Al Clark

Al Clark (September 15, 1902 – July 13, 1971) was a prolific American film editor whose career spanned four decades, most of which was spent at Columbia Pictures. He was nominated for 5 Academy Awards and 1 Emmy during his career. He is credited with editing over 120 films, and towards the end of his career, in the 1960s, he also edited several television series.

Career Clark began his career in 1933 at the Poverty Row studio, Tower Productions. In 1934 he would begin his long association with Columbia Pictures, on Lambert Hillyer's crime drama, Men of the Night. His work on the 1937 screwball comedy, The Awful Truth, starring Irene Dunne and Cary Grant, earned him the first of his five Academy Award for Best Film Editing nominations. In 1939 Clark co-edited, along with Gene Havlick, Frank Capra's classic Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, which stars Jean Arthur and James Stewart. The two editors were nominated for an Academy Award, losing to the editors for Gone With the Wind. His third nomination came in 1940 for the classic political drama, All the King's Men, shared with Robert Parrish. The winner that year was Harry W. Gerstad for Champion. In 1958, he and William A. Lyon edited the western Cowboy, starring Glenn Ford and Jack Lemmon. However, the editing award that year went to Adrienne Fazan for Gigi. Clark's fifth and final Oscar nomination came in 1961, for his work on Pepe, which he co-edited by Viola Lawrence. That year the Oscar went to Daniel Mandell for The Apartment. His long association with Columbia came to an end in 1962, with Clark's work on The Interns. After his departure from Columbia, Clark edited only two more films: the 1963 comedy Hootenanny Hoot, for MGM; and the 1969 Elvis Presley western, Charro!.

Beginning in 1952 on NBC's Cavalcade of America, Clark worked sporadically on television shows. His television credits include Dennis the Menace (1959), The Twilight Zone (1963), Gilligan's Island (1964), Perry Mason (1963–65), and I Dream of Jeannie (1965). His final work in television was from 1967 to 1968 on The High Chaparral. His work on Ben Casey garnered him an Emmy Award nomination in 1963.

Filmography

(Per AFI database)

