Robert Swink
Encyclopedia
Robert Swink was an American
film editor
who worked on nearly sixty projects during a career that spanned forty-six years.
Born in Rocky Ford, Colorado
, Swink and his family moved to Hollywood
in 1927. After graduating from North Hollywood High School
in 1936, he joined RKO Pictures
as an editing apprentice. During World War II
, he edited training films for the Army Special Services
. His first screen credit was the 1943 comedy short Double Up.
For the next five years, Swink edited mostly B movie
s until George Stevens
hired him for I Remember Mama
. He edited several Westerns
in 1950, and the following year was hired by William Wyler
to work on Detective Story. It was the first of eleven projects on which the two men collaborated. Swink left RKO to join Wyler at Paramount in 1952, and his credits while working at the studio include Carrie
, Roman Holiday
, and The Desperate Hours
.
In 1964, Swink edited The Best Man
for Franklin J. Schaffner. They worked together on four additional films, including Papillon
(1973), Islands in the Stream
(1977), The Boys from Brazil
(1978), and Sphinx
(1981). He came out of retirement to edit the 1989 film Welcome Home when Schaffner died right after completing principal photography on the project.
Swink worked as a second unit director on The Big Country
, The Collector, How to Steal a Million
, The Only Game in Town
, and The Liberation of L.B. Jones
.
Swink was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Film Editing for Roman Holiday, Funny Girl
, and The Boys from Brazil. He received the American Cinema Editors Career Achievement Award
in 1993.
Swink died of a heart attack in Santa Maria, California
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
film editor
Film editing
Film editing is part of the creative post-production process of filmmaking. It involves the selection and combining of shots into sequences, and ultimately creating a finished motion picture. It is an art of storytelling...
who worked on nearly sixty projects during a career that spanned forty-six years.
Born in Rocky Ford, Colorado
Rocky Ford, Colorado
The City of Rocky Ford is a Statutory City located in Otero County, Colorado, United States. The population was 4,286 at the United States Census 2000.-Geography:Rocky Ford is located at ....
, Swink and his family moved to Hollywood
Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
Hollywood is a famous district in Los Angeles, California, United States situated west-northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Due to its fame and cultural identity as the historical center of movie studios and movie stars, the word Hollywood is often used as a metonym of American cinema...
in 1927. After graduating from North Hollywood High School
North Hollywood High School
North Hollywood High School, originally called Lankershim High School when it opened in 1927, is a secondary school in North Hollywood in Los Angeles, California. The school mascot is the husky, and the school colors are blue, white and grey....
in 1936, he joined RKO Pictures
RKO Pictures
RKO Pictures is an American film production and distribution company. As RKO Radio Pictures Inc., it was one of the Big Five studios of Hollywood's Golden Age. The business was formed after the Keith-Albee-Orpheum theater chains and Joseph P...
as an editing apprentice. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he edited training films for the Army Special Services
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. His first screen credit was the 1943 comedy short Double Up.
For the next five years, Swink edited mostly B movie
B movie
A B movie is a low-budget commercial motion picture that is not definitively an arthouse or pornographic film. In its original usage, during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the term more precisely identified a film intended for distribution as the less-publicized, bottom half of a double feature....
s until George Stevens
George Stevens
George Stevens was an American film director, producer, screenwriter and cinematographer.Among his most notable films were Diary of Anne Frank , nominated for Best Director, Giant , winner of Oscar for Best Director, Shane , Oscar nominated, and A Place in the Sun , winner of Oscar for Best...
hired him for I Remember Mama
I Remember Mama
I Remember Mama is a play by John Van Druten. Based on the fictionalized memoir Mama's Bank Account by Kathryn Forbes, it focuses on the Hanson family, a loving family of Norwegian immigrants living on Steiner Street in San Francisco in the 1910s.Produced by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein...
. He edited several Westerns
Western (genre)
The Western is a genre of various visual arts, such as film, television, radio, literature, painting and others. Westerns are devoted to telling stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the American Old West, hence the name. Some Westerns are set as early as the Battle of...
in 1950, and the following year was hired by William Wyler
William Wyler
William Wyler was a leading American motion picture director, producer, and screenwriter.Notable works included Ben-Hur , The Best Years of Our Lives , and Mrs. Miniver , all of which won Wyler Academy Awards for Best Director, and also won Best Picture...
to work on Detective Story. It was the first of eleven projects on which the two men collaborated. Swink left RKO to join Wyler at Paramount in 1952, and his credits while working at the studio include Carrie
Carrie (1952 film)
Carrie is a 1952 feature film based on the novel Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser.Directed by William Wyler, the film stars Jennifer Jones in the title role and Laurence Olivier as Hurstwood. Carrie received two Academy Award Nominations: Costume Design, and Best Art Direction...
