---
name: "Michael Balcon"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/michael-balcon"
fi1m_id: "michael-balcon"
imdb_id: "nm0049608"
tmdb_id: 3601
wikidata_id: "Q1362106"
roles: ["Producer"]
born: "19 May 1896"
died: "17 October 1977"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 5
average_fi1m_score: 85
average_as: "producer"
average_over: 5
updated: "2026-09-25T07:14:42.568344+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Michael Balcon

## Identity

Michael Balcon

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/michael-balcon
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** michael-balcon
- **IMDb ID:** nm0049608
- **TMDB ID:** 3601
- **Wikidata ID:** Q1362106
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Balcon, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1362106, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0049608/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/3601

Producer. Born 19 May 1896 in Birmingham, England, UK. Died 17 October 1977.

## Details

- **Work:** Producer
- **Born:** 19 May 1896, Birmingham, England, UK
- **Died:** 17 October 1977
- **Active:** 1935–1955
- **Frequently works with:** [Alec Guinness](https://film.one/person/alec-guinness.md), [Alfred Hitchcock](https://film.one/person/alfred-hitchcock.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 85, as producer, over 5 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1930s 82 (2), 1940s 91 (1), 1950s 84 (2)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 87 to 86 across 4 titles
- **Score spread:** 4 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Genres:** Crime 4, Comedy 3, Thriller 2, Drama 1, Mystery 1
- **Screen time:** 7 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $0m across 1 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Balcon, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1362106, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0049608/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/3601

## Streaming the US now

- **HBO Max:** [*The 39 Steps*](https://film.one/film/the-39-steps.md) (88), [*Sabotage*](https://film.one/film/sabotage.md) (77)
- **Apple TV:** [*Kind Hearts and Coronets*](https://film.one/film/kind-hearts-and-coronets.md) (91)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

Sir Michael Balcon (19 May 1896 – 17 October 1977) was an English film producer. He began his career in the early 1920s and co-founded Gainsborough Pictures. He later served as director of production at Gaumont-British and as producer for MGM-British before becoming head of production at Ealing Studios in 1938.

Balcon remained at Ealing until 1959. He produced or oversaw numerous films there, including *Kind Hearts and Coronets* (1949), *The Lavender Hill Mob* (1951) and *The Ladykillers* (1955). Earlier credits include *The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog* (1927), *The 39 Steps* (1935) and *The Man Who Knew Too Much* (1934). He was knighted in 1948.

*Sources: britannica.com, en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (5)

- *The Ladykillers* (1955), Fi1m 86, Producer — [page](https://film.one/film/the-ladykillers.md)
- *The Lavender Hill Mob* (1951), Fi1m 82, Producer — [page](https://film.one/film/the-lavender-hill-mob.md)
- *Kind Hearts and Coronets* (1949), Fi1m 91, Producer — [page](https://film.one/film/kind-hearts-and-coronets.md)
- *Sabotage* (1936), Fi1m 77, Producer — [page](https://film.one/film/sabotage.md)
- *The 39 Steps* (1935), Fi1m 88, Producer — [page](https://film.one/film/the-39-steps.md)

