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The Magnet Details

1950 Certificate U
  • Rated:
  • 60
  • from 333 members

A classic Ealing comedy in which a young boy steals a magnet and becomes a hero. Read more

Starring William Fox, Kay Walsh, Stephen Murray, Meredith Edwards
Director Charles Frend
Genres Comedy

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The Magnet cover art

The Magnet

A classic Ealing comedy in which a young boy steals a magnet and becomes a hero.

Starring William Fox, Kay Walsh, Stephen Murray, Meredith Edwards, Thora Hird, Gladys Henson
Director Charles Frend
Studio WARNER HOME VIDEO
Run time DVD: 1 hr 14 mins
Certificate Certificate U
Genres Comedy
Language DVD: English
Released DVD: 12 Jul 2004
Production year: 1950
Format DVD

  • Critics' reviews (2) of The Magnet

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  • 2 stars out of 5

    Coming just after Passport to Pimlico and The Blue Lamp, this was one of Ealing superscribe T E B Clarke's least distinguished efforts. The story of a young boy who steals a magnet and becomes the toast of his community after his accidental heroics is understandably contrived, but it's the totally false characters that really let it down. Moreover, director Charles Frend fails to exploit the run-down urban locations. By the way, you're right if you think you recognise young William Fox — he later changed his first name to James and became a front-rank British star.

    • Radio Times
    • Posted 29 Jan 2006

  • Very mild Ealing comedy, not really up to snuff.

    • Halliwell's Film Guide
    • Posted 02 Mar 2006

  • Most helpful member's review of The Magnet

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  • 3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    Delightful Ealing comedy/drama

    A truly delightful Ealing comedy/drama starring a young James Fox (credited as William Fox) ?Passage to India, A (1984)?, ?Lost World, The (2001) (TV)?. It?s very easy to see even at this early age, the wonderful acting talent that he possessed and why he has become one of our finest actors. Here he plays a young boy who cons a younger boy out of a huge magnet, by swapping it for an 'invisible clock' that says 'tick, tick' in an unmistakably boyish voice when it is held up to the younger boy's ear. The ruse is successful, but he immediately begins feeling guilty, and it is the dramatic portrayal of his guilt that sky-rockets the film to the legendary heights it deserves. A must see if you?re at all interested in British nostalgic black and white films. 10 -10

      • Ken Hill from Birmingham
      • Posted 25 Nov 2004 08:44

  • Most recent members' review of The Magnet

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  • 1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

    Rated - 3 stars

    Good Sunday afternoon entertainment

    Although an Ealing Comedy,The Magnet isn't quite The Ladykillers or The Lavender Hill Mob, it's more The Titfield Thunderbolt.

    This is a great story which is ideal for a Sunday afternoon and has a great performance from a very young William Fox. It's very sweet and quite funny in a gentle way. If you like a good old black and white movie, it's definitely worth a watch.

      • A customer from Watford, England
      • Posted 10 Oct 2004 17:17

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Rating breakdown

333 Member ratings
  • 100
25
  • 90
20
  • 80
51
  • 70
54
  • 60
81
  • 50
32
  • 40
29
  • 30
17
  • 20
16
  • 10
8

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