Main Cast: Robert Montgomery, Susan Hayward, John Payne, Audrey Totter, Henry Morgan
Release Year: 1948
Country: US
Run Time: 88 minutes
Plot
In this drama, an egomaniacal producer freely treads upon those around him without regard to the harm he does. The devoted wife of a novelist sees this after the producer foists himself on her during a party; she tries to warn her novelist husband who wants the man to produce his play, but he does not listen. Later the producer tries to destroy his own girl friend's career by spreading vicious rumors; he succeeds and she loses her contract. Meanwhile the writer and his wife, thanks to the producer's manipulation, have separated. The writer is then forced to revise the play. The result is so bad that he cannot attract the actor he wanted to play his leading man. The novelist's wife gets her revenge on the producer by showing an original draft of the play to the actor her husband wanted. He is impressed and helps her find another producer. When the husband hears about his wife's actions he immediately returns, but not before punching the egotistical producer in the eye. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Review
A backstage melodrama that promises more than it delivers, The Saxon Charm is not without charm of its own -- but not enough to overcome some deficiencies in its screenplay and direction that keep it from being more than middling. Saxon's chief asset is its title character, played with menace, style, flair, and an odd sort of charm by Robert Montgomery. The actor turns in a commanding, but not overpowering, performance, well modulated and attuned to how far to go before pulling in the reins. As his nemesis, Susan Hayward is a bit off-key; she's not bad, by any means, and she certainly has the presence that is necessary to balance Montgomery, but she never seems totally at home in the character's shoes. John Payne is bland, but Audrey Totter does very well with the difficult role of the girlfriend. Claude Binyon's screenplay maintains a decent level of wit and has a number of zingers that really hit home, but it's overly talky and bogs down several times. As a result, it often seems as if it's just killing time in between the big moments. Montgomery, though, makes the rough patches worth it. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Harry Von Zell - Zack Humber; Cara Williams - Dolly Humber; Chill Wills - Capt. Chatham; Heather Angel - Vivian Saxon; Fay Baker - Mrs. Noble; John Baragrey - Peter Stanhope; Barbara Billingsley - Mrs. Maddox; Peter Brocco - Cyril Leatham; Laura Brooks - Buxom Nurse; Robert Cabal - Bus Boy; Barbara Challis - Ingenue; Curt Conway - Jack Bernard; Kathleen Freeman - Nurse; Martin Garralaga - Manager; Eula Guy - Harassed Secretary; Mauritz Hugo - Designer; Anthony Jochim - Agent; Donna Martell - Flower Girl; Al Murphy - Bald Man; Fred Nurney - Headwaiter; Addison Richards - Abel Richman; Clarence Straight - Mr. McCarthy; Lomax Study - Headwaiter; Archie Twitchell - Mr. Maddox; Philip Van Zandt - Chris; Max Willenz - Proprietor; Maris Wrixon - Mrs. McCarthy; Bert Davidson - Mr. Noble; Vivian Mason - Blonde; Robert Spencer - Leading Man; Blanche Obronska - Soubrette; Basil Tellou - Character Man
Credit
Alexander Golitzen - Art Director, Nick Castle - Choreography, Mary Kay Dodson - Costume Designer, Claude Binyon - Director, Paul Weatherwax - Editor, Walter Scharf - Composer (Music Score), Dorothy Fields - Songwriter, Jimmy McHugh - Songwriter, Bud Westmore - Makeup, Milton Krasner - Cinematographer, Joseph Sistrom - Producer, Russell A. Gausman - Set Designer, Ted Ofenbacker - Set Designer, David S. Horsley - Special Effects, Claude Binyon - Screenwriter, Frederic Wakeman - Book Author