## Complete filmography (193)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *The Long and the Short and the Tall* (1961), Producer
- *The Scapegoat* (1959), Producer
- *The Siege of Pinchgut* (1959), Producer
- *Nowhere to Go* (1958), Producer
- *Dunkirk* (1958), Producer
- *Davy* (1958), Producer
- *Barnacle Bill* (1957), Producer
- *The Shiralee* (1957), Producer
- *The Man in the Sky* (1957), Producer
- *The Feminine Touch* (1956), Producer
- *The Long Arm* (1956), Producer
- *Who Done It?* (1956), Executive Producer
- *The Ladykillers* (1955), Producer — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/the-ladykillers.md)
- *The Night My Number Came Up* (1955), Producer
- *Out of the Clouds* (1955), Executive Producer
- *Lease of Life* (1954), Producer
- *West of Zanzibar* (1954), Producer
- *The 'Maggie'* (1954), Executive Producer
- *Meet Mr. Lucifer* (1953), Executive Producer
- *The Titfield Thunderbolt* (1953), Executive Producer
- *Mandy* (1952), Producer
- *Where No Vultures Fly* (1951), Producer
- *The Man in the White Suit* (1951), Producer
- *The Lavender Hill Mob* (1951), Producer — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/the-lavender-hill-mob.md)
- *Pool of London* (1951), Producer
- *Cage of Gold* (1950), Producer
- *The Magnet* (1950), Producer
- *Bitter Springs* (1950), Producer
- *The Blue Lamp* (1950), Producer
- *A Run for Your Money* (1949), Producer
- *Passport to Pimlico* (1949), Producer
- *Kind Hearts and Coronets* (1949), Producer — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/film/kind-hearts-and-coronets.md)
- *Whisky Galore!* (1949), Producer
- *Eureka Stockade* (1949), Producer
- *Train of Events* (1949), Producer
- *Scott of the Antarctic* (1948), Producer
- *Another Shore* (1948), Producer
- *Saraband for Dead Lovers* (1948), Producer
- *Against the Wind* (1948), Producer
- *It Always Rains on Sunday* (1947), Producer
- *Frieda* (1947), Producer
- *The Loves of Joanna Godden* (1947), Producer
- *The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby* (1947), Producer
- *Hue and Cry* (1947), Producer
- *The Overlanders* (1946), Producer
- *The Captive Heart* (1946), Producer
- *Pink String and Sealing Wax* (1945), Producer
- *Johnny Frenchman* (1945), Producer
- *Dead of Night* (1945), Producer
- *Painted Boats* (1945), Producer
- *The Return of the Vikings* (1944), Producer
- *Fiddlers Three* (1944), Producer
- *Champagne Charlie* (1944), Producer
- *They Came to a City* (1944), Producer
- *For Those in Peril* (1944), Producer
- *The Halfway House* (1944), Producer
- *San Demetrio London* (1943), Producer
- *My Learned Friend* (1943), Producer
- *Undercover* (1943), Producer
- *The Bells Go Down* (1943), Producer
- *Nine Men* (1943), Producer
- *Save Your Shillings and Smile* (1943), Producer
- *The Sky’s the Limit* (1943), Producer
- *Went the Day Well?* (1942), Producer
- *The Goose Steps Out* (1942), Producer
- *The Foreman Went to France* (1942), Producer
- *The Next of Kin* (1942), Producer
- *The Black Sheep of Whitehall* (1942), Producer
- *The Big Blockade* (1942), Producer
- *Go to Blazes* (1942), Producer
- *Find, Fix and Strike* (1942), Producer
- *Ships with Wings* (1941), Producer
- *Turned Out Nice Again* (1941), Producer
- *Yellow Caesar* (1941), Executive In Charge Of Production
- *The Ghost of St. Michael's* (1941), Producer
- *Sailors Three* (1940), Producer
- *Spare a Copper* (1940), Producer
- *Young Veteran* (1940), Executive Producer
- *Saloon Bar* (1940), Producer
- *Convoy* (1940), Producer
- *Let George Do It!* (1940), Producer
- *All Hands* (1940), Producer
- *Dangerous Comment* (1940), Producer
- *The Proud Valley* (1940), Producer
- *Return to Yesterday* (1940), Producer
- *Now You're Talking* (1940), Producer
- *Salvage with a Smile* (1940), Producer
- *Cheer Boys Cheer* (1939), Producer
- *The Four Just Men* (1939), Producer
- *Happy Family* (1939), Producer
- *The Ware Case* (1938), Producer
- *Climbing High* (1938), Producer
- *A Yank at Oxford* (1938), Producer
- *Sabotage* (1937), Producer — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/film/sabotage.md)
- *Take My Tip* (1937), Producer
- *Jack of All Trades* (1936), Producer
- *All In!* (1936), Producer
- *The Man Who Changed His Mind* (1936), Producer
- *Tudor Rose* (1936), Producer
- *Rhythm in the Air* (1936), Producer
- *Where There's a Will* (1936), Producer
- *Secret Agent* (1936), Producer
- *It's Love Again* (1936), Producer
- *First Offence* (1936), Producer
- *Foreign Affaires* (1935), Producer
- *The Passing of the Third Floor Back* (1935), Producer
- *Bulldog Jack* (1935), Producer
- *Stormy Weather* (1935), Producer
- *Me and Marlborough* (1935), Producer
- *Things Are Looking Up* (1935), Producer
- *The Clairvoyant* (1935), Producer
- *The 39 Steps* (1935), Producer — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/the-39-steps.md)
- *Brown on Resolution* (1935), Producer
- *Oh, Daddy!* (1935), Producer
- *Car of Dreams* (1935), Producer
- *The Man Who Knew Too Much* (1934), Producer
- *The Iron Duke* (1934), Producer
- *Road House* (1934), Producer
- *Jew Süss* (1934), Producer
- *My Song for You* (1934), Producer
- *Aunt Sally* (1934), Producer
- *It's a Boy* (1934), Producer
- *A Cup of Kindness* (1934), Producer
- *Man of Aran* (1934), Producer
- *The Constant Nymph* (1933), Producer
- *I Was a Spy* (1933), Producer
- *The Ghoul* (1933), Producer
- *Orders Is Orders* (1933), Producer
- *Sleeping Car* (1933), Producer
- *The Good Companions* (1933), Producer
- *The Man from Toronto* (1933), Producer
- *Britannia of Billingsgate* (1933), Producer
- *The Midshipmaid* (1932), Producer
- *After the Ball* (1932), Producer
- *Rome Express* (1932), Producer
- *There Goes the Bride* (1932), Producer
- *Marry Me* (1932), Producer
- *Love on Wheels* (1932), Producer
- *Jack's the Boy* (1932), Producer
- *The Faithful Heart* (1932), Producer
- *White Face* (1932), Producer
- *The Frightened Lady* (1932), Producer
- *Lord Babs* (1932), Producer
- *Who Killed Doc Robin?* (1931), Producer
- *Sunshine Susie* (1931), Producer
- *A Gentleman of Paris* (1931), Producer
- *P.C. Josser* (1931), Producer
- *Michael and Mary* (1931), Producer
- *The Calendar* (1931), Producer
- *Hindle Wakes* (1931), Producer
- *The Ghost Train* (1931), Producer
- *My Old China* (1931), Producer
- *The Hound of the Baskervilles* (1931), Producer
- *The Man They Couldn't Arrest* (1931), Producer
- *A Night in Montmartre* (1931), Producer
- *The Ringer* (1931), Producer
- *The Stronger Sex* (1931), Producer
- *Bull Rushes* (1931), Producer
- *Harry Lauder Songs* (1931), Producer
- *Hot Heir* (1931), Producer
- *Aroma of the South Seas* (1931), Producer
- *A Warm Corner* (1930), Producer
- *Symphony in Two Flats* (1930), Producer
- *The Crooked Billet* (1930), Producer
- *Just for a Song* (1930), Producer
- *Taxi for Two* (1929), Producer
- *Armistice* (1929), Producer
- *The Wrecker* (1929), Presenter
- *The City of Play* (1929), Producer
- *The Lady of the Lake* (1928), Producer
- *A South Sea Bubble* (1928), Producer
- *Balaclava* (1928), Producer
- *Easy Virtue* (1928), Producer
- *The Vortex* (1928), Producer
- *The Constant Nymph* (1928), Producer
- *A Light Woman* (1928), Producer
- *One of the Best* (1927), Producer
- *Downhill* (1927), Producer, Presenter
- *The Rolling Road* (1927), Co-Producer
- *The Ghost Train* (1927), Producer
- *The Queen Was in the Parlour* (1927), Producer
- *Blighty* (1927), Producer
- *The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog* (1927), Producer
- *The Mountain Eagle* (1926), Producer
- *The Cabaret Kid* (1926), Producer
- *The Prude's Fall* (1925), Producer
- *The Pleasure Garden* (1925), Producer
- *Cut It Out* (1925), Producer
- *The Rat* (1925), Producer
- *The Blackguard* (1925), Producer
- *Typical Budget* (1925), Producer
- *The White Shadow* (1924), Producer
- *Woman to Woman* (1923), Producer