, Roman Holiday
Roman Holiday
Roman Holiday is a 1953 romantic comedy directed and produced by William Wyler and starring Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn. It was written by John Dighton and Dalton Trumbo, though with Trumbo on the Hollywood blacklist, he did not receive a credit; instead, Ian McLellan Hunter fronted for him...
, and The Desperate Hours
The Desperate Hours (film)
The Desperate Hours is a 1955 film from Paramount Pictures starring Humphrey Bogart and Fredric March. The movie was produced and directed by William Wyler and based on a novel and play of the same name written by Joseph Hayes which were loosely based on actual events.The original Broadway...
.
In 1964, Swink edited The Best Man
The Best Man (1964 film)
The Best Man is a 1964 film directed by Franklin J. Schaffner with a screenplay by Gore Vidal based on his play of the same title. Starring Henry Fonda, Cliff Robertson, and Lee Tracy, the film details the seamy political maneuverings behind the nomination of a presidential candidate...
for Franklin J. Schaffner. They worked together on four additional films, including Papillon
Papillon (film)
Papillon is a 1973 film based on the best-selling novel by the French convict Henri Charrière.This motion picture was directed by Franklin J. Schaffner, starring Steve McQueen as Henri Charrière , and Dustin Hoffman as Louis Dega...
(1973), Islands in the Stream
Islands in the Stream (film)
Islands in the Stream is a 1977 American drama film, an adaptation of Ernest Hemingway's novel of the same name. The film was directed by Franklin J. Schaffner and starred George C...
(1977), The Boys from Brazil
The Boys from Brazil (film)
The Boys from Brazil is a 1978 British/American science fiction/thriller film directed by Franklin J. Schaffner. It stars Gregory Peck and Laurence Olivier, with James Mason, Lilli Palmer, Uta Hagen and Steve Guttenberg in supporting roles...
(1978), and Sphinx
Sphinx (film)
Sphinx is a 1981 American adventure film directed by Franklin J. Schaffner. The screenplay by John Byrum is based on the 1979 novel of the same title by Robin Cook.-Plot:...
(1981). He came out of retirement to edit the 1989 film Welcome Home when Schaffner died right after completing principal photography on the project.
Swink worked as a second unit director on The Big Country
The Big Country
Meanwhile, Terrill insists on riding into the canyon. Initially, Leech refuses to accompany him, and the other men follow his lead. However, after Terrill rides out alone, Leech catches up with him. The remaining hands again align themselves with Leech by following. The group soon rides into a trap...
, The Collector, How to Steal a Million
How to Steal a Million
How to Steal a Million is a 1966 heist comedy film, directed by William Wyler and starring Peter O'Toole, Audrey Hepburn, and Hugh Griffith. It is set and filmed in France, though the characters speak entirely in English...
, The Only Game in Town
The Only Game in Town
The Only Game in Town is the third book of the Spirit Flyer Series by John Bibee. The book was published by Inter-Varsity Press in 1988. This is the first of the Spirit Flyer Series of books that does not focus exclusively on the expoits of the Kramar family...
, and The Liberation of L.B. Jones
The Liberation of L.B. Jones
The Liberation of L.B. Jones is a 1970 American drama film directed by William Wyler, his final project in a career that spanned 45 years.The screenplay by Jesse Hill Ford and Stirling Silliphant is based on Ford's 1965 novel The Liberation of Lord Byron Jones. The novel, in turn, was based on...
.
Swink was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Film Editing for Roman Holiday, Funny Girl
Funny Girl (film)
Funny Girl is a 1968 romantic musical film directed by William Wyler. The screenplay by Isobel Lennart was adapted from her book for the stage musical of the same title...
, and The Boys from Brazil. He received the American Cinema Editors Career Achievement Award
American Cinema Editors Career Achievement Award
The American Cinema Editors gives one or more Career Achievement Awards each year. The first awards were given in 1987; the winners have been:*2011: Michael Kahn and Michael Brown*2010: Paul LaMastra and Neil Travis*2009: Sidney Katz and Arthur Schmidt...
in 1993.
Swink died of a heart attack in Santa Maria, California
Santa Maria, California
Santa Maria is a city in Santa Barbara County, on the Central Coast of California. The 2010 census population was 100,062, putting it ahead of Santa Barbara for the first time and making it the largest city in the county...
.