George Tomasini (April 20, 1909 – November 22, 1964) was an American film editor, born in Springfield, Massachusetts, who had a decade-long collaboration with director Alfred Hitchcock, editing nine of his movies between 1954 and 1964. Tomasini edited many of Hitchcock's best-known works, such as Rear Window (1954), Vertigo (1958), North by Northwest (1959), Psycho (1960), and The Birds (1963), as well as other well-received films such as Cape Fear (1962). On a 2012 listing of the 75 best-edited films of all time, compiled by the Motion Picture Editors Guild based on a survey of its members, four films edited by Tomasini for Hitchcock appear. No other editor appeared more than three times on this listing. The listed films were Psycho, Vertigo, Rear Window, and North by Northwest.
George Tomasini was known for his innovative film editing, which together with Hitchcock's stunning techniques, redefined cinematic language. Tomasini's cutting was always stylish and experimental, all the while pursuing the focus of the story and the characters. Hitchcock and Tomasini's editing of Rear Window has been treated at length in Valerie Orpen's monograph, Film Editing: The Art of the Expressive. His dialogue overlapping and use of jump cuts for exclamation points was dynamic and innovative (such as in the scene in The Birds where the car blows up at the gas station and Tippi Hedren's character watches from a window, as well as the infamous "shower scene" in Psycho). George Tomasini's techniques would influence many subsequent film editors and filmmakers.
George Tomasini was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Film Editing for North by Northwest, but Ben-Hur'''s editors won the award that year.
On November 22, 1964, while he was editing In Harm's Way, Tomasini died of a massive heart attack. He was 55 years old. He left behind Mary Brian, his wife of 17 years and no children.
Filmography as film editor + Editor Year Film Director Notes1947 Wild HarvestTay Garnett1952 The Turning PointWilliam DieterleFirst collaboration with William Dieterle 1953 Stalag 17Billy Wilder HoudiniGeorge Marshall 1954 Elephant WalkWilliam DieterleSecond collaboration with William Dieterle Rear Window Alfred HitchcockFirst collaboration with Alfred Hitchcock1955 To Catch a ThiefSecond collaboration with Alfred Hitchcock 1956 The Man Who Knew Too MuchThird collaboration with Alfred Hitchcock The Wrong ManFourth collaboration with Alfred Hitchcock1957 Hear Me GoodDon McGuire 1958 VertigoAlfred HitchcockFifth collaboration with Alfred Hitchcock I Married a Monster from Outer SpaceGene Fowler Jr.1959 North by NorthwestAlfred HitchcockSixth collaboration with Alfred Hitchcock 1960 The Time MachineGeorge PalFirst collaboration with George Pal PsychoAlfred HitchcockSeventh collaboration with Alfred Hitchcock1961 The MisfitsJohn Huston1962 Cape FearJ. Lee Thompson 1963 The BirdsAlfred HitchcockEighth collaboration with Alfred Hitchcock Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed?Daniel Mann 1964 7 Faces of Dr. LaoGeorge PalSecond collaboration with George Pal MarnieAlfred HitchcockNinth collaboration with Alfred Hitchcock1965 In Harm's WayOtto Preminger
+ Editorial department Year Film Director Role Notes Other notes 1948 Beyond Glory John Farrow Assistant editorFirst collaboration with John Farrow Night Has a Thousand EyesSecond collaboration with John Farrow1949 Red, Hot and BlueThird collaboration with John Farrow
+ Sound department Year Film Director Role Notes1939 Union PacificCecil B. DeMilleSound effects editor
Shorts
+ Editor Year Film Director1951 BenjyFred Zinnemann
See also
List of film director and editor collaborations
References
Further reading This interview with Tomasini's wife appears to be unique as a source of biographical information about Tomasini. Bobbie O'Steen provides a frame-by-frame analysis of an important scene from Rear Window''.
External links