Susan E. Morse
Encyclopedia
Susan E. Morse is an American film editor with more than 30 film credits. She had a notable collaboration with director Woody Allen
from 1977-1998. Their collaboration led to a nomination for the Academy Award for Film Editing for the 1986 film Hannah and Her Sisters
, and to five nominations for the BAFTA Award for Best Editing
(for Manhattan
(1979), Zelig
(1983), Hannah and Her Sisters
(1986), Radio Days
(1987), and Crimes and Misdemeanors
(1989)).
Morse has been elected to membership in the American Cinema Editors
.
(1978), after which he worked as a director. Morse edited Rosenblum's first film, Acting Out
(1980); she was also the associate editor working with Thelma Schoonmaker
on Raging Bull (directed by Martin Scorsese
-1980). Starting with Manhattan
(1979), she edited the next twenty of Allen's films through Celebrity
(1998). Stephen Prince has summarized their collaboration as follows: "Susan E. Morse edited every Allen film of the eighties, regardless of its subject matter or visual design, and as we have seen Allen worked with a variety of cinematographers and production designers in those years. His insistent use of Morse demonstrates the essential nature of her collaboration." Morse's collaboration with Allen was the subject of a 1996 documentary film for German television.
Neither Morse nor Allen commented publicly on the end of their collaboration, but according to reporting in the New York Times, Morse was a victim of a cost cutting move by producer Jean Doumanian
that also severed ties with many other regular crew members on Allen's films. Bernard Weinraub wrote, "What especially stirred the New York film world in recent weeks was the disclosure that Susan E. Morse, Mr. Allen's widely admired film editor for 22 years, would not be working on his new, untitled movie, which starts shooting in New York in August." Alisa Lepselter
, succeeded Morse as Allen's editor.
(2002), Music and Lyrics
(2007), and Did You Hear About the Morgans?
(2009). She recently edited Last Night (2010), which was directed by Massy Tadjedin
.
Woody Allen
Woody Allen is an American screenwriter, director, actor, comedian, jazz musician, author, and playwright. Allen's films draw heavily on literature, sexuality, philosophy, psychology, Jewish identity, and the history of cinema...
from 1977-1998. Their collaboration led to a nomination for the Academy Award for Film Editing for the 1986 film Hannah and Her Sisters
Hannah and Her Sisters
Hannah and Her Sisters is a 1986 American comedy-drama film which tells the intertwined stories of an extended family over two years that begin and end with a family Thanksgiving dinner...
, and to five nominations for the BAFTA Award for Best Editing
BAFTA Award for Best Editing
The BAFTA Award for Best Editing is one of several annual awards presented by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts . The film-voting members of the Academy select the five nominated films in each category; only the principal editor for each film are named, which excludes additional...
(for Manhattan
Manhattan (film)
Manhattan is a 1979 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Woody Allen about a twice-divorced 42-year-old comedy writer who dates a 17-year-old girl before eventually falling in love with his best friend's mistress...
(1979), Zelig
Zelig
Zelig is a 1983 American mockumentary film written and directed by Woody Allen, and starring Allen and Mia Farrow. Allen plays Zelig, a curiously nondescript enigma who is discovered for his remarkable ability to transform himself to resemble anyone he's near.The film was shot almost entirely in...
(1983), Hannah and Her Sisters
Hannah and Her Sisters
Hannah and Her Sisters is a 1986 American comedy-drama film which tells the intertwined stories of an extended family over two years that begin and end with a family Thanksgiving dinner...
(1986), Radio Days
Radio Days
Radio Days is a 1987 comedy film directed by Woody Allen. The film looks back on an American family's life during the Golden Age of Radio using both music and memories to tell the story.-Plot:...
(1987), and Crimes and Misdemeanors
Crimes and Misdemeanors
Crimes and Misdemeanors is a 1989 black comedy written, directed by and co-starring Woody Allen, alongside Martin Landau, Mia Farrow, Anjelica Huston, Jerry Orbach, Alan Alda, Sam Waterston and Joanna Gleason....
(1989)).
Morse has been elected to membership in the American Cinema Editors
American Cinema Editors
Founded in 1950, American Cinema Editors is an honorary society of film editors that are voted in based on the qualities of professional achievements, their education of others, and their dedication to editing itself. The society is not to be confused with an industry union, such as the I.A.T.S.E...
.
