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A stolen magnet, a white lie, and suddenly you're Liverpool's smallest saint.
TMDB
64
IMDb
68
Rotten Tomatoes
46
Audience Score
46
Google
78
Watch(GB)

The Magnet (1950)

wholesome chaosworking-class charmboyhood tall tales

Overview

Comedy

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

Flag of GBGB
Content warning
child protagonistliverpool, englandschoolboyealingmagnet

Standout Aspects

Acting

Young James Fox (credited as William) steals every scene, magnet optional.

Direction

Frend captures post-war Liverpool with documentary warmth.

Writing

T.E.B. Clarke's script finds comedy in a child's moral spiral.

Best for:Family: Sunday afternoon with actual kids or your inner one.·Solo: When you need 79 minutes of pure, gentle serotonin.·Rewatch: Catching James Fox's adorable baby-faced debut.
Charles Frend

Director

Charles Frend

ReleasedOct 1, 1950
Runtime1h 19m
StatusReleased

Vibe

Pacesteady
Intensitylow
Tonelight
Feellight
Ealing Studios
General Film Distributors

Top Cast

Stephen Murray

Stephen Murray

Dr Brent

Kay Walsh

Kay Walsh

Mrs Brent

James Fox

James Fox

Johnny Brent

Meredith Edwards

Meredith Edwards

Harper

Gladys Henson

Gladys Henson

Nanny

Thora Hird

Thora Hird

Nanny's friend

Wylie Watson

Wylie Watson

Pickering

Julien Mitchell

Julien Mitchell

Mayor

Harold Goodwin

Harold Goodwin

Pinball man

Joan Hickson

Joan Hickson

Mrs Ward

Joss Ambler

Joss Ambler

Businessman

Sam Kydd

Sam Kydd

Postman

Ask about The Magnet

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Deep Dive

Trivia, insights & behind the scenes

Trivia

This was James Fox's film debut at age 11; he'd become one of Britain's most distinctive leading men in the 1960s and 70s.

Cultural

Shot on location in post-war Liverpool, the film captures a vanished working-class world that would soon be radically reshaped by slum clearance and modernization.

Gallery

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