Rare Film Posters

MAGIC BOX

Original British 9 7/8 inch x 7 3/4 inch Key Book Portrait of JOHN BOULTING on the set of his 1951 Drama THE MAGIC BOX, based on the biography “Friese-Greene, Close-Up of an Inventor” by Ray Allister, with a screenplay by Eric Ambler and starring Robert Donat as William Friese-Greene, Margaret Johnston, Maria Schell, Laurence Olivier, Leo Genn, Stanley Holloway, Glynis Johns, Barry Jones, Cecil Parker, Eric Portman, Dennis Price, Michael Redgrave, Renee Asherson, Richard Attenborough, Basil Sydney as William Fox-Talbot and Robert Beatty as Lord Beaverbrook.

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. The film was completed and shown just before the end of the 1951 Festival of Britain, 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.

The portrait, from the original key book, is in very good condition.

MAGIC BOX

Original British 9 7/8 inch x 7 3/4 inch Key Book Portrait of JOHN BOULTING on the set of his 1951 Drama THE MAGIC BOX, based on the biography “Friese-Greene, Close-Up of an Inventor” by Ray Allister, with a screenplay by Eric Ambler and starring Robert Donat as William Friese-Greene, Margaret Johnston, Maria Schell, Laurence Olivier, Leo Genn, Stanley Holloway, Glynis Johns, Barry Jones, Cecil Parker, Eric Portman, Dennis Price, Michael Redgrave, Renee Asherson, Richard Attenborough, Basil Sydney as William Fox-Talbot and Robert Beatty as Lord Beaverbrook.

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. The film was completed and shown just before the end of the 1951 Festival of Britain, 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.

The portrait, from the original key book, is in very good condition mounted on thin black card.

MAGIC BOX

Original British 9 7/8 inch x 7 3/4 inch Key Book Portrait of JOHN BOULTING on the set of his 1951 Drama THE MAGIC BOX, based on the biography “Friese-Greene, Close-Up of an Inventor” by Ray Allister, with a screenplay by Eric Ambler and starring Robert Donat as William Friese-Greene, Margaret Johnston, Maria Schell, Laurence Olivier, Leo Genn, Stanley Holloway, Glynis Johns, Barry Jones, Cecil Parker, Eric Portman, Dennis Price, Michael Redgrave, Renee Asherson, Richard Attenborough, Basil Sydney as William Fox-Talbot and Robert Beatty as Lord Beaverbrook.

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. The film was completed and shown just before the end of the 1951 Festival of Britain, 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.

The portrait, removed from the original key book, is in very good condition.

MAGIC BOX

Original British 10 inch x 7 3/4 inch Portrait of JOHN BOULTING on the set of his 1951 Drama THE MAGIC BOX, made for the Festival of Britain, adapted by Eric Ambler from the controversial biography by Ray Allister.

The portrait, removed from distributor’s keybook, is in very good condition with minor surface marks

MAGIC BOX

Original British 10 inch x 7 3/4 inch Portrait of JOHN BOULTING on the set of his 1951 Drama THE MAGIC BOX, made for the Festival of Britain, adapted by Eric Ambler from the controversial biography by Ray Allister.

The portrait, removed from distributor’s keybook, is in very good condition with minor surface marks

MAGIC BOX

Original British 14 1/2 inch x 10 3/4 inch 8 Page Pressbook for the 1951 John Boulting Drama THE MAGIC BOX, based on the biography “Friese-Greene, Close-Up of an Inventor” by Ray Allister, with a screenplay by Eric Ambler and starring Robert Donat as William Friese-Greene, Margaret Johnston, Maria Schell, Laurence Olivier, Leo Genn, Stanley Holloway, Glynis Johns, Barry Jones, Cecil Parker, Eric Portman, Dennis Price, Michael Redgrave, Renee Asherson, Richard Attenborough, Basil Sydney as William Fox-Talbot and Robert Beatty as Lord Beaverbrook.

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. The film was completed and shown just before the end of the 1951 Festival of Britain, 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.

Pressbooks or Campaign Books were used by exhibitors for choosing their publicity campaigns. They would include ad blocks for use in newspapers and all the posters available. There was also editorial and illustrations.

The pressbook is in very good condition.

MAGIC BOX

Original 1964 Russian first release 19 inch x 26 1/4 inch Poster for the 1951 John Boulting Drama THE MAGIC BOX, based on the biography “Friese-Greene, Close-Up of an Inventor” by Ray Allister, with a screenplay by Eric Ambler and starring Robert Donat as William Friese-Greene, Margaret Johnston, Maria Schell, Laurence Olivier, Leo Genn, Stanley Holloway, Glynis Johns, Barry Jones, Cecil Parker, Eric Portman, Dennis Price, Michael Redgrave, Renee Asherson, Richard Attenborough, Basil Sydney as William Fox-Talbot and Robert Beatty as Lord Beaverbrook

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. The film was completed and shown just before the end of the 1951 Festival of Britain, 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.

Poster art by Kovalenko

The poster is in fine folded condition.

MAGIC BOX

Original British 20 inch x 30 inch Double Crown Poster for the 1951 John Boulting Drama THE MAGIC BOX, based on the biography “Friese-Greene, Close-Up of an Inventor” by Ray Allister, with a screenplay by Eric Ambler and starring Robert Donat as William Friese-Greene, Margaret Johnston, Maria Schell, Laurence Olivier, Leo Genn, Stanley Holloway, Glynis Johns, Barry Jones, Cecil Parker, Eric Portman, Dennis Price, Michael Redgrave, Renee Asherson, Richard Attenborough, Basil Sydney as William Fox-Talbot and Robert Beatty as Lord Beaverbrook

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. The film was completed and shown just before the end of the 1951 Festival of Britain, 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.

Printed by Graphic Reproductions Ltd.

The poster is in very good unfolded (rolled) condition with slight tattering down the bottom of the left edge, strengthened from the reverse with conservation archival tape.

MAGIC BOX

Original 10 inch x 8 inch Still of ROBERT DONAT (cranking a replica of William Friese-Greene’s first movie camera) and MARGARET JOHNSTON compare points with director JOHN BOULTING and Oscar winning cameraman JACK CARDIFF who are showing off the intricacies of the modern Technicolor camera on the set of the Festival of Britain film the 1951 John Boulting Biographical Drama THE MAGIC BOX, based on the biography “Friese-Greene, Close Up of an Inventor” by Ray Allister with a screenplay by Eric Ambler.

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. The film was completed and shown just before the end of the 1951 Festival of Britain, 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.

The still is in very good condition with a synopsis tacked to the reverse.

MAGIC BOX

Original British 16 1/2 inch x 22 inch Lift Bill Poster for the 1951 John Boulting Drama THE MAGIC BOX, based on the biography “Friese-Greene, Close-Up of an Inventor” by Ray Allister, with a screenplay by Eric Ambler and starring Robert Donat as William Friese-Greene, Margaret Johnston, Maria Schell, Laurence Olivier, Leo Genn, Stanley Holloway, Glynis Johns, Barry Jones, Cecil Parker, Eric Portman, Dennis Price, Michael Redgrave, Renee Asherson, Richard Attenborough, Basil Sydney as William Fox-Talbot and Robert Beatty as Lord Beaverbrook.

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. The film was completed and shown just before the end of the 1951 Festival of Britain, 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.

Printed by Graphic Reproductions Ltd.

The poster is in very good unfolded (rolled) condition.