Arthur P. Schmidt

Arthur P. Schmidt (August 21, 1912 – July 22, 1965) was an American film editor and producer. He had more than sixty film credits for editing from 1934 through 1962. In the 1950s, Schmidt edited five films directed by Billy Wilder. In the 1960s, Schmidt was the associate producer for seven Jerry Lewis comedies.

Biography Schmidt's first editing credits are for films from RKO Pictures, which was one of the major Hollywood studios in the 1930s; his RKO credits include Anne of Green Gables (1934). By 1936 he was working at a second studio, Paramount Pictures, where he remained for twenty years. He worked on several of the Bulldog Drummond B-movies, The Blue Dahlia (1946) and When Worlds Collide (1951). He edited seven films directed by George Marshall, including three comedies starring Bob Hope (Monsieur Beaucaire (1946), Sorrowful Jones (1949), and Off Limits (1953)).

At Paramount, Schmit began his notable collaboration with the director Billy Wilder. With Doane Harrison, he edited Sunset Boulevard (1950), which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Film Editing. Harrison had been the editor for all of Wilder's films since his first American film as a director, The Major and the Minor (1942); ultimately, the two worked together on films for nearly thirty years.

Schmidt's third film with Wilder was Sabrina (1954), which was Wilder's last film with Paramount. Harrison's credit had changed to "editorial advisor". By 1957 both Schmidt and Wilder were working independently of Paramount. He edited The Spirit of St. Louis (1957); by then, Harrison was being credited as a producer. Schmidt's editing of The Spirit of St. Louis still attracts critical attention long after the film's release; the film tells the story of Charles Lindbergh's historic, first aircraft crossing of the Atlantic Ocean in 1927.

In 2004, Richard Armstrong wrote, "Lindbergh's takeoff is spellbinding. Like the aircraft, the editing is superbly designed. Editor Arthur Schmidt juggles shots of the runway, the plane, Lindbergh's goggled concentration, the muddying undercarriage, Mahoney, the girl, back to the plane... for as long as it takes Lindbergh to clear the telegraph wires and trees. Notice that the shots of the pilot find him visibly connected to the controls. Man and machine have never been more at one. It is an alarming passage, suggesting just how many are being "carried" by that flimsy little aircraft." Gene D. Phillips wrote in 2010 that, "The takeoff in the rain from Roosevelt Field in Long Island is a virtuoso set piece" that is "superbly edited by Schmidt".

In the same year as Spirit of Saint Louis, Schmidt and Philip W. Anderson were nominated for the Academy Award for their editing of Sayonara (1957-directed by Joshua Logan). Schmidt also edited The Old Man and the Sea (1958-directed by John Sturges). Schmidt's fifth and final film with Wilder was Some Like It Hot (1959); Daniel Mandell edited Wilder's Witness for the Prosecution (1957), and subsequently edited Wilder's films through the 1960s.

The final phase of Schmidt's career was working on Jerry Lewis comedy films. He edited Cinderfella (1960) and It's Only Money (1962), which was his last editing credit. He was the associate producer for seven of Lewis' films, from The Errand Boy (1961) through The Family Jewels (1965).

Selected filmography + Editor Year Film Director Notes 1934 Finishing SchoolFirst collaboration with George Nicholls Jr. Anne of Green Gables George Nicholls Jr.Second collaboration with George Nicholls Jr. 1935 Chasing YesterdayThird collaboration with George Nicholls Jr. The Return of Peter GrimmFourth collaboration with George Nicholls Jr. In PersonWilliam A. Seiter 1936 ChatterboxGeorge Nicholls Jr.Fifth collaboration with George Nicholls Jr. Hideaway Girl George ArchainbaudFirst collaboration with George Archainbaud 1937 ClarenceSecond collaboration with George Archainbaud Hotel HaywireThird collaboration with George Archainbaud Blonde TroubleFourth collaboration with George Archainbaud Bulldog Drummond's RevengeLouis KingFirst collaboration with Louis King 1938 Dangerous to KnowRobert FloreyFirst collaboration with Robert Florey Touchdown, ArmyKurt NeumannFirst collaboration with Kurt Neumann 1939 DisbarredRobert FloreySecond collaboration with Robert Florey Bulldog Drummond's Secret PoliceJames P. HoganFirst collaboration with James P. Hogan Undercover DoctorLouis KingSecond collaboration with Louis King Million Dollar LegsNick Grinde All Women Have SecretsKurt NeumannSecond collaboration with Kurt Neumann 1940 SeventeenLouis KingThird collaboration with Louis King Opened by MistakeGeorge ArchainbaudFifth collaboration with George Archainbaud Queen of the Mob James P. HoganSecond collaboration with James P. Hogan Texas Rangers Ride AgainThird collaboration with James P. Hogan 1941 Las Vegas NightsRalph MurphyFirst collaboration with Ralph Murphy Aloma of the South SeasAlfred Santell 1942 Fly-by-NightRobert Siodmak Dr. BroadwayAnthony Mann Priorities on ParadeAlbert S. Rogell Street of ChanceJack Hively 1943 Salute for ThreeRalph MurphySecond collaboration with Ralph Murphy Henry Aldrich Gets GlamourHugh Bennett The Good FellowsJo Graham1944 Rainbow IslandRalph MurphyThird collaboration with Ralph Murphy 1945 A Medal for BennyIrving Pichel Duffy's TavernHal Walker 1946 The Blue Dahlia George MarshallFirst collaboration with George Marshall Monsieur BeaucaireSecond collaboration with George Marshall 1947 The Perils of PaulineThird collaboration with George Marshall I Walk AloneByron Haskin1948 HazardGeorge MarshallFourth collaboration with George Marshall 1949 Sorrowful JonesSidney Lanfield Top o' the MorningDavid Miller1950 Sunset BoulevardBilly WilderFirst collaboration with Billy Wilder 1951 The Redhead and the CowboyLeslie Fenton Ace in the HoleBilly WilderSecond collaboration with Billy Wilder When Worlds CollideRudolph Maté 1952 The Savage George MarshallFifth collaboration with George Marshall Off LimitsSixth collaboration with George Marshall 1953 The Stars Are SingingNorman Taurog Here Come the GirlsClaude Binyon 1954 Red GartersGeorge MarshallSeventh collaboration with George Marshall SabrinaBilly WilderThird collaboration with Billy Wilder1955 We're No Angels Michael CurtizFirst collaboration with Michael Curtiz1956 The Vagabond KingSecond collaboration with Michael Curtiz 1957 The Spirit of St. LouisBilly WilderFourth collaboration with Billy Wilder SayonaraJoshua Logan 1958 The Naked and the DeadRaoul Walsh The Old Man and the SeaJohn Sturges 1959 Some Like It HotBilly WilderFifth collaboration with Billy Wilder Li'l AbnerMelvin Frank1960 Cinderfella Frank TashlinFirst collaboration with Frank Tashlin1962 It's Only MoneySecond collaboration with Frank Tashlin

Shorts

+ Editor Year Film Director1943 Paramount Victory Short No. T2-4: The Aldrich Family Gets in the ScrapHugh Bennett

+ Producer Year Film Director Credit1963 Scorpio RisingKenneth AngerCo-producer

TV series