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 Michael Balcon started in films as a distributor, then a producer from the early 1920s, helping to launch the career of Alfred Hitchcock. In the 1930s, Balcon was prominent in building up a huge annual production programme of films for both Gainsborough and Gaumont-British. Head of MGM-British, 1936-38, then in charge of production at Ealing. Knighted in 1948. After Ealing, produced some films independently (A Boy Ten Feet Tall (1963)), and helped form Bryanston Films, a group of independent film makers, including several ex-Ealing colleagues such as Basil Dearden and Michael Relph. After a frustrating period as Chairman of British Lion (1964-68), in which he found it impossible to fulfill his commitment to support a continuity of indigenous production, he became Chairman of the British Institute's Experimental Film Fund before retiring in 1972.
Bio:
Michael Balcon started in films as a distributor, then a producer from the early 1920s, helping to launch the career of Alfred Hitchcock. In the 1930s, Balcon was prominent in building up a huge annual production programme of films for both Gainsborough and Gaumont-British. Head of MGM-British, 1936-38, then in charge of production at Ealing. Knighted in 1948. After Ealing, produced some films independently (A Boy Ten Feet Tall (1963)), and helped form Bryanston Films, a group of independent film makers, including several ex-Ealing colleagues such as Basil Dearden and Michael Relph. After a frustrating period as Chairman of British Lion (1964-68), in which he found it impossible to fulfill his commitment to support a continuity of indigenous production, he became Chairman of the British Institute's Experimental Film Fund before retiring in 1972.
Tivia:
Grandfather of Daniel Day-Lewis and Tamasin Day-Lewis.Father of actress Jill Balcon, who was married to the poet laureate Cecil Day-Lewis (aka Cecil Day-Lewis, and Jonathan Balcon, a former Lloyd's broker.In 1964 he took control of British Lion Films.Co-founder, along with Graham Cutts, of Gainsborough Pictures in 1924.Director and Head of Production at Ealing Studios from 1937-59.Chairman of the Experimental Film Fund, created in 1952, an organisation which went on to become part of the British Film Institute and supported the earliest works of directors such as Ridley Scott.He was made a Knight Bachelor in the 1948 King's New Year Honours List for his services to the film industry.Co-founded, with Carlyle Blackwell, British production company Picadilly Pictures in 1926.Brother of S.C. Balcon.Formed Bryanston Films in 1959.Co-founded--with John Baxter (I) and John Grierson (I)--Group 3, a British production company, in 1951. |
| Name: |
Michael Balcon |
Type: |
Producer,Additional Crew,Actor (IMDB) |
| Area: |
All World |
Platform: |
IMDB |
| Category: |
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Business scope: |
Producer,Additional Crew,Actor |
| Products for sale: |
Producer,Additional Crew,Actor |
| Last update: |
2024-07-01 02:45:06 |
| Biography: |
Michael Balcon started in films as a distributor, then a producer from the early 1920s, helping to launch the career of Alfred Hitchcock. In the 1930s, Balcon was prominent in building up a huge annual production programme of films for both Gainsboro |
| Trivia: |
Grandfather of Daniel Day-Lewis and Tamasin Day-Lewis.Father of actress Jill Balcon, who was married to the poet laureate Cecil Day-Lewis (aka Cecil Day-Lewis, and Jonathan Balcon, a former Lloyd's broker.In 1964 he took control of British Lion Films.Co-founder, along with Graham Cutts, of Gainsborough Pictures in 1924.Director and Head of Production at Ealing Studios from 1937-59.Chairman of the Experimental Film Fund, created in 1952, an organisation which went on to become part of the British Film Institute and supported the earliest works of directors such as Ridley Scott.He was made a Knight Bachelor in the 1948 King's New Year Honours List for his services to the film industry.Co-founded, with Carlyle Blackwell, British production company Picadilly Pictures in 1926.Brother of S.C. Balcon.Formed Bryanston Films in 1959.Co-founded--with John Baxter (I) and John Grierson (I)--Group 3, a British production company, in 1951. |
| Quotes: |
[1977, following publication of Charles Barr's "Ealing Studios"] A great many motives were attributed to why we made the films we did; all I can say is that we just enjoyed making films.
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We made films at Ealing that were good, bad and indifferent, but they were indisputably British. They were rooted in the soil of the country.
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I always look for people whose ideas coincide with mine, and then I'm ready to give them a chance to make a name for themselves. |
| Job title: |
Producer,Additional Crew,Actor |
| Spouse: |
Aileen Freda Leatherman (April 10, 1924 - October 17, 1977) (his death, 2 children) |
| Children: |
Jill Balcon |
| Relatives: |
Tamasin Day-Lewis (Grandchild)
Daniel Day-Lewis (Grandchild)
Gabriel-Kane Day Lewis (Great Grandchild) |
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