Chester Schaeffer
Encyclopedia
Chester Schaeffer was an American film and television editor with about thirty documentary and feature film credits, often for B movies.
Schaeffer's first feature film editing credit was for The Canterville Ghost
(directed by Jules Dassin
-1944). The film was produced by MGM Studios in Hollywood. In the era of the Hollywood studio system
, film editors typically served an apprenticeship at the studio of about ten years as assistant editors before promotion to editor, and Schaeffer had been an Ben Lewis' assistant editor on Dinner at Eight
(directed by George Cukor
-1933). Schaeffer continued to edit for MGM productions through about 1949. Schaeffer was nominated for an Academy Award for the small scale drama The Well
(1951), which was independently produced. The film was directed by Russell Rouse
, and initiated their extended collaboration on seven films. He was nominated for an Emmy Award
for the Disney television program Davy Crockett: Indian Fighter (1954). Schaeffer subsequently wove the footage from the first three "Davy Crockett" broadcast programs into the feature film Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier
(1955). He also worked on the classic chiller The Tingler
(directed by William Castle
-1959). Schaeffer's final feature film, The Caper of the Golden Bulls (1967), was also Rouse's final film as a director; Schaeffer retired from editing around 1968.
Schaeffer's first feature film editing credit was for The Canterville Ghost
The Canterville Ghost (1944 film)
The Canterville Ghost is a 1944 fantasy/comedy film directed by Jules Dassin, loosely based on the short story of the same title by Oscar Wilde...
(directed by Jules Dassin
Jules Dassin
Julius "Jules" Dassin , was an American film director, with Jewish-Russian origins. He was a subject of the Hollywood blacklist in the McCarthy era, and subsequently moved to France where he revived his career.-Early life:...
-1944). The film was produced by MGM Studios in Hollywood. In the era of the Hollywood studio system
Studio system
The studio system was a means of film production and distribution dominant in Hollywood from the early 1920s through the early 1960s. The term studio system refers to the practice of large motion picture studios producing movies primarily on their own filmmaking lots with creative personnel under...
, film editors typically served an apprenticeship at the studio of about ten years as assistant editors before promotion to editor, and Schaeffer had been an Ben Lewis' assistant editor on Dinner at Eight
Dinner at Eight (film)
Dinner at Eight is a Pre-Code 1933 comedy of manners/drama produced by MGM Studios. The film was adapted to the screen by Frances Marion and Herman J. Mankiewicz from the play by George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber, with additional dialogue supplied by Donald Ogden Stewart. Produced by David O...
(directed by George Cukor
George Cukor
George Dewey Cukor was an American film director. He mainly concentrated on comedies and literary adaptations. His career flourished at RKO and later MGM, where he directed What Price Hollywood? , A Bill of Divorcement , Dinner at Eight , Little Women , David Copperfield , Romeo and Juliet and...
-1933). Schaeffer continued to edit for MGM productions through about 1949. Schaeffer was nominated for an Academy Award for the small scale drama The Well
The Well (1951 film)
The Well is a 1951 American film noir which tackled the issue of racial tensions and collective behavior. The film was nominated for two Academy Awards, including Best Original Screenplay and Best Film Editing.- Plot :...
(1951), which was independently produced. The film was directed by Russell Rouse
Russell Rouse
Russell Rouse was an American screenwriter, director, and producer who is noted for the "offbeat creativity and originality"of his screenplays and for film noir movies and television episodes produced in the 1950s....
, and initiated their extended collaboration on seven films. He was nominated for an Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
for the Disney television program Davy Crockett: Indian Fighter (1954). Schaeffer subsequently wove the footage from the first three "Davy Crockett" broadcast programs into the feature film Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier
Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier
Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier is a 1955 live-action Walt Disney adventure film starring Fess Parker as Davy Crockett. This film is an edited compilation of the first three stories from the Disney television series Davy Crockett :...
(1955). He also worked on the classic chiller The Tingler
The Tingler
The Tingler is a 1959 horror-thriller film by American producer/director William Castle. It is the third of five collaborations with writer Robb White and stars Vincent Price, Darryl Hickman, Patricia Cutts, Pamela Lincoln, Philip Coolidge and Judith Evelyn.The film tells the story of a scientist...
(directed by William Castle
William Castle
William Castle was an American film director, producer, screenwriter, and actor. Castle was known for directing films with many gimmicks which were ambitiously promoted, despite being reasonably low budget B-movies....
-1959). Schaeffer's final feature film, The Caper of the Golden Bulls (1967), was also Rouse's final film as a director; Schaeffer retired from editing around 1968.