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The Magnet

Play trailer Poster for The Magnet Released Feb 25, 1951 1h 18m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 2 Reviews 46% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Young Johnny Brent (William Fox) tricks another boy at his school into giving him a powerful magnet. When the magnet gets Johnny into trouble, he decides to give it away. He meets a medical inventor (Meredith Edwards), who is holding auctions for the hospital, and decides to give the man the magnet anonymously. As Johnny continues to feel guilty for taking the boy's magnet, he runs away to Liverpool, where the magnet comes back to him in an unexpected way.

Critics Reviews

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Manny Farber The Nation [The Magnet] will draw inaudible chuckles from people who never tire of psychiatrist jokes and invented childish antics. Nov 24, 2020 Full Review MFB Critics Monthly Film Bulletin The plot of The Magnet is not allowed to develop naturally, but is carried through a whole series of improbable coincidences and misunderstandings. Feb 6, 2018 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member An endearing performance by William (James) Fox helps to bolster this episodic comedy. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member A young William Fox cons a young lad out of a magnet and then bad luck and trouble seems to follow him at every turn....an easy paced sunday matinee of a film Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/10/23 Full Review Audience Member By far the worst Ealing I've ever watched. A real pity. Bizarre, American-friendly profession of the psychiatrist for the father too. Disappointing. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member A really sweet and charming Ealing film. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member This is a lovely Ealing film, the tale of a young boy who feels very guilty after persuading another boy to give him his magnet in exchange for an invisible watch. A series of misunderstandings follow as the cheat believes he has caused the other child's death and that he is being sought by the police. A great look at a bygone age, which I am sure would be enjoyed by those who know Liverpool and the areas around it. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/23/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Magnet

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Cast & Crew

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Charles Frend

Director

Stephen Murray

Dr. Brent

Kay Walsh

Mrs. Brent

James Fox

Johnny Brent

Meredith Edwards

Harper

Gladys Henson

Nannie
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The Magnet

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Movie Info

Synopsis Young Johnny Brent (William Fox) tricks another boy at his school into giving him a powerful magnet. When the magnet gets Johnny into trouble, he decides to give it away. He meets a medical inventor (Meredith Edwards), who is holding auctions for the hospital, and decides to give the man the magnet anonymously. As Johnny continues to feel guilty for taking the boy's magnet, he runs away to Liverpool, where the magnet comes back to him in an unexpected way.
Director
Charles Frend
Producer
Michael Balcon
Screenwriter
T.E.B. Clarke
Production Co
Ealing Studios
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
British English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 25, 1951, Wide
Runtime
1h 18m
Sound Mix
Mono