## Gallery

- ![Site of Gainsborough Film Studios, Poole St, Hoxton, London N1 5EE (2021)](https://film.one/media/person/59095/gallery-62719f9c5419.jpg) Site of Gainsborough Film Studios, Poole St, Hoxton, London N1 5EE (2021) — Spudgun67, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/98/Site_of_Gainsborough_Film_Studios%2C_Poole_St%2C_Hoxton%2C_London_N1_5EE.jpg/1280px-Site_of_Gainsborough_Film_Studios%2C_Poole_St%2C_Hoxton%2C_London_N1_5EE.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Site of Gainsborough Film Studios, Poole St, Hoxton, London N1 5EE (2021)](https://film.one/media/person/59095/gallery-5bbcfe78e9a4.jpg) Site of Gainsborough Film Studios, Poole St, Hoxton, London N1 5EE (2021) — Spudgun67, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1b/Site_of_Gainsborough_Film_Studios%2C_Poole_St%2C_Hoxton%2C_London_N1_5EE_%282%29.jpg/1280px-Site_of_Gainsborough_Film_Studios%2C_Poole_St%2C_Hoxton%2C_London_N1_5EE_%282%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Brown plaque erected by the London Borough of Hackney at the site of Gainsborough Film Studios, Poole St, Hoxton, London N1 5EE. The plaque states that “The Wic (2021)](https://film.one/media/person/59095/gallery-f89b5b22bf31.jpg) Brown plaque erected by the London Borough of Hackney at the site of Gainsborough Film Studios, Poole St, Hoxton, London N1 5EE. The plaque states that “The Wic (2021) — Spudgun67, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d4/The_Gainsborough_Film_Studios_1924-1949_Alfred_Hitchcock%2C_Michael_Balcon%2C_Ivor_Novello%2C_Gracie_Fields%2C_%27The_Lady_Vanishes%27%2C_%27The_Wicked_Lady%27_worked_and_were_filmed_here.jpg/1280px-thumbnail.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/michael-balcon