Dorothy Spencer

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For the 17th century English aristocrat, see Dorothy Spencer, Countess of Sunderland.

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 entered film industry in the Consolidated-Aller Lab, 1924. She moved to Fox, becoming a member of the editorial department. Worked at First National Studios assisting editors Louis Loeffler, Al DeGaetano and Irene Morra.

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] As Assistant Editor or Co-Editor

[edit] As Editor

[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