Editing Michael Balcon (section)

==Filmography==
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[[File:Green plaque Michael Balcon.jpg|thumb|[[Blue plaque|Green plaque]] on Balcon's house in Tufton Street, [[City of Westminster|Westminster]]<ref name="Green plaque">{{openplaque|3069}}</ref>]]

Balcon began his career in filmmaking during the 1920s and, together with [[Victor Saville]] and [[John Freedman]], he formed Balcon, Freedman & Saville. After the war, Balcon's friend Victor Saville suggested a partnership to establish a film distribution company for the new and growing industry. The company, Victory Motion Pictures, led to them settling in London, opening an office in [[Soho]] in 1921. In 1923, their first feature film was released, the successful melodrama ''[[Woman to Woman (1923 film)|Woman to Woman]]'', starring [[Clive Brook]] and [[Betty Compson]], and directed by [[Graham Cutts]]. They leased [[Islington Studios]] and formed the more long-lasting [[Gainsborough Pictures]].

The studio, recently vacated by the Hollywood company [[Famous Players–Lasky]] (later [[Paramount Pictures]]) was small but well equipped and fully staffed. A young [[Alfred Hitchcock]] was one of its employees. Balcon gave Hitchcock his first directing opportunity, and Gainsborough gained a reputation for producing high-quality films.

===Balcon and Hitchcock===
In 1924, he and [[Graham Cutts]] founded Gainsborough Pictures, which he presided over for twelve years, as director of production for Gaumont-British from 1931. During this time, Balcon oversaw Alfred Hitchcock's very first production titled [[The Pleasure Garden (1925 film)|The Pleasure Garden]]. The film was followed by Hitchcock's [[The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog]] as well as [[The Ring (1927 film)|The Ring]] showing that Hitchcock's talent was growing and diversifying. At first, Balcon was doubtful about 'The Lodger' but after a re-edit by [[Ivor Montagu]], he became confident in the production.

Balcon's independence had eroded and Gainsborough became an extension of the [[Gaumont Film Company]]. Still, between 1931 and 1936, Balcon produced a number of classics, including a string of Hitchcock successes, such as ''[[The 39 Steps (1935 film)|The 39 Steps]]'' and ''[[Man of Aran]]''; directed by [[Robert J. Flaherty]] the latter was known as 'Balcon's folly' for going well over budget.

He also helped individuals escape [[Nazi Germany]] as persecution of Jewish citizens increased, including the actor [[Conrad Veidt]], who had starred in his 1934 film ''[[Jew Suss (1934 film)|Jew Suss]]''. By 1936, Gaumont was looking for an entry into the American market. Balcon spent several months in the United States forming links with the big Hollywood studios.

On his return, he found Gaumont in financial ruin and joined [[MGM-British Studios]] that November. His assistant Edward Black took over the studio.<ref name="edward">{{cite magazine|magazine=Filmink|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/forgotten-british-film-moguls-ted-black/|first=Stephen|last=Vagg|date=1 December 2024|access-date=1 December 2024|title=Forgotten British Film Moguls: Ted Black}}</ref> The year and a half Balcon spent at MGM British was a trying period for Balcon, who clashed frequently with studio head [[Louis B. Mayer]]. During this period, Balcon lived at 57a Tufton Street, Westminster. Today a commemorative plaque marks his former home.<ref name="Green plaque" />