Woody Allen
Morse's editing career began as an assistant to Ralph Rosenblum, who was the editor of Allen's early films. Rosenblum's last film with Allen was InteriorsInteriors
Interiors is a 1978 drama film written and directed by Woody Allen. Featured performers are Kristin Griffith, Mary Beth Hurt, Richard Jordan, Diane Keaton, E. G. Marshall, Geraldine Page, Maureen Stapleton and Sam Waterston....
(1978), after which he worked as a director. Morse edited Rosenblum's first film, Acting Out
Acting out
Acting out is a psychological term from the parlance of defense mechanisms and self-control, meaning to perform an action in contrast to bearing and managing the impulse to perform it. The acting done is usually anti-social and may take the form of acting on the impulses of an addiction Acting out...
(1980); she was also the associate editor working with Thelma Schoonmaker
Thelma Schoonmaker
Thelma Schoonmaker is an American film editor who has worked with director Martin Scorsese for over forty years. She has edited all of Scorsese's films since Raging Bull...
on Raging Bull (directed by Martin Scorsese
Martin Scorsese
Martin Charles Scorsese is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, actor, and film historian. In 1990 he founded The Film Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to film preservation, and in 2007 he founded the World Cinema Foundation...
-1980). Starting with Manhattan
Manhattan (film)
Manhattan is a 1979 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Woody Allen about a twice-divorced 42-year-old comedy writer who dates a 17-year-old girl before eventually falling in love with his best friend's mistress...
(1979), she edited the next twenty of Allen's films through Celebrity
Celebrity (film)
Celebrity is a 1998 comedy-drama film written and directed by Woody Allen. The screenplay focuses on the divergent paths a couple takes following their divorce.-Plot:...
(1998). Stephen Prince has summarized their collaboration as follows: "Susan E. Morse edited every Allen film of the eighties, regardless of its subject matter or visual design, and as we have seen Allen worked with a variety of cinematographers and production designers in those years. His insistent use of Morse demonstrates the essential nature of her collaboration." Morse's collaboration with Allen was the subject of a 1996 documentary film for German television.
Neither Morse nor Allen commented publicly on the end of their collaboration, but according to reporting in the New York Times, Morse was a victim of a cost cutting move by producer Jean Doumanian
Jean Doumanian
Jean Doumanian is an American producer.Doumanian is probably most well known for her short reign as producer of Saturday Night Live between November 1980 and March 1981...
that also severed ties with many other regular crew members on Allen's films. Bernard Weinraub wrote, "What especially stirred the New York film world in recent weeks was the disclosure that Susan E. Morse, Mr. Allen's widely admired film editor for 22 years, would not be working on his new, untitled movie, which starts shooting in New York in August." Alisa Lepselter
Alisa Lepselter
Alisa Lepselter is a film editor who has edited director Woody Allen's films since 1999.Lepselter began her editing career as an intern with editor Craig McKay on Something Wild . She was an apprentice with editor Barry Malkin on Francis Ford Coppola's segment of New York Stories...
, succeeded Morse as Allen's editor.
Post-Allen editing career
Since 1998, Morse has edited films with several directors including Marc Lawrence, with whom she's worked on Two Weeks NoticeTwo Weeks Notice
Two Weeks Notice is a 2002 romantic comedy film starring Hugh Grant and Sandra Bullock from Warner Bros. Pictures. The film was written and directed by Marc Lawrence. Upon release, the film received a successful box office run both in the United States and globally.-Plot:Lucy Kelson is a...
(2002), Music and Lyrics
Music and Lyrics
Music and Lyrics is a 2007 American romantic comedy film written and directed by Marc Lawrence. It focuses on the relationship that evolves between a former pop music idol and an aspiring writer as they struggle to compose a song for the reigning pop diva.-Plot:Alex Fletcher enjoyed...
(2007), and Did You Hear About the Morgans?
Did You Hear About the Morgans?
Did You Hear About the Morgans? is a 2009 American romantic comedy film directed and written by Marc Lawrence. Golden Globe winners Hugh Grant and Sarah Jessica Parker portray the film's protagonists, Paul and Meryl Morgan, a recently separated New York power couple on the verge of divorce until...
(2009). She recently edited Last Night (2010), which was directed by Massy Tadjedin
Massy Tadjedin
Massy Tadjedin is an Iranian-American screenwriter.Tadjedin was born in Tehran and grew up in Orange County, California, and studied English Literature at Harvard....
.