News on Screen

Brian Saveall was listed as the news editor of British Movietone News from 1934 to 1937, but he was also a commentator. His first credit is for ‘AVIATION: Observations by Brian Saveall’ in British Movietone News No.315 of June 1935, after which he made frequent appearances. His last credit is for ‘GIRLS: For a real rest cure early in the year try Florida says Brian Saveall,' in British Movietone News No.402 of February 1937. Soon afterwards he left Movietone for Universal, for when in July 1937 the editor of the Universal Talking News, Cecil Snape, left to join the short-lived National News, it was noted that Saveall helped to fill his job as part of ‘a shuffle round within the Universal organisation.' William Jeapes [qv] became the nominal editor of the Universal Talking News, but Saveall was credited as ‘joint editor.' In 1939 Saveall was listed as studio director at Universal.

Sources

World Film News, October 1937, p.35, ‘Newsreel rushes: newsreel notes by The Commentator’:L. Pontecorvo ‘The British Newsreel Companies: Staffing 1910-1945,' in J. Ballantyne (ed) ‘Researcher’s Guide to British Newsreels’ (BUFVC, 1983), p.95.