Editing Michael Balcon (section)

{{Short description|English film producer (1896–1977)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2012}}
{{More citations needed|date=January 2010}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix   = [[Sir]]
| name               = Michael Balcon
| image              =File:Becky Sharp (1935) 8.jpg
| caption            = [[Rouben Mamoulian]], [[Miriam Hopkins]], visitor Michael Balcon, and [[Kenneth Macgowan]] on the set of the film ''[[Becky Sharp (film)|Becky Sharp]]'' in 1935.
| birthname          = Michael Elias Balcon
| birth_date         = {{Birth date|1896|5|19|df=y}}
| birth_place        = [[Birmingham]], [[Warwickshire]], England
| death_date         = {{Death date and age|1977|10|17|1896|5|19|df=y}}
| death_place        = [[Hartfield]], [[East Sussex]], England
| occupation         = [[Film producer]]
| spouse             = {{marriage|Aileen Freda Leatherman|1924}}
| children           = 2, including [[Jill Balcon]]
| relatives          = [[Daniel Day-Lewis]] (grandson)<br />[[Tamasin Day-Lewis]] (granddaughter)
}}

'''Sir Michael Elias Balcon''' (19 May 1896 – 17 October 1977) was an English [[film producer]] known for his leadership of [[Ealing Studios]] in west London from 1938 to 1956. Under his direction, the studio became one of the most important British film studios of the day. In an industry short of Hollywood-style moguls, Balcon emerged as a key figure, and an obdurately British one too, in his benevolent, somewhat headmasterly approach to the running of a creative organization. He is known for his leadership, and his guidance of young [[Alfred Hitchcock]].

Balcon had earlier co-founded [[Gainsborough Pictures]] with [[Victor Saville]] in 1923, later working with [[Gaumont British]], which absorbed their studio. Later still he worked with [[MGM-British]]. In 1956 he founded a production company known as Ealing Films, and later headed British Lion Films. He served as chairman of the [[British Film Institute]] production board to help fund and encourage new work.

Balcon was described in his obituary in ''[[The Times]]'' as a "pioneer of British films" who "had courage, energy and flair for showmanship".<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|date=18 October 1977|title=Sir Michael Balcon|work=[[The Times]]|issue=60137|access-date=}}</ref>