Gerald Savory
Encyclopedia
Gerald Savory was an English playwright and screenwriter specialising in comedies.
The son of actress Grace Lane (1877–1956), he was educated at Bradfield College
and worked as a stockbroker's clerk before turning to the stage (Hull Repertory Theatre Company
1931–33), first as an actor then a writer.
His first work for movies was writing dialogue for the 1937 Alfred Hitchcock
movie Young and Innocent
.
He spent some time in America in the 1940s writing for film and television and became an American citizen. From 1964 to 1965 he was writer, producer and production manager for Granada Television
, producing five episodes of ITV Play of the Week; adapting Saki
, J.B. Priestley, Noel Coward
and Tennessee Williams
for television. He then joined the BBC
first as then Head of Serials, then Head of Plays. He notably produced five episodes of the thoroughly panned Churchill's People
(1975–76) and six of the eight episodes of Love in a Cold Climate
for Thames Television
in 1980.
The son of actress Grace Lane (1877–1956), he was educated at Bradfield College
Bradfield College
Bradfield College is a coeducational independent school located in the small village of Bradfield in the English county of Berkshire.The college was founded in 1850 by Thomas Stevens, Rector and Lord of the Manor of Bradfield...
and worked as a stockbroker's clerk before turning to the stage (Hull Repertory Theatre Company
Hull Repertory Theatre Company
The Hull Repertory Theatre Company was a theatre company in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England which was in existence from 1924 until superseded by the Hull New Theatre in 1939.-History:...
1931–33), first as an actor then a writer.
His first work for movies was writing dialogue for the 1937 Alfred Hitchcock
Alfred Hitchcock
Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, KBE was a British film director and producer. He pioneered many techniques in the suspense and psychological thriller genres. After a successful career in British cinema in both silent films and early talkies, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood...
movie Young and Innocent
Young and Innocent
Young and Innocent is a 1937 British film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Nova Pilbeam, Derrick De Marney and John Longden...
.
He spent some time in America in the 1940s writing for film and television and became an American citizen. From 1964 to 1965 he was writer, producer and production manager for Granada Television
Granada Television
Granada Television is the ITV contractor for North West England. Based in Manchester since its inception, it is the only surviving original ITA franchisee from 1954 and is ITV's most successful....
, producing five episodes of ITV Play of the Week; adapting Saki
Saki
Hector Hugh Munro , better known by the pen name Saki, and also frequently as H. H. Munro, was a British writer whose witty, mischievous and sometimes macabre stories satirised Edwardian society and culture. He is considered a master of the short story and often compared to O. Henry and Dorothy...
, J.B. Priestley, Noel Coward
Noël Coward
Sir Noël Peirce Coward was an English playwright, composer, director, actor and singer, known for his wit, flamboyance, and what Time magazine called "a sense of personal style, a combination of cheek and chic, pose and poise".Born in Teddington, a suburb of London, Coward attended a dance academy...
and Tennessee Williams
Tennessee Williams
Thomas Lanier "Tennessee" Williams III was an American writer who worked principally as a playwright in the American theater. He also wrote short stories, novels, poetry, essays, screenplays and a volume of memoirs...
for television. He then joined the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
first as then Head of Serials, then Head of Plays. He notably produced five episodes of the thoroughly panned Churchill's People
Churchill's People
Churchill's People is series of 26 historical dramas produced by the BBC, based on Winston Churchill's A History of the English-Speaking Peoples. They were first broadcast on BBC1 in 1974 and 1975....
(1975–76) and six of the eight episodes of Love in a Cold Climate
Love in a Cold Climate
Love in a Cold Climate is a novel by Nancy Mitford, first published in 1949. The title is a direct quotation from George Orwell's novel Keep The Aspidistra Flying .-Plot summary:...
for Thames Television
Thames Television
Thames Television was a licensee of the British ITV television network, covering London and parts of the surrounding counties on weekdays from 30 July 1968 until 31 December 1992....
in 1980.
Plays
- It Pays To Advertise 1931
- George and Margaret 1937 (377 performances in West EndWest End theatreWest End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
, filmed in 1940) - Hand in Glove 1944 with Charles K. Freeman based on his own novel Hughie Roddis
- A Likely Tale 1957
- A Month of Sundays 1957
- So Many Children 1959
- Cup and Saucer 1961
- Twinkling of an Eye 1965