at the box office and was ultimately considered a major financial failure.

The film received two BAFTA Award nominations in 1952, for Best Film and Best British Film.

Although completed and screened just before the end of the 1951 Festival of Britain, the film did not go into general release until 1952.