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The Saxon Charm

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The Saxon Charm
1948 theatrical poster
Directed byClaude Binyon
Written byFrederic Wakeman Sr. (novel)
Screenplay byClaude Binyon
Produced byJoseph Sistrom
StarringRobert Montgomery
Susan Hayward
John Payne
Audrey Totter
CinematographyMilton R. Krasner
Edited byPaul Weatherwax
Music byWalter Scharf
Production
company
Universal Pictures
Distributed byUniversal Pictures
Release date
  • September 29, 1948 (1948-09-29) (New York City)
Running time
88 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The Saxon Charm is a 1948 American film noir drama film written and directed by Claude Binyon based on the novel of the same name by Frederic Wakeman Sr. and starring Robert Montgomery, Susan Hayward, John Payne and Audrey Totter.

Plot

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In a hospital, theatrical producer Matt Saxon is introduced to writer Eric Busch, and ends up offering to produce Eric's new play with financing from millionaire Zack Humber.

Alma Wragge, a singer, is Saxon's girlfriend, but she warns Eric's wife Janet about the producer's notorious "Saxon charm" that coaxes others into doing his bidding, only to end up badly for everyone involved. Sure enough, Saxon's behavior soon ruins Alma's nightclub audition.

It isn't long before Saxon makes a pest of himself, interrupting a beach vacation Eric and Janet take, closing the show after a poor review, then persuading Eric to go off by himself to do rewrites. Saxon loses the financial backing of Humber so he works on his ex-wife, Vivian, to put up the money, not knowing she is broke.

Alma gets a chance to be in a Hollywood movie, but Saxon interferes with that as well. Janet, upset by Eric's absences, begins drinking and threatens to leave him. Eric finally punches Saxon, whose destructive nature contributes to his ex-wife's suicide but of which he appears to be unaware. Eric and Janet get away from him just in time.

Cast

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See also

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