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.

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.

Balcon had earlier co-founded Gainsborough Pictures with Victor Saville in 1923, later working with Gaumont British, which absorbed their studio.

He served as chairman of the British Film Institute production board to help fund and encourage new work.

His father described himself as a tailor, but rarely worked in that capacity; he "preferred to travel", including to South Africa, where his brother-in-law had settled.

Despite what he called a "respectable but impoverished" childhood, in 1907 Balcon won a scholarship to Birmingham's George Dixon Grammar School, where he had an "undistinguished" academic career, and had to leave in 1913 owing to his family's financial needs.

A commemorative plaque was subsequently placed at George Dixon Grammar School, marking his notability as a film producer.

[2] He worked as a jeweller's apprentice, was turned down for service in the First World War because of defective eyesight, and joined the Dunlop Rubber Company's huge plant at Aston Cross in 1915, rising to become personal assistant to the managing director.

After the war, Balcon's friend Victor Saville suggested a partnership to establish a film distribution company for the new and growing industry.

The studio, recently vacated by the Hollywood company Famous Players–Lasky (later Paramount Pictures) was small but well equipped and fully staffed.

Still, between 1931 and 1936, Balcon produced a number of classics, including a string of Hitchcock successes, such as 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.

Under his benevolent leadership and surrounded by a reliable team of directors, writers, technicians and actors, Ealing became the most famous British studio in the world, despite turning out no more than six feature films a year.

Other films from the studio include Dance Hall (1950) with Petula Clark and Diana Dors; and The Blue Lamp (also 1950), whose lead character, George Dixon, was named after Balcon's grammar school.

"[page needed] Besides Hitchcock, Balcon worked with Basil Dearden, Michael Relph and many other significant figures of British film.