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Victor Saville

Victor Saville

Director, producer and writer · Died May 8, 1979, aged 83 · Birmingham, England, UK

Victor Saville (25 September 1895, Birmingham, England – 8 May 1979, London) was an English film director, producer and screenwriter. He directed 39 films between 1927 and 1954. He also produced 36 films between 1923 and 1962. He produced his first film, Woman to Woman, with Michael Balcon in 1923, and on the back of its success produced pictures for the veteran director Maurice Elvey, including the classic British silent Hindle Wakes (1927). His first picture as director was The Arcadians (1927). In 1929 he and Balcon worked together again on a talkie remake of Woman to Woman for Balcon's company, Gainsborough Pictures. This time Saville directed it. From 1931, as Gainsborough Pictures and the Gaumont British Picture Corporation joined forces, Saville produced a string of comedies, musicals and dramas for Gainsborough and Gaumont-British, including the popular Jessie Matthews pictures. In 1937, he left to set up his own production company, Victor Saville Productions, and made three pictures for Alexander Korda's London Films at Denham studios. As an independent producer he had purchased the film rights to A. J. Cronin's novel The Citadel. He was persuaded to sell them to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in return for the chance to produce the film and another big-budget adaptation, Goodbye Mr Chips (1939). Both films starred Robert Donat and were a great success in the USA as well as in Britain, providing Saville with a passport to Hollywood. When the war broke out in 1939, Saville was in America and was advised to remain there. He produced pictures in support of the war effort, such as The Mortal Storm and Forever and a Day (1943) (in which he worked for the last time with his former star Jessie Matthews), and in 1945 Tonight and Every Night, based on the history of the Windmill Theatre in London. After the war Saville continued directing films for MGM but eventually returned to Britain. Saville acquired production rights for Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer mysteries and produced a few features, though Spillane thought he was interested in doing so only to acquire the money to produce The Silver Chalice. He produced two final films in the 1960s, The Greengage Summer (1961), adapted from the novel of the same name, and Mix Me a Person (1962).

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
September 25, 1895
Died
May 8, 1979 (aged 83)
From
Birmingham, England, UK
Works as
Director, producer and writer
Titles
29 on MovieCove · 68 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 43% in 30 days

What are Victor Saville's films like?

Across their 28 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Drama16 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 61st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Crime5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 41st percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Adventure4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 63rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
39%
Bonds
23%
Self
14%
Society
11%
Survival
5%
Power
5%
Ideas
3%
Romantic love9 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice7 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception6 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge3 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 28 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 6 · Serious 6 · Dark 16

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 14 · Stylized 11 · Heightened 3

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 5 · Charged 16 · Intense 7

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 13 · Shifting 14 · Whiplash 1

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 20 · Some laughs 7 · Funny 1

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 15 · Even-paced 12 · Relentless 1

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 10 · Engaged 17 · Full focus 1

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 6 · Affecting 13 · Heavy 9

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 23 · Open-ended 5 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
20
Melancholic
17
Romantic
6
Bittersweet
6
Warm
6
Other
23

How their films linger

Bittersweet14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 6 with a twist

  • Happy4
  • Bittersweet16
  • Tragic4
  • Ambiguous4

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Victor Saville's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 7 of their 29 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Victor Saville's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

68 credits, 29 with a MovieCove page.

  • Kim Wilde - Best Of - The Singles Collection 1981-1993 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Director

  • That's Entertainment, Part II(1976)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Mix Me a Person(1962)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • The Greengage Summer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Producer

  • My Gun Is Quick(1957)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Kiss Me Deadly(1955)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Executive Producer

  • The Silver Chalice(1954)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • The Long Wait(1954)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • I, the Jury(1953)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • 24 Hours of a Woman's Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Director

  • Calling Bulldog Drummond (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Director

  • Kim(1950)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • The Miniver Story(1950)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Conspirator(1949)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • If Winter Comes(1947)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Desire Me(1947)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Green Dolphin Street(1947)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • The Green Years (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    Director

  • Tonight and Every Night(1945)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Above Suspicion(1943)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Keeper of the Flame(1942)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Forever and a Day(1943)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • White Cargo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    Producer

  • Smilin' Through (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    Producer

  • Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde(1941)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • A Woman's Face(1941)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • The Chocolate Soldier(1941)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Bitter Sweet(1940)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • The Mortal Storm(1940)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • The Earl of Chicago(1940)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Goodbye, Mr. Chips(1939)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • The Citadel(1938)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • South Riding (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Director

  • Action for Slander (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Producer

  • Dark Journey(1937)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Storm in a Teacup(1937)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • It's Love Again (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    Director

  • First a Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Director

  • Me and Marlborough (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Director

  • The Dictator (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Director

  • The Iron Duke (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Director

  • Evensong (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Director

  • Evergreen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Director

  • Friday the Thirteenth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    Director

  • I Was a Spy(1933)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • The Good Companions (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    Director

  • Love on Wheels (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Director · Screenplay

  • The Faithful Heart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Director · Adaptation

  • Sunshine Susie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Director

  • Michael and Mary (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Director

  • Hindle Wakes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Director · Writer

  • The Sport of Kings (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Director · Producer

  • A Warm Corner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Director · Adaptation · Writer

  • The W Plan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Director · Producer · Writer

  • Armistice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Director

  • Woman to Woman(1929)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Me and the Boys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Director

  • Kitty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Director · Producer

  • Tesha (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Director · Adaptation · Producer

  • A Woman in Pawn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    Producer

  • The Arcadians (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    Director · Producer · Scenario Writer

  • Hindle Wakes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    Producer · Writer

  • A Sister to Assist 'Er (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    Producer

  • The Glad Eye (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    Producer

  • Mademoiselle from Armentieres (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    Producer · Writer

  • The White Shadow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    Producer

  • Woman to Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1923)

    Producer

Career shape

A full career of 66 titles from 1923 to 2004.

Biggest box office

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1941)

$5.1M worldwide

Highest rated

The Mortal Storm (1940)

Midcredits 96th

Most popular right now

Kiss Me Deadly (1955)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Directing42 of 66: 27 only directing, 15 with another role · typical Midcredits score51stWriting10 of 66: 0 only writing, 10 with another roleProducing33 of 66: 21 only producing, 12 with another role · typical Midcredits score60thOther crew1 of 66: 1 only other crew, 0 with another role

66 titles, 17 with more than one role — directing and producing overlap on 10 of them.

By decade

1920s13 · crew1930s24 · crew1940s16 · crew1950s9 · crew1960s2 · crew1970s1 · crew2000s1 · crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

How do Victor Saville's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 58th percentile, the median of all 29; across their 28 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 57th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

57thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 28

Approval · how many liked their films

54thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 28

Reach · how many have seen their films

51stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 28

Midcredits score across 29 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up7
  • 50th to 74th11
  • 25th to 49th10
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

None of their 29 titles divides audiences: 16 are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Crowd Pleaser16
  • Broadly Agreed6
  • Mixed4

Most loved · producer

The Mortal Storm (1940)

Midcredits 96th · 86% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 66/100 and the pacing 44/100 in their films, across 28 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a director.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Victor Saville's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 3 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Violence & Gore3 titlesmedian 37 · moderateMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity3 titlesmedian 22 · mildMedian of all films: 32
Frightening / Intense3 titlesmedian 42 · moderateMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Victor Saville work with?

People who share at least 2 of Victor Saville's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Reginald Owen shares the most, 7.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles