Dorothy Spencer

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Dorothy Spencer (February 2, 1909-May 23, 2002) was the multiple Academy Award-nominated American film editor most recognized for editing several of director John Ford's films such as what film critic Roger Ebert calls, "Ford's greatest Western,"[1]My Darling Clementine, as well as having edited Ford's Stagecoach (1939). She was born in Covington, Kentucky, and was married to actor Frank McHugh until his death in 1981; McHugh was a contract player at Warner Bros..[2]


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[edit] Long Career with Many "Auteur" Directors and Varied Genres

Dorothy Spencer also edited several of Alfred Hitchcock's films such as Foreign Correspondent (1940) and 1944's Lifeboat (featuring a particularly feisty and well-edited Tallulah Bankhead performance). Spencer also edited one of director Elia Kazan's better-known films, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945). During the 1970s, Spencer became the go-to-woman for editing the popular disaster films of the times, including probably the best film in this genre, 1974's Earthquake starring Charlton Heston, Ava Gardner and of course, disaster-film-staple, actor George Kennedy. Variety's 1974 review of the film touted, "... Earthquake is an excellent dramatic exploitation extravaganza, combining brilliant special effects with a multi-character plot line...". .[3] Dorothy Spencer was nominated for an Oscar for Earthquake, which was her fourth nomination after editing what still reigns as the most expensive movie ever made, 1963's Cleopatra , and prior noms also included, Decision Before Dawn (1951) and the John Ford-directed, Stagecoach (1939).

[edit] One of the Top Film Editors

Variety's Eileen Kowalski notes that, "Indeed, many of the editorial greats have been women: Dede Allen, Verna Fields, Thelma Schoonmaker, Anne V. Coates and Dorothy Spencer."[4] In 1989, Dorothy Spencer was awarded the prestigious American Cinema Editors Career Achievement Award.

[edit] Selected Filmography

[edit] References and external links

  1. ^ Roger Ebert / Roger Ebert.com Great Movies My Darling Clementine October 26, 1997
  2. ^ Frank McHugh IMDB biography
  3. ^ Variety review "Earthquake" 1974 (subscription)
  4. ^ (Editor) "Tina Hirsch" By Eileen Kowalski - Variety 11/14/2001 (subscription)

Dorothy Spencer at the Internet Movie Database

Retrieved from "http://india.smashits.com/wikipedia/Dorothy_Spencer"
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