Hugh S. Fowler

Hugh S. Fowler (July 24, 1912 – August 2, 1975) was an American film editor with about 38 feature film credits from 1952 – 1972. He was named after his Grandmother, Mary Ann Stirling, whose family occupied the Stirling Castle in Scotland for 400 years. She married William Kirk Fowler of Auchtermuchty, County Fife, and they emigrated to the U.S. in 1852.

Fowler spent his virtually his entire editing career at Twentieth Century-Fox. After spending years helping other film editors, including Louis Loeffler, Barbara McLean, William H. Reynolds and Robert Simpson, Fowler was promoted to film editor full-time in 1952; his first movie as a film editor was Phone Call from a Stranger, released that year and directed by Jean Negulesco. Although he edited only 38 movies in a 20-year career, all of them Twentieth releases, he edited some of the greatest scenes in the studio's history. Two of them involved the same actress, Marilyn Monroe: her performance of the song "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (directed by Howard Hawks - 1953) and her blown-skirt scene in The Seven Year Itch (directed by Billy Wilder-1955).

It was not until eight years after Monroe's death that Fowler won his Oscar, for the movie Patton (1970). His final movie, The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean (1972), was directed by John Huston. Fowler died in California three years later. Fowler is remembered for editing primarily Twentieth theatrical releases directed by freelancers, including Howard Hawks (Gentlemen Prefer Blondes), Franklin J. Schaffner (Planet of the Apes (1968), Patton), Frank Tashlin (Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? (1957)) and Billy Wilder (The Seven Year Itch).

Filmography + Editor Year Film Director Notes Other notes 1952 Phone Call from a StrangerJean NegulescoFirst collaboration with Jean Negulesco Les MisérablesLewis Milestone Something for the BirdsRobert Wise 1953 TaxiGregory Ratoff Gentlemen Prefer BlondesHoward Hawks 1955 The Seven Year ItchBilly Wilder Seven Cities of Gold Robert D. WebbFirst collaboration with Robert D. Webb 1956 On the Threshold of SpaceSecond collaboration with Robert D. Webb The Proud OnesThird collaboration with Robert D. Webb The Last WagonDelmer Daves Love Me Tender Robert D. WebbFourth collaboration with Robert D. Webb 1957 The Way to the GoldFifth collaboration with Robert D. Webb Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?Frank TashlinFirst collaboration with Frank Tashlin 1958 The Gift of LoveJean NegulescoSecond collaboration with Jean Negulesco A Nice Little Bank That Should Be RobbedHenry Levin The Fiend Who Walked the WestGordon DouglasFirst collaboration with Gordon Douglas 1959 These Thousand HillsRichard Fleischer Say One for MeFrank TashlinSecond collaboration with Frank Tashlin The Story on Page OneClifford Odets 1960 The Lost WorldIrwin Allen Flaming StarDon Siegel 1961 Pirates of TortugaRobert D. WebbSixth collaboration with Robert D. Webb Bachelor FlatFrank TashlinThird collaboration with Frank Tashlin1962 Hemingway's Adventures of a Young ManMartin Ritt 1963 The List of Adrian MessengerJohn HustonFirst collaboration with John Huston Twilight of HonorBoris Sagal 1965 In Harm's WayOtto Preminger Wild SeedBrian G. Hutton 1966 StagecoachGordon DouglasSecond collaboration with Gordon Douglas ...And Now MiguelJames B. Clark Way... Way Out Gordon DouglasThird collaboration with Gordon Douglas1967 In Like FlintFourth collaboration with Gordon Douglas1968 Planet of the ApesFranklin J. SchaffnerFirst collaboration with Franklin J. Schaffner1969 PendulumGeorge Schaefer1970 PattonFranklin J. SchaffnerSecond collaboration with Franklin J. Schaffner 1972 CorkyLeonard Horn The Life and Times of Judge Roy BeanJohn HustonSecond collaboration with John Huston

Documentaries

+ Editorial department Year Film Director Role Notes1944 The Negro SoldierStuart HeislerAssistant film cutter

Shorts

+ Editorial department Year Film Director Role Notes1944 The Negro SoldierStuart HeislerAssistant film cutter

TV series

Award 1970 Academy Award for Best Film Editing for Patton 1970 American Cinema Editors Eddie for Patton