+ Editor Year Film Director Notes Other notes 1933 The Important Witness Sam NewfieldFirst collaboration with Sam Newfield Big Time or BustSecond collaboration with Sam Newfield1934 Men of the NightLambert HillyerFirst collaboration with Lambert Hillyer 1935 Square Shooter David SelmanFirst collaboration with David Selman The Revenge RiderSecond collaboration with David Selman Fighting ShadowsThird collaboration with David Selman Justice of the RangeFourth collaboration with David Selman Riding WildFifth collaboration with David Selman The Case of the Missing ManD. Ross LedermanFirst collaboration with D. Ross Lederman Guard That GirlLambert HillyerSecond collaboration with Lambert Hillyer Gallant Defender David SelmanSixth collaboration with David Selman 1936 Dangerous IntrigueSeventh collaboration with David Selman Ticket to ParadiseAubrey Scotto BlackmailerGordon Wiles End of the TrailErle C. KentonFirst collaboration with Erle C. Kenton Legion of TerrorCharles C. ColemanFirst collaboration with Charles C. Coleman More Than a Secretary Alfred E. GreenFirst collaboration with Alfred E. Green 1937 Let's Get MarriedSecond collaboration with Alfred E. Green The Devil Is Driving Harry LachmanFirst collaboration with Harry Lachman It Happened in HollywoodSecond collaboration with Harry Lachman The Awful TruthLeo McCarey 1938 When G-Men Step InCharles C. ColemanSecond collaboration with Charles C. Coleman HolidayGeorge Cukor The Main EventDanny Dare Squadron of HonorCharles C. ColemanThird collaboration with Charles C. Coleman The Lady ObjectsErle C. KentonSecond collaboration with Erle C. Kenton The Little Adventuress D. Ross LedermanSecond collaboration with D. Ross Lederman 1939 North of ShanghaiThird collaboration with D. Ross Lederman Let Us LiveJohn BrahmFirst collaboration with John Brahm Good Girls Go to ParisAlexander Hall Mr. Smith Goes to WashingtonFrank Capra 1940 Cafe Hostess Sidney SalkowFirst collaboration with Sidney Salkow The Lone Wolf StrikesSecond collaboration with Sidney Salkow The Man with Nine LivesNick Grinde Escape to GloryJohn BrahmSecond collaboration with John Brahm The Lone Wolf Meets a LadySidney SalkowThird collaboration with Sidney Salkow The Lady in QuestionCharles VidorFirst collaboration with Charles Vidor Prairie SchoonersSam Nelson 1941 The Devil CommandsEdward Dmytryk They Dare Not LoveJames Whale The Richest Man in TownCharles BartonFirst collaboration with Charles Barton Ladies in RetirementCharles VidorSecond collaboration with Charles Vidor 1942 The Adventures of Martin EdenSidney SalkowFourth collaboration with Sidney Salkow Meet the StewartsAlfred E. GreenThird collaboration with Alfred E. Green Blondie for Victory Frank R. StrayerFirst collaboration with Frank R. Strayer Daring Young ManSecond collaboration with Frank R. Strayer 1943 City Without MenSidney SalkowFifth collaboration with Sidney Salkow She Has What It TakesCharles BartonSecond collaboration with Charles Barton It's a Great LifeFrank R. StrayerThird collaboration with Frank R. Strayer Appointment in BerlinAlfred E. GreenFourth collaboration with Alfred E. Green What a Woman!Irving CummingsFirst collaboration with Irving Cummings 1944 Address UnknownWilliam Cameron Menzies The Impatient YearsIrving CummingsSecond collaboration with Irving Cummings One Mysterious NightBudd BoetticherFirst collaboration with Budd Boetticher Sergeant MikeHenry LevinFirst collaboration with Henry Levin She's a SweetheartDel Lord 1945 Leave It to BlondieAbby BerlinFirst collaboration with Abby Berlin Counter-AttackZoltan Korda The Gay SenoritaArthur Dreifuss The Girl of the LimberlostMel Ferrer 1946 Tars and SparsAlfred E. GreenFifth collaboration with Alfred E. Green Gunning for VengeanceRay NazarroFirst collaboration with Ray Nazarro The Phantom ThiefD. Ross LedermanFourth collaboration with D. Ross Lederman Gallant JourneyWilliam A. Wellman 1947 Johnny O'ClockRobert RossenFirst collaboration with Robert Rossen Her Husband's AffairsS. Sylvan SimonFirst collaboration with S. Sylvan Simon Blondie's AnniversaryAbby BerlinSecond collaboration with Abby Berlin 1948 The SwordsmanJoseph H. LewisFirst collaboration with Joseph H. Lewis I Love Trouble S. Sylvan SimonSecond collaboration with S. Sylvan Simon The Fuller Brush ManThird collaboration with S. Sylvan Simon Blondie's RewardAbby BerlinThird collaboration with Abby Berlin 1949 Slightly FrenchDouglas SirkFirst collaboration with Douglas Sirk The Undercover ManJoseph H. LewisSecond collaboration with Joseph H. Lewis We Were StrangersJohn Huston All the King's MenRobert RossenSecond collaboration with Robert Rossen 1950 Convicted Henry LevinSecond collaboration with Henry Levin The Petty GirlThird collaboration with Henry Levin Emergency WeddingEdward Buzzell 1951 Smuggler's GoldWilliam Berke Lorna Doone Phil KarlsonFirst collaboration with Phil Karlson The Texas RangersSecond collaboration with Phil Karlson Never Trust a GamblerRalph Murphy The Family SecretHenry LevinFourth collaboration with Henry Levin1952 Boots MaloneWilliam Dieterle 1953 Last of the ComanchesAndré de TothFirst collaboration with André de Toth The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T.Roy Rowland Conquest of CochiseWilliam CastleFirst collaboration with William Castle The NebraskanFred F. SearsFirst collaboration with Fred F. Sears Bad for Each OtherIrving Rapper The Wild OneLászló Benedek 1954 TanganyikaAndré de TothSecond collaboration with André de Toth Naked AlibiJerry Hopper Sign of the PaganDouglas SirkSecond collaboration with Douglas Sirk 1955 New Orleans UncensoredWilliam CastleSecond collaboration with William Castle Chief Crazy HorseGeorge Sherman Bring Your Smile AlongBlake Edwards The Gun That Won the WestWilliam CastleThird collaboration with William Castle The Last FrontierAnthony Mann 1956 JubalDelmer DavesFirst collaboration with Delmer Daves Miami ExposéFred F. SearsSecond collaboration with Fred F. Sears You Can't Run Away from ItDick Powell 1957 The Tall TBudd BoetticherSecond collaboration with Budd Boetticher The Guns of Fort PetticoatGeorge Marshall The Night the World ExplodedFred F. SearsThird collaboration with Fred F. Sears 3:10 to YumaDelmer DavesSecond collaboration with Delmer Daves Decision at SundownBudd BoetticherThird collaboration with Budd Boetticher 1958 CowboyDelmer DavesThird collaboration with Delmer Daves The LineupDon Siegel Buchanan Rides AloneBudd BoetticherFourth collaboration with Budd Boetticher Apache TerritoryRay NazarroSecond collaboration with Ray Nazarro Senior PromDavid Lowell RichFirst collaboration with David Lowell Rich 1959 Gunmen from LaredoWallace MacDonald Hey Boy! Hey Girl!David Lowell RichSecond collaboration with David Lowell Rich The 30 Foot Bride of Candy RockSidney Miller 1960 Man on a StringAndré de TothThird collaboration with André de Toth All the Young MenHall Bartlett PepeGeorge Sidney 1962 13 West StreetPhilip Leacock The Underwater CityFrank McDonald The InternsDavid Swift1963 Hootenanny HootGene Nelson1969 Charro!Charles Marquis Warren

Shorts

+ Editor Year Film Director 1933 How to Break 90 #1: The Grip George Marshall How to Break 90 #3: Hip Action How to Break 90 #5: Impact 1934 It's the CatsAlbert Ray Counsel on De FenceArthur Ripley1957 Not One Shall DieDavid Lowell Rich

TV series