The Saxon Charm

{{Short description|1948 film by Claude Binyon}} {{More citations needed|date=June 2019}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Use American English|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox film | name = The Saxon Charm | image = The Saxon Charm - 1948 - Poster.jpg | caption = 1948 theatrical poster | director = Claude Binyon | producer = Joseph Sistrom | writer = Frederic Wakeman, Sr. (novel) | screenplay = Claude Binyon | narrator = | starring = Robert Montgomery<br>Susan Hayward<br>John Payne<br>Audrey Totter | music = Walter Scharf | cinematography = Milton R. Krasner | editing = Paul Weatherwax | studio = Universal Pictures | distributor = Universal Pictures | released = {{Film date|1948|09|29|New York City}} | runtime = 88 minutes | country = United States | language = English | budget = }} '''''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== 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== * Robert Montgomery as Matt Saxon * Susan Hayward as Janet Busch * John Payne as Eric Busch * Audrey Totter as Alma Wragge * Harry Morgan as Hermy (as Harry Morgan) * Harry von Zell as Zack Humber * Cara Williams as Dolly Humber * Chill Wills as Captain Chatham * Heather Angel as Vivian Saxon * Ed Agresti as Guest At Mexican Inn (uncredited) * Fay Baker as Mrs. Noble (uncredited) * John Baragrey as Peter Stanhope (uncredited) * Archie Twitchell as Mr. Maddox (uncredited) * Barbara Billingsley as Mrs. Maddox (uncredited) * Peter Brocco as Cyril Leatham (uncredited) * Kathleen Freeman as Nurse (uncredited)

==See also== * List of American films of 1948

==External links== * {{IMDb title|id=0040759|title=The Saxon Charm}} * {{TCMDb title|id=89142|title=The Saxon Charm}} * {{AFI film|id=25710|title=The Saxon Charm}} * {{Letterboxd film}} * {{Rotten Tomatoes}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Saxon Charm, The}} Category:1948 films Category:1948 directorial debut films Category:1948 drama films Category:Films directed by Claude Binyon Category:American drama films Category:Universal Pictures films Category:Films based on American novels Category:Films scored by Walter Scharf Category:American black-and-white films Category:1948 English-language films Category:1948 American films Category:English-language drama films